Archived News from April 2002
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REPORT FROM YORK SITE
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REPORT FROM YORK SITE
Report from ycfc.net A STUNNING fightback by The Minstermen saw Terry Dolan's men come back from a goal down to overcome promotion chasing Mansfield Town with a 3-1 victory at Bootham Crescent. Goals in the second half by Jon Parkin and Michael Proctor added to a first half equaliser by Lee Nogan to give City the points and continue their impressive home form. Only Kidderminster Harriers have beaten York at Bootham Crescent since December, when Cheltenham won by three goals to one. Two goals in the final minutes of the first half, one from each side, had left the match finely balanced at the interval in front of over 5,000 supporters at Bootham Crescent. Mansfield scored first through on-loan Derby County midfielder Adam Murray. The ever dangerous Chris Greenacre twisted and turned, but was well stopped by Stuart Wise. The ball still fell to Murray however, who powered a low drive from 25 yards past the helpless Alan Fettis into the bottom right hand corner. City responded well however and Jon Parkin hit the bar after a ball over the top, although the linesman's flag would have ruled out the strike had it found the net. Within a minute however, Lee Nogan netted his 100th league goal and the City equaliser by nodding in from Stephen Brackstone's inswinging corner to the back post. A Mansfield defender got a touch on the line but couldn't get the ball out. The game had begun poorly, with both sides looking nervous. Scott Sellars hit a ball across the face of goal and a low drive from tall striker Andy White lacked power from distance. City's passing out of defence was hurried and subsequently invited pressure from the visitors time and again. Stuart Reddington hit the bar with a header from a left wing free-kick from Wayne Corden, who was giving Darren Edmondson a difficult time on the City right. Sellars hit a 25 yard free-kick on target, but well held by Fettis, while a Greenacre drive spun wide after a deflection. Andy White volleyed wildly over, while Murray poked just wide after a throw-in on the left. City were unhappy, either because they had put the ball out to allow Stuart Wise to receive treatment, or due to Greenacre who seemed to be fouling Wise with his arm as he held off the young defender. The final chance of the half, before the grandstand finish, fell to Parkin, who was well found by O'Kane, as Nogan dummied the pass, but the lanky forward hit his shot across goal from the edge of the area. The second half began with the first of many free-kick attempts by the experienced Scott Sellars. Leigh Wood was adjudged to have fouled Andy White 25 yards out, but Sellars shot was way over. The same player then linked up with Bobby Hassell on the right, with Greenacre flicking a low cross just off target at the near post. Williamson for Mansfield and Proctor for City both hit tame long range shots on target, without really troubling the respective 'keepers. In the next attack, the home side took the lead when Jon Parkin latched onto a fabulous long pass over the top from Stephen Brackstone, after good work by Darren Edmondson on the right. The former Barnsley youngster outmuscled Adam Barrett and lifted the ball over the advancing Pilkington to give City the lead. Within a minute Mansfield almost got back on terms, with the excellent Adam Murray firing just over from distance, before yet another free-kick chance for Sellars. Stuart Wise and Andy White clashed and if anything the lanky striker looked to be the aggressor. Referee Beeby didn't see it that way and Sellars shot hit the bar with Fettis beaten. O'Kane cleared the rebound off the line. City reshuffled with Jon Parkin moving back to centre half, with the dazed looking Wise coming off. Christian Fox replaced the defender, played in midfield as City reverted to two up front. White got through almost immediately after the change, but Fettis claimed his weak effort, before Dolan's men stretched the lead further. The excellent Chris Brass won the ball for the umpteenth time at the back before feeding Fox on the left hand side. The substitute in turn found Proctor sprinting away in the inside left channel. Having been caught by Nogan in the goalscoring charts with twelve, Proctor romped away, cut inside the last defender and smashed a tremendous shot past the helpless Pilkington for his 13th of an excellent season. Stuart Watkiss gambled with just three at the back, replacing centre back Barrett with David Kelly, with yet another free-kick from Sellars drifting wide. Fettis then stopped a low curler from Kelly as Mansfield threw everything forward to try and get back in the game. Substitute Craig Disley hit the bar with a looping header, one of three efforts on goal for the young midfielder, who scored in the last minute of the reverse fixture at Field Mill against City in November. Aiden O'Kane cleared two further shots away from danger in an almighty goalmouth scramble when City made hard work of clearing a corner. With Mansfield gambling at the back, Proctor should have made it four when found by Brass and Nogan on the right hand side. Although he was beyond the last defender, the striker was in his own half and clearly onside. He raced away but ended up curling his shot beyond Pilkington but wide of the near upright. Mansfield had a couple of late efforts with Murray having a long range shot deflected wide and Greenacre hitting the side netting from a tight angle. It was perhaps telling that it wasn't easy to pick out a man of the match for the Minstermen with so many players making a real contribution to the win. Chris Brass was at his best in the back three, alongside Stuart Wise and Scott Jones. Lee Nogan scored his 100th goal in league football, a tremendous acheivement for him, while Jon Parkin also scored before replacing the injured Wise in the defensive line. Mansfield had their opportunities, especially from set-pieces, but no-one can deny that City deserved this victory, one of their best of the season. |
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