York City will need a Bootham Crescent replay to overcome Newport County next Tuesday night if they are to entertain Corby Town in the last 16 of the FA Trophy.

The Minstermen were held to a 0-0 draw at the runaway Blue Square South leaders last night and rode their luck during an impressive display by the home team.

Corby, meanwhile, overcame Stalybridge Celtic 2-1, meaning City old boys Joe O’Neill and Graeme Law will miss out on a game against their former club.

City manager Martin Foyle made four changes to his starting line-up in South Wales with Ben Purkiss, Michael Gash, Kevin Gall and Andy Ferrell all handed recalls.

Top scorer Richard Brodie was named on the bench, while David McGurk, Alex Lawless and Levi Mackin were left behind in North Yorkshire.

Newport made all the early running with left-winger Kerry Morgan brushing the sidenetting with an edge-of-the-box drive after Daniel Parslow’s poor sixth-minute clearance.

Moments later, Morgan rode a Purkiss challenge but his goalbound shot was blocked by Parslow.

City ’keeper Michael Ingham then produced smart saves to parry powerful strikes from Danny Rose and Sam Foley before Paul Cochlin headed over.

Shortly afterwards, two moments of madness saw James Meredith twice go close to putting through his own goal in the space of as many minutes.

First, the Australian left-back’s 35-yard, overhit back pass skidded under Ingham’s heel and narrowly wide and then he headed just past the bewildered ’keeper’s right-hand post.

Centre-back Gary Warren also headed off target for the dominant home team and Rose curled a free-kick over after Luke Graham had tripped Foley 20 yards from goal.

On 31 minutes, Craig Reid tested Ingham with a rising, 15-yard attempt before Brodie, on as a replacement for the hobbling Chris Carruthers, managed City’s first effort of the match, heading wide at the far post from a Purkiss cross with his first touch.

Newport continued to look the stronger side after the interval with the impressive Morgan going close from 20 yards.

Purkiss sliced high and wide from 30 yards on 59 minutes before Ingham’s blushes were spared at the other end when Foley’s low cross squirmed underneath him, but there was no home player on hand to capitalise.

Newport’s Charlie Henry then volleyed wide from the edge of the box and a Morgan chip sailed over Ingham’s head but also cleared the crossbar by a matter of inches.

On 64 minutes, Rankine’s angled drive was kicked off the line by Cochlin, but that proved the former Rushden striker’s final contribution, as he was replaced by Djoumin Sangare, who lined up in midfield.

On-loan Swansea winger Morgan, continuing to look a threat, headed over for the Exiles moments later from a Reid cross before Brodie curled a weak free-kick straight at Glyn Thompson.

Ferrell went closer with a 20-yard drive that flashed over, while Foley dragged wide for Newport after the ball fell at his feet in the penalty box.

The enthusiastic Ferrell forced Thompson to push his inswinging free kick over the bar on 78 minutes. But City survived a massive scare in the third minute of stoppage time when substitute Scott Rogers blasted wide from eight yards.


Match facts

Newport County 0, York City 0

York City: Michael Ingham 6, Ben Purkiss 6, Luke Graham 6, Daniel Parslow 6, James Meredith 6, Kevin Gall 6, Andy Ferrell 7, Neil Barrett 6, Chris Carruthers 6, Michael Rankine 6, Michael Gash 6.

Substitutions: Richard Brodie (for Carruthers, 37) 6, Djoumin Sangare (for Rankine, 65), Richard Pacquette (for Gash, 76).

Subs not used: Mimms, Smith.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Ferrell – showed reminders of combative qualities.


Newport: Glyn Thompson, Aaron Morris, Gary Warren, Paul Cochlin, Jamie Collins, Charlie Henry (Scott Rogers, 87), Wayne Turk, Danny Rose, Kerry Morgan, Craig Reid, Sam Foley (Dave Gilroy, 83).

Subs (not used): Paul Bignot, Martyn Giles, Kieran Blackburn.


Shots on target: County 3, City 3.

Shots off target: County 6, City 4.

Corners: County 4, City 3.

Fouls conceded: County 10, City 11.

Offsides: County 6, City 2.

Yellow cards: Rose 57, Cochlin 69, Graham 72.

Referee: Steve Martin (Stafford).

Attendance: 1,040.