Hulme gets City out of jail

For the second successive home match the midfielder got a forlorn York City out of jail with a late goal.

It was by no means a classic strike, Hulme nudging the ball over the line while still lying prone on the ground.

And it was certainly not a patch on David McNiven's wonderful opener that proved the highlight of a dreary, mistake-riven game.

But it was a goal that typified Hulme's never-say-die spirit.

Would any other player have shown such commitment and dogged determination that forced Shrewsbury goalkeeper Paul Edwards to spill the ball at the midfielder's feet?

On the evidence of the previous 78 minutes it seems unlikely.

Most neutrals, and even the vast majority of the home support, would accept City were fortunate to claim all three points.

City certainly had the more clear-cut chances and but for some poor finishing could have racked up an unassailable lead by half-time.

But, having enjoyed the majority of possession for long spells, Shrewsbury were unfortunate not to have claimed at least a point.

Indeed, had they shown more purpose to take advantage of a nervous City then they would no doubt have won the game.

After conceding so many goals in recent matches, it was perhaps not surprising to see City line-up with three centre-backs in an attempt to stem the tide.

But for much of game City looked like a side struggling to get to grips with the supposedly fluid formation as City's wing-backs of Darren Edmondson and Graham Potter were more often than not on the back foot.

It left Steve Agnew and Lee Bullock in the centre of the park chasing shadows and allowed Shrewsbury to set the tempo.

Indeed, so much had been made of City's desire to keep a clean sheet that in a low-key opening the Minstermen looked like a side determined to prove their defensive resilience but in doing so forgot there was a game to be won.

On the sporadic occasions City did move forward with purpose, unlike Shrewsbury, good chances were created.

But the failure to take them merely added to the sense of frustration.

Chris Iwelumo was the main culprit. On another day he would have been claiming the match-ball.

His first opportunity, on 15 minutes, was perhaps the easiest.

Alex Mathie rolled the ball out wide to Potter who managed to deliver a vicious cross into the box.

It seemed impossible for Iwelumo not to score but from just six yards out the big man could only glance his header wide.

Emotions finally stirred, at least it pointed City in the right direction and little more than ten minutes later the Minster-men took the lead with a goal of true quality.

Iwelumo knocked the ball down to Mathie just inside the Shrewsbury half.

With eyes seemingly in the back of his head, the striker hooked the ball over his shoulder to release Edmondson in space on the right.

His first time cross was delivered with pace and McNiven didn't break stride as he lashed the ball into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

In truth it was against the run of play but City had suffered a similar fate against Kidderminster the week before and the hope was York would do to Shrewsbury what the Harriers had done to them.

Certainly more goals for the Minstermen now looked in the offing as Agnew whipped in a low cross that ran across the face of the Shrews' goal before 'keeper Edwards blocked another Iwelumo chance that should have been taken.

But just as City started to look dangerous Shrewsbury restored parity.

Potter bundled Mickey Brown to the floor and from the resultant free-kick Nigel Jemson wormed his way free of Matt Hocking and his glancing header dropped in at the far post.

The football was not of the ebb and flow variety but the goal lifted Shrewsbury again as a now ragged City retreated back into their shell.

The half-time whistle was very welcome but the break did little to erase the uncertainty in the red rearguard.

Increasingly the ball was cosseted like the proverbial hot potato by City, who could do little more than concede free-kick after free-kick.

Yet for all their inability to string two passes together of any note Iwelumo should have regained the lead on the hour.

As Shrewsbury pushed up, Iwel-umo raced onto a through ball but one on one with the keeper the loan striker's shot was well saved by Edwards.

With that chance having gone begging, the game seemed an odds-on certainty to finish a draw.

Chris Freestone forced Alan Fettis to make a save with a sharp shot from a tight angle but, despite continuing to dominate possession, Shrewsbury remained toothless.

City fared little better and if anything were getting worse, the indecision at throw-ins and set-pieces symptomatic of the performance.

But cometh the hour, cometh substitute Hulme and from the depths of despair came unmitigated relief.

Shrewsbury failed to clear Mark Bower's free-kick and when the ball was returned Neil Tarrant headed it back into the danger zone.

Edwards looked favourite to come and claim as the ball rolled away from McNiven only for Hulme to dive in.

The ball spilled from the 'keeper's grasp and Hulme was able to poke it home at the second attempt.

If nothing else, it was reward for City's refusal to settle for the point when most teams after such a tepid display would quite happily have settled for a point.

In such circumstances, 'The Great Escape' chant that emanated from the David Longhurst Stand seemed particularly apt.

York City youngsters' Football League Youth Alliance Under-19s match at Halifax Town on Saturday was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.

dave.stanford@ycp.co.uk

City Match Facts

Football League Division Three

Saturday, December 2, 2000

York City 2, Shrewsbury Town 1

York City: Alan Fettis 6, Darren Edmondson 5, Mark Sertori 7, Mark Bower 6, Matt Hocking 5, Graham Potter 5, Steve Agnew 6, Lee Bullock 6 (Kevin Hulme 66mins, 6), David McNiven 6, Chris Iwelumo 5 (Neil Tarrant 73mins), Alex Mathie 6 (Scott Jordan 89mins)

Subs, not used: Russ Howarth, Colin Alcide

Booked: Agnew (foul) 39mins, Sertori (foul) 56mins

Sent off: None

Scorers: McNiven 25mins, Hulme 78mins

SHREWSBURY TOWN: Paul Edwards, Ross Davidson, Gareth Hamner, David Hughes, Matt Redmile, Micky Brown, John Keister, Dean Peer (Karl Murray 86mins), Nigel Jemson, Chris Freestone (Ryan Lowe 69mins), Sam Aiston

Subs, not used: Ian Dunbavin, Steve Jagielka, Peter Wilding

Booked: Jemson (unsporting conduct) 88mins

Sent off: None

SHREWSBURY TOWN: Paul Edwards, Ross Davidson, Gareth Hamner, David Hughes, Matt Redmile, Micky Brown, John Keister, Dean Peer (Karl Murray 86mins), Nigel Jemson, Chris Freestone (Ryan Lowe 69mins), Sam Aiston

Subs, not used: Ian Dunbavin, Steve Jagielka, Peter Wilding

Booked: Jemson (unsporting conduct) 88mins

Sent off: None

Evening Press/Unique Pub Man of the Match: Mark Sertori

The stoic Sertori was a solid if unspectacular performer in a defence riven by indecision.

York Match Stats

Half-time 1

Corners 4

Shots on target 4

Fouls committed 18

Shrewsbury Match Stats

Half-time 1

Corners 7

Shots on target 3

Fouls committed 11

Attendance: 2,318

Referee: Richard Beeby (Northampton)

City's next match: Tuesday, December 5, v Darlington, LDV Vans Trophy first round at Bootham Crescent, kick-off 7.45pm.