TAKE THAT: City's Tony Canham cuts between Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie and Danish midfielder Jan Molby to hammer in the Minstermen's goal at Anfield

We wuz robbed!

York City fans who witnessed a battling FA Cup performance at Liverpool in 1986 are convinced their heroes should have beaten the mighty Reds.

Many still believe that if Keith Walwyn's second half 'goal' had been allowed to stand then City would have pulled off one of the competition's greatest-ever shocks.

Having knocked out four non-League sides - Morecambe, Whitby Town, Wycombe and Altrincham, City found themselves paired with Liverpool in the fifth round at Bootham Crescent.

It was a repeat of their meeting the previous year when, after beating Arsenal with Keith Houchen's famous last minute penalty, Liverpool were held 1-1 at York.

It was the same score when the teams met at the Crescent a year later, so City headed to Anfield once again for the replay.

In 1985 Denis Smith's side were walloped 7-0, but the class of 1986 took Kenny Dalglish's star-studded side right to the wire.

George Davidson was among the 4,000 City fans who travelled to Merseyside.

He said: "My favourite game would have to be the replay at Liverpool that went to extra-time. It was a great game that we really should have won at the end.

"I've been supporting City since the one-nil win over Arsenal in the Cup

and the subsequent Liverpool games - the replay the following year at

Liverpool is my Millennium Match.

"I was just 13 when I first went to Bootham Crescent, I am now 29, and my first game was an evening kick-off

between the Arsenal win and the Liverpool game."

Another big hiding was on the cards when Kenny Dalglish set up fellow Scottish international John Wark for Liverpool's 18th minute opener.

But City harried the Reds all over Anfield and Liverpool's multi-talented team were unable to find a way past an inspired Andy Leaning in City's goal.

Just 12 months earlier he had been playing for Rowntrees, but the former British Rail joiner kept Dalglish and Co at bay with some great saves.

City took heart from his display and rocked the famous Kop a minute before half-time when Simon Mills picked out Tony Canham on the left with a 40-yard pass. The winger cut inside, beat a couple of defenders and sent in a shot which Bruce Grobelaar fumbled into the net.

There was a bigger sensation in store in the 66th minute, with Liverpool running out of ideas, they were caught out by a long ball. Walwyn and defender Alan Hansen chased it, shoulder to shoulder, Grobelaar came out collided with Hansen and co-defender Gary Gillespie leaving Walwyn to poke the ball into the unguarded net.

Referee Howard Taylor appeared to give the goal, then changed his mind and awarded Liverpool a free-kick.

"It was the turning point," said Walwyn. "I believe we could have held on at 2-1 because Liverpool were struggling."

The home side made the most of their escape as Jan Molby put them 2-1 ahead with a spectacular 25-yard drive before Dalglish, looking suspiciously offside swept in the third minutes later.

But nothing could detract from City's battling performance which threatened to bring one of Europe's greatest sides to it's knees and Liverpool went on to reach Wembley, beating Everton 3-1 in the final.

Davidson recalled: "Craig Johnston wrote in the Cup Final Programme that he thought there was nothing wrong with the Keith Walwyn's goal and he assumed they were out of the Cup."

"Seeing the Kop applaud Tony Canham's great goal was something else as well."

However, Davidson felt that some City fans failed to appreciate that their exploits would attract a new crowd to their subsequent matches.

"When big games like this happen as a newcomer you get called a fair-weather fan when, in reality, you are just a new fan," said Davidson

"For many, like me, the visit of a big club ignites your interest in the local club."

"Given that City need bigger gates, it seems a shame that some of their fans can be unwelcoming to new fans. So when we next play a big club and you see a stranger - don't call them a fairweather fan - ask them to come back next week for the visit of Exeter or Barnet or whoever it is."

Davidson is now a long-distance supporter but even a move south has not diminished his love for the club.

"I lived in Clifton - my brothers bedroom overlooked the David Longhurst Stand end - so it was a short walk from the ground," explained Davidson.

"However, this did not mean I could always get to the game as we had school on Saturdays until 4pm so often only caught the second half."

"This did have the advantage of either being free or costing less than half-price."

"I now live in Slough with my wife, who is a born and bred Manchester United fan (another great result) and try to get to as many away games in the area as possible.

" I work in London as a market researcher conducting focus groups and advising on marketing. I am particularly impressed with the way Sophie MacGill has hit the ground running in her new job especially with the Kid-A-Quid scheme which should get a few more 13-year-olds addicted for life."

Millenium Match facts

Tuesday, February 18, 1986
FA Cup fifth round replay
Liverpool 3 (Wark 18, Molby 93, Dalglish 99)
York City 1 (Canham 43)
Liverpool: Bruce Grobelaar, Sammy Lee, Jim Beglin, Mark Lawrenson, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish, John Wark (Craig Johnston 73), Ian Rush, Jan Molby, Gary Gillespie.
York City: Andy Leaning, Steve Senior, Derek Hood, Dave McAughtrie, John MacPhail, Simon Mills, Gary Ford, Dale Banton, Keith Walwyn, Sean Haslegrave (Keith Houchen 90), Tony Canham
Referee: Howard Taylor (Oadby, Leicestershire)
Attendance: 29,362