Football: Darlington 2 York City 2

DANGERMAN Marco Gabbiadini rises above the City defence to get in a header despite the attentions of Martin Reed (No 17), Barry Jones (No 5) and Mark Sertori (No 8)

With two minutes to go, a point seemed a distant hope after old boy Marco Gabbiadini had fired in a potential match-winning double salvo.

Then, out of nothing, thump. John Williams smashed home a bullet shot to make it 2-2.

Seconds later City's joy turned to sorrow for only the width of the post and a ball spinning back the wrong way that prevented Neil Thompson's heroic makeshift side from becoming the only team to win at Feethams this year.

But that frustration should not deflect from a second inspiring City performance in a matter of days.

Wrecked by an ever lengthening injury list, losing the services of Wayne Hall and Thompson's own dependable left foot prior to kick-off saw Martin Reed drafted in at centre back for his first start of the season.

Midway through the second half City's injury plight deepended when skipper Steve Agnew was stretchered off with an ankle injury.

After the gloom of recent times, it is perhaps a bit too early to believe City have finally turned the corner but performances in the face of adversity like last night give hope that brighter times and three point hauls are just around the corner.

On last night's evidence they deserve some.

Darlington started the proceedings with Gabbiadini the fulcrum around which they pivoted.

City though refused to stand on ceremony with James Turley testing Mark Samways from distance before Craig Liddle almost sliced Steve Agnew's teasing free-kick into his own net.

On 20 minutes, City's early endeavours were rewarded with a swift, incisive goal of true quality.

From a Darlington corner the ball was hooked clear to Williams, who stumbled before prodding the ball forward to Turley.

With one touch the youngster swept the ball out wide to Agnew, who promptly rolled it back into the Darlington box.

Turley, who had continued his run, looked certain to score but for a last gasp tackle. Fortune favoured City, however, and the ball rolled into the path of Barry Conlon who swept it home.

Darlington concentrated their efforts on finding the ever dangerous Neil Heaney out wide on the left, a tactic which soon brought its rewards..

Martin Gray curled the ball wide to Heaney, who cut inside Hocking before firing in a low cross.

Adam Reed let the ball go through his legs to Gabbiadini, who stopped it dead, swivelled and smashed the ball past Mimms.

City continued to go about their business in a forthright manner and saw more than a few half-chances go begging.

But just as hopes were raised, Gabbiadini struck again.

Liddle won a succession of tackles on the halfway line. City looked for off-side but the ball squeezed through to the former City hitman who needed no second invitation to run in and bag his 21st of the season.

Despite such a setback, City, propelled forward by the increasingly influential Christian Fox, started the second-half brightly.

A Conlon volley cannoned back off the inside of the post and, inexplicably, rolled back out. No matter that the linesman had raised his flag for offside, the rub of the green, the spin of the ball, seemed indicative of City's luck of late.

Worse was to follow when Agnew was forced off, referee Graham Laws adding insult to injury for the veteran midfielder by booking him as he lay prone on a stretcher.

Thompson was forced to shuffle his pack again and for a while City lost their shape.

To their credit, however, the Minstermen stuck to their task with grim determination and refused to buckle under some concerted Darlington pressure that failed to produce any clear-cut chances

Time was ticking though and despite the resolve of City's rearguard it was difficult to see York coming back until Williams picked up Hocking's cross out wide, cut inside and smashed a right foot effort from 30-yards past a motionless Samways.

Still City pressed and deep in injury time Fox latched on to John William's pass and with Darlington caught short, squared the ball to an unmarked Marc Williams at the far post.

The Welshman prodded it past Samways for what looked a certain winner but the ball contrived to hit the inside of the post before coming back out.

Still Conlon had time to smash a ball over the bar when City had a man over.

It was agonising, despairing stuff but to see City rolling forward with abandon leaving Darlington clinging on, joyous too. Football at its best.

York City Supporters Club are running coaches to Rochdale on Saturday. Transport leaves Bootham Crescent at 12.30pm. Prices arev £8 for Travel Club members, £10 for non-members.

Nationwide Division Three

Tuesday, January 18, 2000

Darlington 2 York City 2

YORK CITY: Bobby Mimms 7, Matt Hocking 7, Mark Sertori 7, Martin Reed 8, Barry Jones 8, Steve Agnew 7 (Andrew Dawson 57min 6), Christian Fox 9, Lee Bullock 7, John Williams 8, Barry Conlon 7, James Turley 7 (Marc Williams 68min, 6)

Subs, unused: Russ Howarth, John Keegan, Craig Skinner

Goals: Conlon 20min, J Williams 88min.

Booking: Agnew 57

CHRISTIAN FOX: Another swashbuckling, tenacious performance. Always positive when in possession, taking the game to Darlington at every opportunity

Darlington: Mark Samways, Craig Liddle, Martin Taylor, Adam Reed, Paul Heckingbottom, Michael Oliver, Martin Gray, Brian Atkinson, Jesper Hjorth (Glenn Naylor 65min), Marco Gabbiadini, Neil Heaney.

Subs unused: Andy Collett, Phil Brumwell, Gary Himsworth, Peter Duffield

Goal: Gabbiadini, 27min, 36 min

Bookings: none

Referee: Graham Laws (Whitley Bay)

Crowd: 5,704

City's next match: Saturday, January 22, versus Rochdale in Nationwide League Division Three at Spotland, ko 3pm

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.