Lively City lack lady luck

Exasperated York City must have smashed a Versailles palace-full of mirrors on the eve of this game.

Golden young gun: City's blossoming young midfielder Martin Garratt stoops to conquer against Stoke City. Garratt's goal just after half-time helped level the scores at 1-1. Picture: Mike Tipping

How else could one explain the gross ill-fortune that condemned the Minstermen to the loss of a deserved victory and with it two vital points in the scrap to avoid relegation.

That City are not in the bottomfour awaiting the big heave-ho today is merely by virtue of having scored more goals than any of the bottom 13 clubs.

But a swift glance to the right of the 'goals for' column shows the 'goals against'. Therein lies the nub and rub.

City boast the most porous rearguard in the Second Division.

No wonder nerves are jangling more shrilly than an alleyway of cats.

It's not that City did not defend well.

They were only beaten early doors by a dubious penalty and late on by a crisp finish.

But it's the timing of that second blow which so sticks in the craw.

The hosts, vibrant and confident, were five minutes away from a thoroughly merited win.

But when a shot veered off skipper Barry Jones it fell to one man unmarked, Ray Wallace, who shepherded a pass back to penalty marksman Graham Kavanagh, also unchallenged, to notch the Bootham Crescent heart-breaker.

Scant justice for the hosts from Kavanagh QC - queasy and contentious.

The nauseous feeling springs from the lateness of the leveller, the debate from Stoke's opener.

Just ten minutes had gone when Bryan Small, terroriser of City in last November's historic first league meeting, was the beneficiary of a huge slice of luck.

Alan Pouton slipped on the greasy turf allowing Small to thread a pass to Peter Thorne.

City 'keeper Bobby Mimms slid out to gather, Thorne falling extravagantly as he brushed against the challenge. Referee John Kirkby pointed to the spot, though he was a considerable distance from the collision.

Mimms went to an assistant referee imploring Kirkby to do likewise.

But the Sheffield official stood his ground waving Mimms back to goal where Kavanagh calmly converted the penalty.

It was so against the run of play before and after with York lively and livewire throughout.

Player-manager Neil Thompson was intelligent in distribution, Scott Jordan also prominent.

Twice in less than a minute Jordan exercised Stoke goalkeeper Carl Muggleton, first with a rising drive, then a turf-cutter he did well to hold in the tricky conditions.

But he should have been beaten soon after. Jordan's teasing pass bisected the Potters' defence and set Rodney Rowe clear.

But rather than shoot he opted to go round the 'keeper, who flipped out an arm to dispossess the City striker.

Catch-up City romped into the second-half as they ended the first.

A swift first-time move brought a Marc Williams cross, Rowe flashing a volley wide.

Williams then had a claim for a penalty ignored in a tangle with Muggleton.

Seven minutes into the re-start it mattered not.

Nicky Mohan's dangerously floated crossfield pass was watched hawk-like by Martin Garratt.

He swooped and in one sweet movement leathered it low past Muggleton.

York's enterprise and effort, backed by mounting assurance, doubled their reward after 68 minutes.

And the man with the golden boot - Jordan - applied the coup de grace.

Thompson's corner was met by a flick header from Kyle Lightbourne, the ball falling to City's elegant midfielder.

A chest-trap and then a clean rap of the ball through a forest of legs for his fourth spectacular goal in the last seven games.

Those old cries of "Little out'' again rang around the Crescent, but this time for Stoke boss Brian Little, who was also asked 'where's your brother gone?'

His wave to the Shippo acknowledged the jibe at the expense of sacked sibling Alan Little.

Stoke changed their personnel to a more attacking approach, and in one rare raid in which Thompson was put in trouble by a deflected Pouton pass only a magnificently-timed tackle deep in his area by Chris Fairclough stopped substitute Dean Crowe's advance.

But then came another fatal fissure and another hike in the home blood pressure.

As well as avoiding mirrors City are edging towards the miraculous to keep free of the basement's shadow.

Rivals leave it late to pile pressure on City

More than just a last-gasp goal did for York City at Bootham Crescent.

Several other late, late shows added to the woes of the Minstermen, who stayed out of the feared drop zone thanks only to the number of goals scored.

Oldham, Northampton and Lincoln City all staged late rallies to seal unexpected away-day triumphs that further tightened the relegation equation.

The Latics were trailing at Wrexham to a Dean Spink goal, but five minutes before half-time they levelled through Shaun Garnett. Then with six minutes to go defender Andy Holt hit the winner that lifted Oldham above York.

The most savage blow was down at the Madejski Stadium, where Northampton Town drew level on the same points as York courtesy of a last-minute winner from David Savage.

Lincoln meanwhile clocked up their first win in eight games, striker Lee Thorpe the Red Imps' hero with a 61st-minute goal that settled the points at Luton Town.

Only Macclesfield of the troubled clubs lost, the Silkmen beaten 2-0 at second-placed Walsall for whom Rob Steiner and Andy Rammell struck a goal each in the space of five second-half minutes.

Burnley had to be content with a point in a goal-less draw at home to Bournemouth, but that at least stretched the Clarets' undefeated run to seven games to ease their fears of a fall.

At the top of the table there was a rare defeat for Fulham.

A Jamie Hewitt goal gave hosts Chesterfield the spoils just five days after Kevin Keegan's men gained promotion.

Maybe the hangover was just too severe.

Manchester City maintained third spot with a glorious 2-0 win at fifth-placed Gillingham.

New £1million signing from neighbours Manchester United Terry Cooke opened the scoring, the Maine Road crew adding another through Northern Ireland international Kevin Horlock.

But it's more dismay for Preston.

They now lay four points adrift of Manchester City after they perished 2-1 at home to Blackpool in another Lancashire derby.

The decisive goal was struck by Brett Ormerod a minute from time.

York City Match Points

11min: Graham Kavanagh scores from the penalty spot after Peter Thorne is deemed to have been upended by goalkeeper Bobby Mimms. 0-1.

12min: Crashing Alan Pouton volley is headed away by Kavanagh.

21min: Marc Williams nods high after Neil Thompson's corner swings to the far post.

22min: Instant Scott Jordan shot is clutched by 'keeper Carl Muggleton, who seconds later grasps a grubber effort from the City midfielder.

34min: Brilliant pass from Jordan coaxes in Rodney Rowe, but he loses possession to Muggleton's outstretched hand.

47min: Neat passing between Thompson, Rowe and Williams engineers an opening for Rowe, but he volleys wide from 12 yards.

47min: Williams is impeded by Muggleton, but shouts for a penalty ignored.

52min: Martin Garratt seizes on Nicky Mohan loose pass to rifle in from 20 yards. 1-1.

68min: From half clearance at City corner Jordan drives home from just inside the area. 2-1.

71min: Tinkler goes close with a flick of his boot.

83min: Stunning tackle from Chris Fairclough halts Dean Crowe deep in City's goal-area.

85min: Ray Wallace crosses and Kavanagh cracks in. 2-2.

Half time: City 0, Stoke 1

Shots on target: City 6, Stoke 3

Corner kicks: City 9, Stoke 2

Weather: Miserable as the drizzle

Tap & Spile Man of the match

Mark Tinkler: Superb at the heart of midfield once he got into the game after the first ten minutes. Tackled ferociously but with discipline. Supported the attack with well-timed sorties.

Fans' Panel 1998-99

Will York City beat the drop?

Gary Chatterton, Age 32

If we show the same commitment as we have in the last few games we might just avoid it. But with results elsewhere going against us we definitely need something out of the next two matches.

Ruth Reynolds, Age 38

These next two matches are going to be crucial. I do hope so, but it's going to be tight. It's already the tighest it's been for many years as by now somebody is usually already down.

Garry Cummings, Age 41

The $64,000 question. I would love to think they will stop up because I hate the prospect of division three football. But the form since the new year has been that of relegation material.

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