Defence key in play-off clash

The Minstermen haven't conceded a goal in three matches, have let in just three goals in their last 11 games, and have the league's second best defensive record.

With tonight's game, and Monday's second leg, expected to be tight affairs McEwan believes the team's defensive principles could hand them an advantage.

Danny Parslow and David McGurk, who missed seven games earlier in the season with injury, are the expected centre-back pairing tonight but McEwan says the whole team will need to put the work in.

"It starts with the front men. It's not just about the back four and the goalkeeper. It's all about the team and defending as a group of players," he said.

"We've got the second best defensive record in the Conference league which, if you consider all the changes that have been made in personnel in that department this season, that speaks volumes for the players who have come in like Jason Goodliffe, Luke Foster and Janos Kovacs because we have been without James Dudgeon, David McGurk, Nathan Peat, Darren Craddock and Anthony Lloyd has been out.

"The players who have come in, they've worked hard on the training ground on the principles of defending. That has stood them in good stead and long may it continue.

"It is going to be tight. Both teams like to play the game in the right way. They know what the players are about. Our players don't. We have got a young emerging team.

"We have got to go out, not let ourselves down and give the fans 100 per cent commitment as we do week in week out. If they can do that and we can get a little bit of luck in front of goal, we would like to take a lead into the second leg."

McEwan added he will fulfil an ambition tonight when City play in front of a KitKat Crescent crowd of around 7,500 after the Minstermen completely sold out the home ends.

The club has shifted 2,800 tickets for the David Longhurst Stand, which is City's average crowd this season and, with Morecambe expected to bring up to 1,000, a cracking atmosphere is expected - which McEwan believes will lift his men.

"My ambition when I came here was to fill the ground. I didn't think I would do it in 26 months but it looks though it may be. The volume they make and the noise they make with this type of crowd is fantastic and I am sure that will drive the boys on to a level they've never experienced before. The experience will be incredible," he added.

"It gets your adrenalin pumping. Players can go to another level, I feel, when it's like that. I have played in front of big crowds. I know the butterflies are in the stomach and you just want to get onto the field and get the job done."

It's two massive games for both teams but I am sure if we play, and we can produce the kind of football the players have at times during the season, I am sure we will be all right."

Conference play-off semi-final, FIRST LEG

(at KitKat Crescent tonight, 8pm)

CITY (probable): Evans, Purkiss, McGurk, Parslow, James, Woolford, Bishop, Panther, Bowey, Farrell, Donaldson. Subs: Gamble, Lloyd, Greenwood, Convery, Brodie.

MORECAMBE (from): Drench, Yates, Bentley, Blackburn, Adams, Thompson, Sorvel, Craig Stanley, Curtis, Brannan, Twiss, Carlton, McNiven, Burns, Davies, Lloyd.

REFEREE: Gary Lewis (Cambs)

Play-off rules

THERE will be no away goals rule in this year's Conference play-offs.

Conference chiefs have announced that, at the end of the two-legged matches, if the scores are level extra time will be played, followed by penalties if there is no breakthrough.

In the final, penalties will follow extra time should the scores between the two teams still be level.

Ashington referee Michael Oliver, who was in charge of last weekend's game against Oxford at KitKat Crescent, has been awarded the duties at the final at Wembley on May 20.

Roger East has been handed City's trip to Morecambe on Monday night in the play-off semi-final second leg. The Wiltshire official refereed the Minstermen's 2-0 win at Aldershot in March and their 0-0 draw at Grays Athletic in December.