There are striking similarities between York City and Oxford United’s attacking talismen, writes Dave Flett.

Both players served their apprenticeships in part-time football and, if you stood them side by side, Brodie is just an inch taller than the former Chippenham Town forward.

Constable is older, but he has only been playing professional football a season longer than Brodie. Unlike his City rival, he does have prior Football League experience with Walsall and Shrewsbury but was allowed to leave both clubs for Conference outfits.

Without Brodie’s ten penalties and the two spot kicks Constable has converted, their scoring records in open play this season are almost identical with 27 and 26 goals respectively.

Whereas Brodie scored in the opening day of this season at Oxford, however, Constable has failed to find the net against the Minstermen in his last five attempts since netting in a 2-1 home win for Kidderminster back in January 2007.

A glance at when the pair have hit the target this season also shows that Brodie is lethal during the 15 minutes leading up to half-time, supposedly a great time to score psychologically in football. Constable has only managed one goal during that period.

He would argue, with some justification, that it is more important to net in the last 15 minutes of the game, which has been his most fruitful period of games.

Constable’s strike-rate is also noticeably better during the second half of games.

The club’s games against Chester, which saw both hit hat-tricks, are included in our records.

Constable has not had another treble this season, while Brodie repeated the feat against Hinckley United and AFC Wimbledon.

Finally, both players have lost FA Trophy finals at Wembley and fallen foul of officials during their career.

Richard Brodie

Age: 22
Born: Gateshead
Height: 6ft 3in
Previous clubs: Whickham, Newcastle Benfield Bay Plastics
Professional League appearances: 131
Goals: 52

Goals scored in 2009/10 (all games): 37

When scored
0-15 – 4
16-30 – 4
31-45 – 11
First-half total: 19
46-60 – 8
61-75 – 4
76-90 – 6
Second-half total: 18

Goals against top-five teams in 2009/10: 3

Goal record against fellow finalists
1 in 4 v Oxford


James Constable

Age: 25
Born: Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Height: 6ft 2in
Previous clubs: Cirencester, Chippenham, Walsall, Kidderminster, Shrewsbury, Oxford
Professional league appearances: 162
Goals: 72

Goals scored in 2009/10 (all games): 28

When scored
0-15 – 4
16-30 – 7
31-45 – 1
First-half total: 12
46-60 – 4
61-75 – 4
76-90 – 8
Second-half total: 16

Goals against top-five teams in 2009/10: 3

Goal record against fellow finalists
1 in 6 v York

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