RICHARD Pacquette pounced deep into stoppage time to send York City into the last 16 of the FA Trophy.

With the officials just seven seconds short of the four added minutes signalled, the former Havant and Waterlooville striker scored the only goal of the game to finally see off the challenge of stubborn Blue Square South leaders Newport County in last night’s second round replay.

The Minstermen will now entertain Corby Town on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Reserve goalkeeper Josh Mimms was handed his first start of the season with City manager Martin Foyle making three other changes as Adam Smith, Andy Ferrell and Pacquette earned recalls.

Skipper Daniel Parslow and Neil Barrett dropped to the bench with Michael Ingham and Michael Rankine rested from the 16-strong squad completely.

Prior to kick-off, 27-goal leading marksman Richard Brodie made a point of running in front of the Main Stand, David Longhurst Stand and Popular Stand to applaud City fans, leaving many wondering whether he was bidding farewell before the transfer window closes next week.

Smith dragged the first chance of the night wide on four minutes from 20 yards before Newport midfielder Scott Rogers missed the target from the edge of the box after David McGurk had blocked a Gary Warren effort.

On 16 minutes, Pacquette shinned wide from a Chris Carruthers cross and Smith fired narrowly wide moments later.

At the other end, Sam Foley’s hopeful 30-yard drive only required a routine save from Mimms.

Midway through the first half, McGurk sustained a cut on his head after an aerial challenge in the visitors’ penalty box and, following five minutes of treatment, was replaced by Djoumin Sangare.

Levi Mackin forced parries from Glyn Thompson with two-long range efforts just past the half-hour mark.

Centre-back Luke Graham’s blushes were spared, however, on 43 minutes when his weak header back to Mimms was intercepted by Newport winger Kerry Morgan.

The former Liverpool trainee, though, sensing the danger, tackled Morgan 20 yards from goal and Craig Reid lobbed wide with James Meredith charging back to cover.

In first-half stoppage time, Brodie was then harshly shown a yellow card for challenging centre-back Warren for a header in the penalty box, meaning he will now serve a two-match suspension for reaching ten bookings for the season.

Smith fired over from a 25-yard free kick with the first shot of the second period before Ferrell became the second player to enter referee Colin Harwood’s notebook after being conned by a squealing Rogers.

Just past the hour, left-back Jamie Collins cleared off the line to prevent Pacquette tapping in a low cross from Brodie.

The former Newcastle Benfield forward was then pole-axed in front of the dug-outs by Rogers, who was fortunate to escape with a booking.

Brodie, whose treatment from Manchester official Harwood almost bordered on victimisation, was replaced by Michael Gash moments later after receiving the latest in a long list of lectures for innocuous incidents.

The second half then petered out as a contest with extra-time seemingly looming.

But Pacquette pounced from two yatrds to settle the tie after Thompson could only parry Smith’s angled drive following a crossfield pass by Carruthers.


Match facts

York City 1 (Pacquette 90), Newport County 0

York City: Josh Mimms 8, Ben Purkiss 7, Luke Graham 8, David McGurk 7, James Meredith 7, Adam Smith 7, Andy Ferrell 7, Levi Mackin 8, Chris Carruthers 7, Richard Brodie 7, Richard Paquette 7.

Substitutions: Djoumin Sangare for McGurk (30 min) 8, Michael Gash for Brodie (72).

Subs not used: Parslow, Barrett, Gall.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Levi Mackin – hard-working display, kept driving City on.


Newport County: Glyn Thomson, Aaron Morris, Gary Warren, Paul Cochlin, Jamie Collins, Danny Rose, Wayne Turk, Scott Rogers, Kerry Morgan (Charlie Henry), Craig Reid, Sam Foley.

Subs not used: Paul Bignot, Dave Gilroy, Kieron Blackburn.

Yellow cards: Brodie 45, Ferrell 61, Rogers 65, Collins 71.

Shots on target: City 7, County 3.

Shots off target: City 7, County 2.

Corners: City 5, County 1.

Fouls conceded: City 14, County 9.

Offsides: City 3, County 3.

Referee: Colin Harwood (Manchester).

Attendance: 1,378 (52 from Newport).