If ever there was a truism in football, it’s the old adage about teams needing to score when they are dominating. With this match approaching the hour mark, City had feasted on an embarrassment of chances, without adding to their one goal advantage. Seconds later it was 1-1 and the complexion of the match had completely changed, with two precious points eventually stolen by the visitors.

York started the brighter of the two sides and after a couple of minutes, Parkin rattled the bar following a good move involving Nogan, Bullock and Merris. Cooper then had a low shot easily saved by Bastock, before an excellent Merris cross was scrambled away from the line with Bullock ready to pounce.

Indeed, it was sixteen minutes before Boston had any sighting of the City goal, when the athletic Akenfenwa tried a neat chip over Ovendale after a storming run from the left. The City keeper was equal to it however, catching the ball just within his area.

Dunning and Ward were combining well again in midfield and feeding accurate passes through to the City attack. In Parkin and Nogan the ball was actually sticking for once and City looked a proper outfit, complete with midfield.

Boston on the other hand were looking decidedly ragged and certainly defended too deep in the first thirty minutes. Whatever they did manage to create usually involved Akenfenwa and the lively Lee Thompson. It was the former who went close on twenty-five minutes with a free header six yards out, after good work on the left by Angel. Wide crosses are becoming a real City weakness and the portents of what was to come, had been written.

City continued to press however and when a corner was inexplicably dropped by Bastock, it took another goal line clearance to keep the match scoreless. Dunning meanwhile continued to find his men well from midfield as City probed.

In a rare Boston attack on forty minutes, City were lucky not to fall behind. A Smith mistake allowed the ball to be whipped into the York area and Thompson headed fractionally wide from eighteen yards out.

Four minutes later, City were in front. Hope, who had looked solid at the back, darted forward and delivered a tricky left wing cross which surprisingly passed defenders and attackers alike. A stunned Bastock made an awful hash of claiming the bouncing ball, dropping it at the feet of Parkin two yards out and the big City striker made no mistake. 1-0.

The second half commenced with City kicking into the swirling breeze. Nogan and Parkin soon had strikes on goal, both producing excellent saves, especially the latter. This from a low shot, after a good one-two with Bullock.

On fifty-five minutes it was Parkin’s turn to provide the cross and Nogan saw his resulting header cannon off the crossbar, with the Boston keeper beaten.

City were coasting, but one goal is never a comfortable margin in football and so it proved again. When a testing cross was delivered from the Boston left, Ovendale elected to stay on his line and Weatherstone stole in to head the equaliser from close range. Yet again York had conceded from a high cross, an area that surely needs addressing by the City boss. 1-1.

Boston gained confidence from what was only their second away goal this season and could have added to their tally when Thompson was put clean through on goal. However, his shot went agonisingly wide of Ovendale's left-hand post and City breathed again.

Still York had chances to win this match. A superb low cross from Merris saw Cooper strike confidently, however the ball was acrobatically hacked off the line by a Boston defender. The City fans and players appealed that the ball had crossed the line, but in fairness to the officials, it was difficult to be sure and the benefit therefore rightly went to the defending side.

The game then became scrappy with numerous substitutions, injuries and the now compulsory yellow card for Darren Dunning, who remains top of the Third Division "Bad-Boy League". Boston did manage to conjure up a couple of dangerous moments with Lee Thompson shooting just wide and then the same player being denied by a wonderful tackle by Hope, as last defender.

Parkin was full of effort and belied critics who question his fitness, playing at full pace until the final whistle. His endeavour was epitomised when diving in to win the ball, he took a divot out of the pitch you could have planted a tree in! He also had the games final moment, a twenty-five yard dipping shot, just over the bar. It would have been a deserved second goal for the York forward, who kept possession well, plus engineering some decent chances for both himself and team mates. He will be in Tuesday’s side against Oxford on merit.

So, unlike the Cambridge match of two weeks ago, it was York's turn to rue their luck. If they want to learn from their mistakes and progress, there are two hard lessons to be taken from this encounter and not for the first time either, in this City side. Firstly, get the second goal making pressure count. Secondly, find a way of stemming crosses from out wide, especially the City right.

Make no mistake, York have the makings of a decent side and credit should be given to the new manager and chairman, given the financial constraints involved at the club. However, City must learn from their errors if a play-off position is to be maintained.


ATTN. 3190 (340 Away supporters)

MAN OF THE MATCH. Parkin for effort and being the most likely player to create goal-scoring opportunities.

OTHER GOOD DISPLAYS. Merris, Hope, Dunning.

BEST FORGOTTEN Brass in all but defensive duties. Cooper, in all but effort and commitment.

SHOTS ON GOAL City 10 - 5 Boston

MATCH RATING 7/10. Plenty of chances.

Report by Mark Willis

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