Leigh RMI 0-3 York City     Bishop 65, 90 Nogan 67 Saturday 29 January 2005, Nationwide Conference Attendance: 701

York City secured a vital three points at the Conference's bottom team Leigh RMI. An uneventful match was sparked into life by a controversial refereeing decision and a moment of magic from City top scorer Bishop.

Throughout the first half Leigh were the better side, with City creating very little at all in the way of chances. Leigh could easily have been one or more goals ahead by half time, with notable chances being a lob over the advancing City keeper and a header wide from a cross. Otherwise much of the match provided little in the way of excitement for the City faithful, with perhaps the most notable incident being a clear penalty for City midfielder Dunning denied by some poor refereeing. Dunning appeared to be shoved over a yard or so inside the penalty area, and when he argued with the referee over the decision he was booked.

City started the second half on a brighter note, with their first real chance arriving when Nogan turned superbly past a couple of defenders, squaring the ball to Bishop who seemingly couldn't miss. However he sent his effort over the bar.

City's chances of getting 3 points looked to have been damaged when Dunning received a red card for a second bookable offence. He seemed to catch a Leigh player after the ball had been played, however it seemed a harsh decision when you consider earlier events.

Shortly after though the Minstermen netted their first. Bishop was fouled 25 yards out on the right hand side, and curled a beauty of a free kick right into the corner sending the travelling faithful wid and relieved. A second soon followed, with Bishop again muscling out a defender down the right and squaring to Nogan, who did his best to miss but failed, securing the three points.

Having suddenly become eventful, the rest of the game was largely forgettable as it was before the sending off. However shortly before full time, Bishop scored a third goal when he got onto a through ball before rounding the keeper and slotting the ball into an empty net.

Player Ratings

Chris PORTER 7:
Solid and commanded his area well.

Michael STALEY 6:
Not too bad, didn't do anything wrong.

Paul GROVES 7:
Marshalled the defence well.

Jon MALONEY 7:
Solid yet again.

Sean DAVIES 6:
Defensively okay but his distribution is poor.

Kevin DONOVAN 6:
Barely got into the game. However as it's Kev and this match reporter is a "KFC fan club" member, he can get an "average" mark anyway.

Byron WEBSTER 5:
His passing was at best misplaced.

Darren DUNNING 5:
Again, poor distribution - he never passes forwards. According to someone stood nearer that end, it was a clear penalty in the first half, and dunning was booked for protesting about that. The second booking he could do little about, not a challenge with any intent at all.

David MERRIS 6:
Quiet, not really given much of the ball.

Andy BISHOP 8 MotM:
Man of the match - ran his socks off. Deserved two goals, an awesome free kick and a well taken one on one, but how did he miss that chance earlier on?

Lee NOGAN 6:
Works hard, a great piece of skill to set up the previously mentioned chance for Bishop, otherwise little else. Just about managed to score despite the fact it wasn't that well hit. Still think Robbo's the better option.

Subs:

Levent YALCIN N/A:
Little time for much of an impact.

Report by David Venables

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