CITY 1-0 Arsenal Houchen (P) 89   Attendance: 10,840

CITY: Astbury, Senior, Hay, Sbragia, MacPhail, Haslegrave, Ford, Butler, Walwyn, Houchen, Pearce. Sub (not used): Chippendale.
Booked: None.

Arsenal: Lukic, Anderson, Sansom, Talbot, O'Leary, Caton, Robson, Williams, Mariner, Woodcock, Nicholas (Allinson).
Booked: None.

Referee: Don Shaw (Sandbatch)

Shots on target: CITY 2, Arsenal 0.
Corners: CITY 1, Arsenal 1.

CITY 1-0 Arsenal

Third division City chalked up an unbelievable win over first division giants Arsenal at a wintry Bootham Crescent after doubt had been cast over whether or not the game would go ahead due to the condition of the City playing surface - covered in snow.

After both sets of supporters worked together to clear the pitch, the game got the go ahead and it turned out to be an unforgettable afternoon for City as the Minstermen overcame the Gunners to claim one of their biggest scalps ever in any cup competition with a dramatic late winner from the penalty spot.

The game itself was badly affected by the conditions. The frozen surface made it difficult for both pairs of strikers to escape the off-side trap and hard to play good flowing football on the deck. The game began at a fast pace with Keith Walwyn and 18-year-old Martin Butler, in only his second full appearance for the Minstermen, causing the usually stable Arsenal defence all kinds of problems with their direct approach.

Don Howe's Arsenal, whose team was assembled at a cost of £4.5 million, knew they were being given a run for their money by City, assembled at a cost of £20,000, and whilst there were no real scares in front of goal for the Gunners, City were having the better of the game. On the rare occasion that Arsenal did venture into the City penalty area, John McPhail's commanding presence was enough to save City although on one occasion, as Paul Mariner linked up with Talbot, the City defence were dependent on an off-side decision.

As the half wore on, City gradually grew more dominant and had a good chance just after the half hour mark as Butler capitalised on Kenny Sansom's initial mistake and charged down Tommy Caton's clearance and as he raced towards the Arsenal penalty area, held the ball up well for Gary Ford whose lunge from the edge of the area went skimming across the face of the goal.

Then on the brink of half time, Keith Walwyn did brilliantly on the right flank and his superb cross evaded everyone in a crowded penalty area except for Alan Pearce, lurking at the far post, and the 19-year-old, only in the side due to an injury sustained by winger Gary Nicholson, got his head to the ball but could only flick the ball marginally wide of Lukic's goal.

Half time came with Arsenal on the back-foot and City, more or less, in control of a scrappy game, plagued with off-sides. The majority of the 10,840 crowd could sense it was to be City's day of glory in front of the BBC's Match of the Day cameras. At the back they were looking very solid whilst up front City looked capable of goals with Butler, Walwyn and Keith Houchen in inspirational form despite the limited number of chances.

The second half continued in the same manner as the first half with City having the better of the chances as Alan Hay's long punt saw Walwyn draw Lukic from his line and the striker won the race to the ball and somehow managed to lob Lukic but was denied by a brilliant clearance off the line by Caton. City were suddenly full of renewed confidence and this time it was Butler's turn to produce a moment of skill as he weaved in and out of the Arsenal defence, teasing O'Leary, before he produced a powerful shot that went screaming over the bar. Arsenal were by now well and truely feeling the pressure and City went close again as Walwyn produced a superb low cross which narrowly evaded Houchen and Pearce fired the loose ball over the bar from a tight angle.

So, 'the Gunners' could hardly argue when, with 90 minutes on the clock, Walwyn once again combined well with Butler on the right and as Houchen raced in the area to meet Butler's low cross, he found himself hauled to the deck by Steve Williams and referee Don Shaw had no hesitation in awarding City a penalty. Houchen immediately placed the ball on the spot and as Bootham Crescent held it's breath, Houchen stepped up and kept his nerve to slot the penalty home with admirable expertise and send the City fans into ecstasy.

There was no way back for Arsenal and it was City who looked more likely to increase their advantage as Butler and Houchen played a one-two but with two men against two, Butler was muscled off the ball. City played out the final few moments of a memorable match and Walwyn managed to win City's first corner of the game with the clock ticking down.

At the final whistle, City fans invaded the pitch with delight. Another fine day in the memory of York City as the small third division side overcame first division giants Arsenal. In the next round City were drawn at home to Liverpool and after a fine 1-1 draw at home to the first division champions, City crashed 7-0 to the Merseysiders in a replay at Anfield.