York C 0:2 Macclesfield T. (04/04/04)

[MarkW]

The storm clouds continue to gather over Bootham Crescent as a thoroughly demoralised City team were comfortably beaten 2-0 by fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town.

For a game with so much at stake, this contest was notably lacking in passion. In a slightly surreal atmosphere the match was all but over after Town coasted into a two goal lead with over an hour remaining. From then on, the Silkmen comfortably contained a York team that lacked ideas and any genuine belief.

To rub salt into City wounds, the two Macclesfield goals were each netted by ex-Minstermen. In the 20th minute, Jon Parkin ran onto a Tipton header, before drilling a low fifteen yard shot, expertly past York keeper, Porter. Worse was to follow as Graham Potter was left with a completely free header on 27 minutes, only five yards out. His initial effort was blocked, but he made no mistake in powering home his second attempt, low and hard, as the ball was fed back to him.

Macclesfield continued to press and City could well have gone in at half time, four or five goals down. The visitors had two hand ball, penalty appeals ignored, Parkin hit the underside of the bar and Tipton curled a shot just wide from a good position.

The home side meanwhile had only a Dunning shot from 22 yards and a couple of attempts from Bell to show for a dire first half.

In the second period, York had some decent spells of possession and occasionally threatened with Dunning and Newby looking lively. However, Macclesfield were embarrasingly comfortable and the result was never really in any doubt.

Whilst it would be unfair to suggest the team lacked commitment, Dunning, Cooper, Brass and Nogan all gave everything in terms of effort, there was depressingly, zero belief in this City team. The nearest York came to a goal in the second half was a Brass shot from all of 25 yards, that flew just wide. For a team chasing points in probably their most vital match for years, that basically says it all.

As for the supporters, some 3855 turned up, of which 465 were Town fans. There was a comendable effort to create some atmosphere in the face of some awful football from City, especially from the Popular Stand Possie, many of whom belong to this forum. It has to be said however, that for such a big game, there was a lack of real passion from the York faithful, simply because their team were never in this game.

On this showing, York look every inch relegation material and it is difficult to see how this fate is going to be avoided. Make no mistake, City were truly awful today. They were without any resemblence of a game plan and obviously so pitifully short of confidence and belief.

Some will rightly say the Minstermen faithful have suffered enough over the last two years. Well, after this York performance, it seems the nightmare of Conference football is to be added to their woes.
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