York City 0-2 Cheltenham Town

[MarkW]

The trap door to the Conference is opening ever wider for City, after yet another home defeat; 0-2 versus Cheltenham.

Prior to kick off, hopes were high for the Minstermen to continue the improvement shown versus Bury in midweek. The York faithful too were determined to play their part, with the Popular Stand fans again leading the support, as the atmosphere built.

However, it was not to be and despite some reasonable football from the home team, only one shot on goal in 90 minutes really said it all.

York started brightly enough and after only 3 minutes, Nogan was unlucky not to get on the end of a Liam George cross, only six yards out. The City assistant manager then threaded a dangerous through ball and Newby looked clean through, only to be thwarted by a very dubious looking offside decision.

Cheltenham meanwhile were confined to shots from distance, the best of which, was a Grant McCann blast, parried by Ovendale.

On the half hour, City should have taken the lead. A George corner from the left was met sweetly by Hope, rising above the Cheltenham defence. His powerful header however, was somehow kept out by a frantic goalline block involving keeper and defender.

The remainder of the half saw Cheltenham becoming more assured, but City still looked comfortable with some good football from Leigh Wood in midfield. The goalkeepers remained fairly redundant however as half-time approached with the game goalless.

The second-half remained even with York probing through Wood and Dunning, whilst Cheltenham continued to try their luck with shots from distance.

Then disaster struck, as the game turned on yet another own goal conceded by City. A Cheltenham corner from the left caused some panic in the York defence with three defenders leaving the ball to each other. Lee Nogan then desperately tried to hook the ball clear of the goal-line, only to smash it into the roof of his own net. A bizzare goal and York were 1-0 down, with a little over 30 minutes remaining.

From then on, York got worse and the revival of Tuesday night never looked probable. In truth, Cheltenham appeared the more likely team to add to their lead as City threw men forward with little effect. Ovendale had to pull off three saves to deny Paul Brayson, and Chris Smith then made a brave block again from a Brayson shot.

The Cheltenham centre-forward was not to be denied however. Ovendale took too long over an injury time clearance and when the ball was stolen from him by Brayson, the York keeper brought him down. The result was an inevitable red card and no chance for stand in keeper Darren Edmondson with Brayson's spot kick.

With the travelling fans still celebrating, the final whistle blew and York were put out of their misery, for now at least.

The next game sees Yeovil visit Bootham Crescent on Tuesday night and a win seems very remote on this display and against a team who unlike Cheltenham, have everything still to play for. It would be a brave man therefore who would bet against Conference football next season and it would seem the nightmare is to become reality.


Attendance: 3221

Man of the Match: Leigh Wood.



Report: Mark Willis.
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