RELEGATION-THREATENED Tamworth will arrive at York City tomorrow looking for their first goal in more than eight hours of football.

The Lambs have failed to net in any of their last five matches with Iyseden Christie the last player to find the net during a 1-0 victory over Gateshead on March 2.

Christie, signed from Torquay in November, is Tamworth’s joint-leading marksman in the league with a meagre three goals, placing him alongside Bradley Pritchard, Jake Sheridan, right-back Richard Tait and Nick Wright at the top of the charts.

Unsurprisingly, the 16th-placed Staffordshire side are the Blue Square Premier’s lowest scorers with just 29 goals from 37 games.

Away from home, Gary Mills’ men have only managed to net ten times in 18 matches but have only conceded 16 in those fixtures, which is a record only beaten by Stevenage (13) and Rushden (14).

The home win against Gateshead represents Tamworth’s only triumph in 11 fixtures and last season’s Blue Square North champions have also taken just two points from a possible 15 on their travels since a shock 1-0 victory at Oxford in mid-January.

Ebbsfleet are the only other host team the Lambs have beaten in the league this season and a tally of two away victories is the worst in the division aside from Grays, who are still without a win on the road.

Mills’ men have, however, drawn nine away games, earning a share of the spoils at the likes of Stevenage, Kettering and Mansfield.

Key midfielder Sheridan will miss tomorrow’s game as he serves the second game of a two-match suspension after reaching ten bookings for the season.

Former Birmingham City trainee Wright has also not featured since the start of February due to a foot injury and defender Michael Briscoe remains doubtful with an ankle problem.

But ex-City centre-back Chris Smith, who played for the Minstermen from 2001 to 2004 and is now Tamworth captain, is expected to make his first appearance at Bootham Crescent since being released following the club’s relegation from the Football League.

Smith, who has scored twice in 29 outings this season, is looking forward to the match, saying: “I enjoyed my three years at York even though they were mixed times on the pitch, because we got relegated and I was offered a deal, but then had it taken away from me.

“But, in terms of the fans, I’ve got nothing but good things to say about them and it would be nice to get a decent reception. York are a good club, with a great fan base and some very good players who could play at a higher level.”

Tamworth are currently four points above the drop zone but only Ebbsfleet have played more games in the bottom eight.

Team (probable): Alcock, Tait, Smith, Wylde, Blackwood, Mitchell, Lyttle, Smith, Pritchard, Rodman, Christie.


Match facts

THIS will be Tamworth’s fourth league visit to Bootham Crescent and their first since February 2007.

The first time the clubs met at York was in August 2004 and marked City’s first home game since dropping out of the Football League.

Goals from Paul Groves and Paul Robinson earned City a 2-0 win.

The following season, Clayton Donaldson and Andy Bishop were on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory over the Lambs.

Tamworth’s last trip here was on February 3, 2007, when they won 2-0.

City’s line-up was: Evans, Lloyd, Dudgeon, McGurk, Peat (Craddock), Bowey, Panther, Bishop, Woolford (Maidens), Elvins (McMahon), Farrell.

Players to have represented both clubs include Paul Barnes, Graeme Law and Darren Mansaram.

It happened on March 27

1959: In a Good Friday fixture, City drew 2-2 at Bootham Crescent with Workington in front of 10,728. The scorers were Norman Wilkinson and Peter Wragg and City were fourth in Division Four.

1967: A 3-1 home win over Lincoln City with Tommy Spencer, Graham Caulfield and an opponent on the scoresheet, watched by 3,923. City were in the bottom four of the Fourth Division.

1970: Phil Boyer (2) and Paul Aimson were the marksmen in a 3-0 home victory over Peterborough United. The crowd was 3,152 and City were just below mid-table in the Fourth Division.

1971: City moved into the top four of Division Four following a 4-1 win against Northampton Town at Bootham Crescent in front of 7,089. The scorers were Kevin McMahon (2), Paul Aimson and Barry Swallow.

1974: A 3-1 victory at Bournemouth and City were second in Division Three (League One). The men on target were Chris Jones, Jimmy Seal and Ian Holmes.

1984: City stretched their lead at the top of the Fourth Division with a 2-0 win at Rochdale. Both goals were scored by John Byrne.

2007: Stevenage Borough won 1-0 at Bootham Crescent, but City remained third in the Conference. The crowd was 2,969.

Compiled by David Batters