8:00am Saturday 13th March 2010
By Dave Flett
YORK City will now need to create club history to secure a top-five place this season.
During 80 years as a professional outfit, no Minstermen side has ever clinched promotion or a play-off place having suffered four consecutive defeats – the current losing sequence that is threatening to derail a hitherto impressive and progressive campaign at Bootham Crescent.
Having already equalled a 54-year-old club record of eight straight wins, Martin Foyle’s men will also be hoping to avoid emulating their 1955/56 forefathers for a second time – by ending the season in a surprisingly low 11th place.
The archives do, however, provide some consolation for City supporters still hoping that this unexpected losing streak represents a surmountable blip.
During the old fourth division promotion campaigns of 1964/5 and 1970/1, both teams racked up a hat-trick of successive defeats, as did Alan Little’s play-off semi-finalists of 1994/5.
The club, though, are currently suffering their longest run of defeats since November 2004 when Chris Brass was sacked after the third straight loss – a 3-1 home humiliation to Forest Green Rovers preceded by drubbings at Barnet (0-4) and Carlisle (1-3) and followed by a 1-0 reverse against Woking during Viv Busby’s first game in caretaker charge.
Furthermore, another defeat at Altrincham this afternoon would represent the first time City have lost five on the bounce in nine years since Terry Dolan racked up six reverses in a row, although his run admittedly kicked off with a 3-0 FA Cup third round exit at then Premier League outfit Leicester.
Foyle is also facing a test of his resolve, having equalled his worst losing spell as a manager following back-to-back beatings against Swansea (0-2), Carlisle (2-3), Crewe (2-3) and Hereford (0-4) while at the Port Vale helm in November 2006.
The City boss is still, however, only halfway to matching an unenviable club record of eight successive defeats, shared by his predecessors Wilf McGuinness and Tom Lockie.
McGuinness’ 1975/6 team managed that ignominy on their way to relegation from the old second division, while Lockie’s 1963/4 side endured the same losing streak during a campaign that would see them finish 90th in the Football League standings.
The sorry string of results under McGuinness encompassed defeats against Notts County (0-4), West Brom (0-1), Chelsea (0-2), Charlton (2-3), Luton (2-3), Carlisle (1-2), Fulham (0-2) and Orient (0-2).
Lockie’s team, meanwhile were beaten by Carlisle (2-5), Aldershot (1-2), Carlisle again (0-4), Rochdale (0-2), Oxford (0-2), Darlington (2-4), Bradford City (2-3) and Workington (0-1).
YORK City midfielder Levi Mackin is targeting a second Player of the Month award for 2009/10.
Mackin, pictured below, was the Press’ man-of-the-match winner during last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Forest Green Rovers to collect three points towards the contest.
He also received the two bonus points on offer for receiving the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website.
Michael Ingham (two) and Courtney Pitt (one) were rewarded with the other points in Gloucestershire as our second and third-highest rated players respectively.
During Tuesday night’s 2-1 home defeat to Salisbury, the Press points were shared between Michael Rankine (three), Djoumin Sangare (two) and Richard Brodie (one).
Pitt topped the internet poll to pick up the two bonus points.
Top scorer Brodie, meanwhile, has closed the gap on Press Player of the Year David McGurk to six points.
To be in with a chance of presenting the next Player of the Month with his prize on the pitch at a City home game, register your man-of-the-match vote by visiting yorkpress.co.uk The Press Player of the Year standings: McGurk 37 points, Brodie 31, Rankine 23, Mackin 21, Ingham 19, Ferrell 15, Lawless 15, Parslow 15, Sangare 14, Barrett 13, Meredith 13, Purkiss 13, Graham 12, Gash 6, Carruthers 5, Smith 4, Boyes 2, Nelthorpe 2, Pacquette 2, Mimms 1, Pitt 1.
The Press Player of the Month for March latest standings: Mackin 5, Barrett 3, McGurk 3, Pitt 3, Rankine 3, Ingham 2, Pacquette 2, Sangare 2, Brodie 1.
Goals: Brodie 27, Rankine 7, Gash 6, Pacquette 4, Barrett 3, Sangare 3, Carruthers 2, Smith 2, Ferrell 1, Lawless 1, Mackin 1, Purkiss 1.
Assists: Lawless 9, Brodie 7, Rankine 6, Smith 5, Barrett 4, Carruthers 4, Ferrell 4, Purkiss 4, Meredith 3, Sangare 3, McGurk 2, Parslow 2, Gash 1, Graham 1, Ingham 1, Mackin 1, Nelthorpe 1.
Bad boys: Brodie 11 yellow cards, 1 red; Mackin 9 yellow; Ferrell 8 yellow; Meredith 1 red, 6 yellow; Barrett, McGurk both 5 yellow; Ingham, Lawless both 4 yellow; Carruthers, Rankine, Smith all 3 yellow; Graham, Sangare both 2 yellow; Pacquette 1 red; Gash, Nelthorpe, Parslow all 1 yellow.
City’s managerial team of Foyle, and his assistant Andy Porter will be taking fans’ questions as guests of York Minstermen on Thursday, March 25 at Bootham Crescent Social Club.
Doors will be open from 6.30pm with the event starting at 8pm and early arrival is recommended for what is expected to be a busy night.
Admission is free although under-18s must be accompanied by an adult member of their family.
There will also be a raffle during the interval with prizes including City matchday and Bootham Crescent Beer Festival tickets.
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