3:39pm Friday 16th April 2010
By Dave Flett
GOING into the penultimate weekend of the season, York City could still face any of their top five rivals in the Blue Square Premier play-offs.
But, with Stevenage requiring just one win from their final three fixtures to secure the title and automatic promotion, it seems a fairly safe bet the Minstermen will not have to tackle their 2009 FA Trophy conquerors.
With that in mind, it is unsurprising that manager Martin Foyle would settle for a final table that mirrors the standings ahead of today’s programme of games.
That would tee up a two-legged tie against long-time leaders Oxford United whose form, as our tables right, illustrate, would not have been good enough to secure a play-off place over the last eight games or since the turn of the year.
In fact, since New Year’s Day, relegation-threatened Forest Green and cash-strapped Salisbury have both won more matches than Chris Wilder’s men.
Anybody kidding themselves that the Kassam Stadium outfit would present an easy passage to Wembley should be warned however.
Despite dominating both league matches between the two clubs for long periods, the Minstermen only picked up one point for their efforts and Oxford have a comfortably superior record over their likely, fellow play-off contenders City, Luton and Rushden during matches between the four teams.
Like Oxford, City have only lost one of their fixtures against rivals currently placed second to fifth but the 11 meetings between the Football League hopefuls have also tended to be close affairs, with five ending in draws and a biggest-winning margin of just two goals.
Second-placed Luton, unbeaten in 12 games, look like the team to avoid in the play-offs.
The Kenilworth Road club top all the form tables, but have only taken five points against their adversaries, which is the same return for Rushden, ahead of the two teams’ Nene Park encounter in seven days’ time.
Rushden, though, have lost fewer games than any other side in non-League football’s highest echelon during 2010 with Tuesday night’s 3-2 reverse at Mansfield only their second loss, following on from a single-goal defeat at Oxford in February. The Minstermen and Oxford boast the best defensive records from the four clubs with Luton and Rushden more prolific in front of goal although that free-scoring form has not translated itself into the key matches.
In fact, during fixtures against each other, top-scoring trio Richard Brodie, James Constable and Lee Tomlin have only found the net once for City, Oxford and Rushden respectively, while Luton’s Tom Craddock has fired blanks in all five of his side’s contests.
YORK City left-back James Meredith has joined top scorer Richard Brodie at the head of The Press Player of the Month standings for April.
Brodie was our man of the match after his two headers helped City beat Barrow 3-0 on Tuesday night – an accolade that earned him three points towards the contest.
As our second-highest rated player Meredith also collected two points and was rewarded with the two bonus points on offer after polling the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website.
Ben Purkiss, our third-highest rated player against the Cumbrians, picked up the remaining point up for grabs.
At Eastbourne on Saturday, The Press points went to our man-of-the-match Chris Carruthers (three) Meredith (two) and Michael Rankine (one).
Meredith and Rankine shared the bonus points after receiving the same number of on-line, man-of-the-match votes.
England ‘C’ international Brodie has moved three points clear of David McGurk in The Press Player of the Year competition.
To be in with a chance of presenting the April Player of the Month with his award, please vote for your man of the match by visiting thepress.co.uk and following the match report links.
The Press Player of the Year standings: Brodie 40 points, McGurk 37, Rankine 28, Ingham 23, Mackin 21, Graham 20, Meredith 20, Ferrell 15, Lawless 15, Parslow 15, Barrett 14, Purkiss 14, Sangare 14, Carruthers 9, Pitt 7, Gash 6, Smith 6, Harsley 5, Boyes 2, Clarke 2, Nelthorpe 2, Pacquette 2, Mimms 1.
The Press Player of the Month for April latest standings: Brodie 7, Meredith 7, Rankine 6, Carruthers 4, Pitt 4, Barrett 2, Lawless 1, Purkiss 1. Goals: Brodie 35, Rankine 10, Gash 7, Barrett 5, Pacquette 4, Sangare 3, Carruthers 2, Smith 2, Ferrell 1, Graham 1, Harsley 1, Lawless 1, Mackin 1, McGurk 1, Pitt 1, Purkiss 1.
Assists: Lawless 11, Brodie 8, Carruthers 7, Rankine 7, Barrett 6, Smith 5, Ferrell 4, Purkiss 4, Harsley 3, Meredith 3, Pitt 3, Sangare 3, Gash 2, McGurk 2, Parslow 2, Graham 2, Clarke 1, Ingham 1, Mackin 1, Nelthorpe 1.
Bad boys: Brodie 12 yellow cards, 1 red; Mackin 11 yellow; Meredith 1 red, 7 yellow; Ferrell 8 yellow; McGurk 6 yellow; Barrett, Lawless both 5 yellow; Ingham, Rankine, Smith both 4 yellow; Carruthers, Sangare both 3 yellow; Gash, Graham both 2 yellow; Pacquette 1 red; Nelthorpe, Parslow, Pitt, Purkiss all 1 yellow.
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