WES FLETCHER ensured York City lived to fight another day in the FA Cup as the Minstermen battled out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground.

It had looked like former Bootham Crescent striker Chris Beardsley, on loan from Preston North End, had put his side through to the second round when he headed home from Michael Smith’s cross with 75 minutes gone.

But as Nigel Worthington’s men chased the game, Steve Mildenhall, in the Rovers’ net, produced an absolute clanger with five minutes left – dropping a speculative cross right into the path of the York substitute, who simply had to tap home from a couple of yards out.

It was a game that only burst into life following the first third but, from then on, it was as explosive as the late Bonfire Night displays that sent fireworks shooting into the sky around the ground – simply a great FA Cup tie.

Nigel Worthington’s side had led 2-1 at the break, with Ryan Jarvis, and a wonderful strike from Josh Carson, giving them the advantage.

But Rovers roared back in the second half – substitute Matt Harrold scoring with his first touch and Beardsley then putting them in front – before Fletcher saved the day.

Forced into changes with both full-backs, Luke O’Neill and Ben Davies, denied permission by their parent clubs to play, Worthington inserted Lanre Oyebanjo and Jamal Fyfield into the defence.

He also made changes to his attacking line-up, with Sander Puri preferred to Ryan Brobbel and top-scorer Jarvis returning at the expense of Fletcher.

Following a scrappy start, with both teams feeling each other out, the home side were unlucky not to go in front on 26 minutes when Ollie Clarke turned and let fly from 30 yards.

The Minstermen didn’t pressure him on the ball and the midfielder almost made them pay as he turned and fired a swerving shot that cannoned off the inside of Michael Ingham’s right post with the City ’keeper’s despairing dive nowhere near to keeping it out.

York, who had been profligate earlier when Daniel Parslow was unable to stab home Oyebanjo’s cross from eight yards, were much more clinical, though, when they took the lead to start a frenetic spell ten minutes before the break.

Chris Smith put his head in where it hurt, in a collision with Mildenhall six yards out, following Carson’s delivery.

He took a knock for his troubles but the ultimate reward was watching the ball bounce right, where Jarvis was equally brave in forcing it home at the far post.

The lead did not last long. Barely two minutes later, the Pirates were level.

The Minstermen back four had their chances to clear but, allowing Eliot Richards to take the ball on the right side of the 16-yard box, were made to pay when the midfielder hit a beautiful shot away from Ingham and into the right corner of the net.

But if that was a special goal, what followed to put York back in front was simply spectacular. When a defensive clearance fell to Carson 25 yards out he had a lot to do.

The Irishman produced a first-time half-volley that soared and then dipped under Mildenhall’s despairing hand. It was a quite remarkable finish.

Puri was forced off nine minutes into the second half with what looked like a hamstring strain and Brobbel, allowed to play by Middlesbrough, came on for his first taste of FA Cup action.

He arrived just in time to see Rovers level on 57 minutes. Former City boss John Ward introduced Matt Harrold into the fray and the substitution paid dividends straight away – the incoming striker scoring with his first touch, a header from the free-kick from eight yards that looped in.

The moment seemed to energise Rovers and Clarke dragged a shot just wide of Ingham’s right-hand post after Harrold was once again involved.

Having seemed relatively settled, the Minstermen back four were now under severe pressure as the Pirates pushed for a winner.

Beardsley, whose time with the Minstermen was racked by misfortune when he suffered a broken jaw when challenged by Jamie Stuart at Grays Athletic, thought he’d got it.

White’s cross was pinpoint and Beardsley steered his header past a helpless Ingham. Just as it looked like the Minstermen might be leaving the competition, though, Fletcher capitalised on a moment of lunacy from Mildenhall to ensure City will get a second stab at reaching the second round.

York City

Michael Ingham 6
Lanre Oyebanjo 6
Daniel Parslow 7
Chris Smith 7
Jamal Fyfield 6
Josh Carson 7
Tom Platt 6
Elliott Whitehouse 6
Sander Puri 6
Ryan Bowman 6
Ryan Jarvis 7

Subs: Ryan Brobbel 6 (for Puri, 54), Wes Fletcher 7 (for Jarvis, 74), Richard Cresswell (for Bowman, 88).

Not used: Chris Kettings, Craig Clay, Ashley Chambers, Tom Allan.City star man: Josh Carson – wonderful goal in wonderful cup tie.

Bristol Rovers: Steve Mildenhall, Michael Smith, Tom Parkes, Tom Lockyer, Lee Brown, Alefe Santos, Ollie Clarke, Seanan Clucas, Oliver Norburn (Matt Harrold, 57), Eliot Richards, Chris Beardsley (Ryan Brunt, 83). Subs (not used): Conor Gough, David Clarkson, Ellis Harrison, Pat Keary, Josh Southway.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).
Rating: 7/10.

Booked: Bowman 10, Carson 41, Fyfield 57, C Smith 82.

Sent off: None.

Attendance: 4,654 (124 away supporters).

Shots on target: Rovers 4, City 6.

Shots off target: Rovers 5, City 3.

Corners: Rovers 6, City 2.

Fouls conceded: Rovers 7, City 13.

Offsides: Rovers 0, City 0.