RIVAL League Two bosses Nigel Worthington and John Sheridan once combined to win the competition formerly known as the Littlewoods Cup.

But it was the latest in a catalogue of free-kick clangers that ensured Saturday’s meeting between Sheffield Wednesday’s 1991 Wembley winners, now in charge of York City and Plymouth Argyle respectively, did not produce a victor.

Tope Obadeyi’s 65th-minute point-clinching equaliser for Plymouth, from Conor Hourihane’s left-wing dead-ball delivery, means the Minstermen have now conceded from a free-kick in five of their last seven matches.

In fact, since City last kept a clean sheet nine games ago, opposing teams have also netted from one corner, a throw-in and two penalties.

It is an alarming trend for a team that did not ship a single goal from set-pieces during their opening 11 League games and a statistic that is beginning to bring into question the side’s current ability to defend their own six-yard box, let alone penalty area.

Against Plymouth, Elliott Whitehouse was penalised for a foul on the left flank to give visiting captain Hourihane the opportunity to swing in an enticing cross to the far post.

City ’keeper Michael Ingham decided against coming out to claim the delivery and Daniel Parslow was subsequently beaten in the air by the towering Curtis Nelson.

Substitute Obadeyi, equally tall and positioned four yards in front of the opposite upright, then headed back towards goal despite Chris Smith’s attempts to snuff out the danger and covering defender Luke O’Neill could only help the ball into the roof of the net.

Failing to win first and second balls so close to goal clearly upset Worthington as his team could not manage to hold on to the lead, given them by Ryan Bowman’s 53rd-minute header, against League Two’s lowest marksmen.

Bowman’s goal was the first Plymouth had conceded in more than seven-and-a-half hours of football but, having worked so hard to break down a resolute back line, the Minstermen surrendered that advantage meekly and might have even come out with no reward after surviving a stoppage-time scramble.

Earlier, the home side had grown stronger throughout a professional first-half display after Lewis Alessandra’s 20-yard effort forced the game’s first save from Ingham after seven minutes.

Wes Fletcher volleyed wide from the edge of the box soon afterwards and saw a diving header deflected off target from O’Neill’s right-wing cross.

Former Burnley striker Fletcher went on to turn provider, sending in a left-wing centre that was met by Smith, whose volley was prevented from creeping inside his right-hand post by Pilgrims ’keeper Luke McCormick.

After Alessandra had missed the target wastefully from 12 yards with only Ingham to beat at the other end, Bowman’s rising shot was then caught by McCormick with Ryan Jarvis’ initial effort blocked by the Devon team’s defence following good work by O’Neill and makeshift winger Lanre Oyebanjo down the right.

Lewis Montrose and Jarvis then combined neatly to tee up a chance for Whitehouse who, after charging into the 18-yard box through the right channel, could not beat McCormick at his near post.

City eventually gained a deserved lead eight minutes after the interval when Montrose fed an overlapping O’Neill. His excellent cross was subsequently diverted back across goal by Bowman and his downward header bounced in off McCormick’s left-hand post.

However, other than Smith’s glancing 77th-minute header across the face of goal, from an O’Neill corner, the Minstermen did not threaten in an attacking sense again with the hosts perhaps missing the dynamism of absent Northern Ireland under-21 internationals Josh Carson and Ryan Brobbel on the flanks.

Former Bolton winger Obadeyi, meanwhile, pepped up the visitors’ forward thrust and he was on the scoresheet within 11 minutes of his introduction.

Moments later, City supporters had their hearts in their mouths when last-man Smith scythed down Alessandra in the box before a delayed flag was raised for offside.

Reuben Reid also had a shot on the turn saved by Ingham and Obadeyi drove over from 15 yards before fellow sub Luke Young booted a free-kick into the impressively- populated away end.

The biggest scare, though, came in the first minute of added-on time when Obadeyi marauded down the left, with his cross leading to chances for Reid and Alessandra that were kept out by a combination of Ingham and some last-ditch defending by Smith. Following three successive draws, City now know there must be a winner tomorrow when Bristol Rovers are the visitors for an evenly-balanced first-round replay.


Match facts

York City 1 (Bowman 53), Plymouth 1 (Obadeyi 65)

York City

Michael Ingham 6
Has the ability to command his six-yard box and must look to make it his own personal territory again.

Luke O’Neill 8
STAR MAN – almost faultless ball control and enhanced his position as City’s leading provider of assists.

Chris Smith 6
Grew a little ragged late in the game, as illustrated by his yellow card and a couple of loose challenges.

Daniel Parslow 6
Whole-hearted as ever but given some aerial problems by a tall visiting team.

Ben Davies 7
Kept things tight down his flank and tried to combine with Jarvis going forward during the first half.

Lanre Oyebanjo 7
Harassed to good effect in his advanced role but dwelled a little in possession late on.

Elliott Whitehouse 7
Enthusiastic and energetic but might have done better with his chance on the stroke of half-time.

Lewis Montrose 8
Passed crisply and moved the ball around the pitch with ease, culminating in his important role for the goal.

Ryan Jarvis 7
Gave the visitors a few problems with his nimble footwork at times and always looked liable to pop up with a goal.

Ryan Bowman 7
Another well-placed header to add to his growing collection and always willing to battle for possession.

Wes Fletcher 7
His movement and enthusiasm proved a thorn in Plymouth’s side before the interval but less prominent afterwards.

Subs: Ashley Chambers (for Jarvis, 83), Tom Platt (for O’Neill, 90). Not used: Kettings, Cresswell, McGurk, Clay, Fyfield.


Plymouth

Luke McCormick, Maxime Blanchard, Neal Trotman, Guy Branston (Andres Gurrieri, 59), Durrell Berry, Conor Hourihane, Curtis Nelson, Romuald Boco (Tope Obadeyi, 54), Jamie Reckord (Luke Young, 46), Lewis Alessandra, Reuben Reid.

Subs not used: Jake Cole, Andre Blackman, Dominic Blizzard, Tyler Harvey, Andres Gurrieri.

Star man: Obadeyi – gave Plymouth an attacking threat.

Referee: Seb Stocksbridge (Gateshead).

Rating: 9/10 – difficult to recall much that either team could complain about.

Booked: Boco 20, Branston 58, Nelson 61, Smith 69.

Sent off: None.

Attendance: 3,803 (541 from Plymouth).

Shots on target: City 4, Plymouth 5.

Shots off target: City 3, Plymouth 3.

Corners: City 10, Plymouth 0.

Fouls conceded: City 7, Plymouth 12.

Offsides: City 0, Plymouth 2.