Super sub Onome Sodje salvages precious point for York City at Forest Green Rovers in the Blue Square Premier

Substitute Sodje struck on 85 minutes to secure City a 1-1 draw in a match that their hosts dominated for most of the evening.

The former Charlton trainee’s effort was only his side’s second on-target attempt of the game, but could prove priceless in the Minstermen’s battle to beat the drop.

Kaid Mohamed had earlier given Forest Green a deserved first-half lead.

City made three changes to the side that triumphed 2-0 over Telford on Saturday. Youngsters Andy McWilliams and Adam Boyes dropped to the bench, while Australian striker Daniel McBreen was spared the trip.

David McGurk returned to the starting line up with manager Foyle fielding three centre-backs. Former Wrexham pair Christian Smith and Simon Brown also earned recalls after being cup-tied for the weekend’s FA Trophy semi-final, first leg.

Forest Green dominated possession for long periods of the first half with a long pass by Darren Jones creating the first chance of the night for Mohamed.

McGurk misjudged the flight of the ball but then recovered to divert Mohamed’s sixth-minute shot. Good work by left-winger Conal Platt then led to a chance for David Brown that he sidefooted straight at Michael Ingham from 12 yards.

On 23 minutes, Alex Lawless called Ingham into action again with a low drive from long range.

Jones, seeing plenty of the ball, also caused Ingham to beat out a rising 25-yard effort and then drove wide before the home side broke the deadlock on 41 minutes.

Left-back Paul Stonehouse drove forward and unleashed a low 20-yard drive that Ingham could only parry into the path of Mohamed, who found the back of the net from close range despite the City ’keeper’s best attempts to punch the ball to safety.

At the other end, the Minstermen managed only one effort, albeit unintentional, at the home goal during the whole first period when Simon Rusk curled in a 28th-minute free-kick that bounced wide of the far post.

The visitors managed their first shot on goal five minutes into the second half when Levi Mackin’s bobbling 25-yard effort was greeted by ironic cheers from the 60-strong away end.

Following a lull in the game, Platt fired an angled drive wide from 30 yards on 58 minutes. Mohamed had the ball in the net for a second time, but his header was correctly ruled out for offside.

Forest Green should have doubled their advantage on 67 minutes when a defensive mix-up saw Lawless burst clear on goal down the left. The central midfielder opted for finesse rather than power but his deft chip, while sailing over Ingham, bounced wastefully wide.

Stonehouse also fired wide from the edge of the box seconds later and then created a chance for Platt that Ingham saved.

Ben Purkiss then lifted a sidefooted effort over from 15 yards on 84 minutes before Sodje earned his team a point. A free-kick was won by sub Boyes on the edge of the box and quick thinking by Purkiss picked out Sodje, who beat Burton at his near post with an angled ten-yard drive.

Match facts

Forest Green Rovers 1 (Mohamed 41), York City 1 (Sodje 85)

York City: Michael Ingham 7, Danny Parslow 7, Shaun Pejic 5, David McGurk 7, Ben Purkiss 7, Levi Mackin 6, Christian Smith 5, Simon Rusk 6, Mark Robinson 7, Richard Brodie 5, Simon Brown 5.

Substitutions: Adam Boyes (for Brodie, 61) 6, Onome Sodje (for Pejic, 62) 7, Andy McWilliams (for C Smith, 62) 6.

Subs not used: Russell, Greaves.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Robinson – solid presence at wing-back for the Minstermen.

Forest Green: Terry Burton, Darren Jones, Lee Ayres, Mark Preece, Paul Stonehouse, Paul Lloyd (Jonathan Smith 90), Lee Fowler, Alex Lawless, Conal Platt (Adriano Rigoglioso 90), David Brown, Kaid Mohamed.

Subs (not used): Ryan Robinson, Ben Ashford.

Yellow cards: C Smith 52, Rusk 56.

Referee: Dean Mohareb (Cheshire).

Attendance: 681 (60 City fans).