NOT since New Year’s Day have York City conceded as many as three goals in a league fixture.

But with a back four deprived of the services of Ben Purkiss and including Daniel Parslow and David McGurk, who were both suffering from the same sickness bug, there was always the possibility Saturday’s trip to Crawley might throw up an anomaly or something nastier.

Burton, who have been plying their trade in the Football League for three months now, were the last side to put three past Martin Foyle’s men in the Blue Square Premier 37 league fixtures ago.

As in each of their last four matches, City scored first at Crawley when leading marksman Richard Brodie grabbed his 12th goal of the season to give the Minstermen a half-time lead.

But three sloppily-conceded goals after the break earned the Red Devils a first win in seven games.

City’s defence were not solely culpable, however, with the visitors’ midfield dropping deeper and deeper in the second half.

Possession and territory was surrendered far too often in the middle of the park with Thomas Pinault afforded time and space to begin dictating proceedings.

The fact that Neil Barrett was another virus victim cannot have helped in that respect and Levi Mackin looked more energetic when replacing the former Chelsea trainee for the last 20 minutes.

But, even on an off day, Foyle’s side always carry a goal threat.

That potency proved crucial in similarly, unconvincing displays against Cambridge and Tamworth this season but, at the Broadfield Stadium, City hit the woodwork twice and had two more efforts cleared off the line.

The final scoreline could easily have been 4-3 to the Minstermen and Brodie might have had a hat-trick, which should provide consolation in defeat.

During a scrappy opening, referee Kevin Johnson’s whistle played a prominent role but Parslow, deputising for Purkiss at right-back, made two brave blocks to deny the home side a sight of Michael Ingham’s goal.

Michael Rankine missed the first clear chance of the match, though, when he headed over from an Alex Lawless free-kick.

Unsurprisingly, the Minstermen forged ahead from another set-piece after Crawley were penalised for their 12th foul of the game on 28 minutes. Brodie fell over an Eddie Hutchinson lunge before drilling a low, 25-yard drive in off Simon Rayner’s right-hand post after Lawless had touched the ball to his left.

Crawley finished the half stronger, however, with Pinault’s long-range effort, which bounced across the face of goal, a portent of what was to come.

Ben Smith tested Ingham from 25 yards early in the second half before Steve Evans’ men conjured up an inevitable equaliser on 53 minutes. Midfielder Andy Ferrell was penalised 35 yards from goal and, when Chris Giles flicked on City old boy Simon Rusk’s subsequent free-kick with his head, the ball fell for Danny Forrest, who beat an exposed Ingham with a sidefooted volley eight yards out.

City might have struck straight back when Brodie and Ferrell exchanged passes only for the unmarked striker to be denied when his right-footed effort was kept out by Rayner’s outstretched left leg.

At the other end, though, chief tormentor Pinault fired over from 30 yards and Giles called Ingham into action at his near post.

Still, City looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Adam Boyes, playing on the right, dispossessing Giles on 75 minutes before firing an angled drive against a post.

Rankine’s follow-up attempt was then cleared off the line by a relieved Giles.

Three minutes later, Crawley took the lead when McGurk’s tackle on Calum Willock, as the home substitute looked to turn in City’s penalty box, ricocheted off Chris Carruthers and fell fortuitously to Smith, who shot past a helpless Ingham from seven yards.

Rusk, taunted by visiting fans throughout the second period, then came to his side’s rescue, clearing off the line from Brodie after Mackin and Boyes had combined to set up the chance.

Crawley, though, made the points safe on 88 minutes when Carruthers’ header from a long Rayner punt only succeeded in sending Forrest clear on goal and he beat the unfortunate Ingham with a cool finish.

There was still time for Brodie to rattle the crossbar after he had rounded Rayner following more good work by Boyes, but sick City were left to reflect on a fourth fixture without a league victory.


Match facts

Crawley Town 3 (Forrest 53, 88; Smith 78), York City 1 (Brodie 29)

York City: Michael Ingham 6, Daniel Parslow 7, Djoumin Sangare 6, David McGurk 6, Chris Carruthers 5, Adam Boyes 7, Alex Lawless 7, Neil Barrett 5, Andy Ferrell 5, Michael Rankine 6, Richard Brodie 7.

Substitutions: James Meredith (for Sangare, 71), Levi Mackin (for Barrett, 76), Craig Nelthorpe (for Ferrell, 80).

Subs not used: Smith, McWilliams.

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: Brodie – always a thorn in Crawley’s side and might have had a hat-trick with more fortune.


Crawley: Simon Rayner, Simon Rusk, Adam Quinn, Glenn Wilson, Chris Giles, Barry Cogan, Eddie Hutchinson (Michael Malcolm, 89), Thomas Pinault, Ben Smith, Danny Forrest (Nick Carter, 90), Jefferson Louis (Calum Willock, 46).

Subs not used: Lewis Killeen, Nick Jordan.

Bookings: Barrett 45, McGurk 56, Smith 68, Forrest 90.

Shots on target: Crawley 6, York 7.

Shots off target: Crawley 4, York 4.

Corners: Crawley 6, York 1.

Fouls conceded: Crawley 17, York 14.

Offsides: Crawley 1, York 1.

Referee: Kevin Johnson (Weston-Super-Mare).

Rating: a little over-fussy.

Attendance: 975 (271 from City).

Tackle of the match: Either of Parslow’s early shot-blocking, challenges in the first five minutes.

Save of the match: Rayner’s stop to keep out Brodie’s chance for 2-1.


Head to head: Adam Boyes v Glenn Wilson

Neither player was employed in their favoured position with striker Boyes operating on the right wing for City again and the right-footed Giles pressed into left-back action.

Boyes’ best moments in the first half came when he drifted inside though with Wilson failing to track him.

City’s loan signing then made a quiet start to the second half but caused Wilson problems later in the game, hitting the post and creating two chances for Brodie from out wide.