WREXHAM’S directors could have been forgiven for glancing ruefully at Bootham Crescent’s home dugout on Saturday.

Just last autumn, York City manager Martin Foyle was Brian Little’s number three at the Racecourse Ground.

But, when Little’s services were dispensed with, the Wrexham board also relieved Foyle of his coaching duties.

Since then, Dean Saunders has struggled to revive the fortunes of the Dragons, who have been slain by the likes of Tamworth and Salisbury this season and are currently floundering in 15th place in the Blue Square Premier table.

The Minstermen, meanwhile, have enjoyed a remarkable renaissance under Foyle and his assistant Andy Porter, meaning leading marksman Richard Brodie might not be the only Bootham Crescent employee soon to be coveted by Football League clubs.

Just like Billy McEwan before him and new Peterborough United boss Mark Cooper, Foyle’s work will not be going unnoticed at a higher level with Saturday’s 2-1 triumph leaving City just six points short of their grand total for 2008/9.

Unsurprisingly, Foyle had a little dig after Saturday’s game at those still unhappy with his side’s level of performance despite equalling a club record of eight consecutive wins.

Each of those victories has carried a one-goal margin, leading some critics to claim that fortune has played its part in the success of the last six weeks.

But no side ever rode its luck to eight wins in a row and the simple truth is there are several ways to win a game of football or, indeed, promotion.

The Minstermen can and will beat teams again with expansive football this season but, for now, the side’s ability to score goals and doggedly defend slender leads should be celebrated not maligned.

For all the supposed pressure City have been subjected to during their record-equalling run, Michael Ingham, despite displaying an expert command of his penalty box, has rarely been called upon to make a decent save.

He was on Saturday and proved up to the task, diving high to his left to impressively tip over a curling, edge-of-the-box effort by Wes Baynes.

Earlier, Chris Carruthers had opened the scoring on six minutes with his first goal in City colours.

Skipper Daniel Parslow sent Michael Rankine charging down the right flank and his deep cross seemed to hang in the air for an age before dropping on the head of Carruthers, who had time to pick a spot past Wrexham ’keeper Chris Maxwell at the far post.

The visitors did not manage a shot of any description until the 26th minute when veteran former Manchester City striker Gareth Taylor’s shot on the turn was deflected over.

City defender David McGurk also made a great goal-saving tackle to stop former Leeds United loan player Lamine Sakho in his tracks after a rare misjudgement by fellow centre-back Luke Graham.

The Minstermen’s start to the second period was never likely to be as rousing as the Archbishop of York’s terrific half-time rally cry and Taylor found the net soon after the restart, only for his header to be ruled out by an offside flag before namesake Neil Taylor forced Ingham into his first save on 56 minutes.

At the other end, Rankine headed over after a brilliant, sliding interception and cross from the right by Alex Lawless.

But Sakho volleyed into the arms of Ingham just past the hour before City’s former Northern Ireland international was at full stretch to keep out Baynes’ shot.

The home side, though, doubled their advantage on 80 minutes when Lawless expertly sidestepped a Mike Williams challenge to burst clear on goal and, when his shot was parried and bounced up into the air, the predatory Brodie was on hand to head into an empty net before the ball had a chance to drop to the ground.

He wheeled away to rather foolishly celebrate his 20th goal of the season in front of the Wrexham fans, although Foyle later revealed the reason for his provocative reaction, which earned Brodie a booking, was that the England ‘C’ international had been struck on the head by a coin.

There was little time for City to enjoy the comfort of a two-goal lead either, with Wrexham reducing the deficit on 82 minutes when Andy Fleming swept a low right-wing cross from Curtis Obeng past Ingham from six yards.

During stoppage time, James Meredith then made a crucial block as substitute Adrian Cieslewicz prepared to deliver a dangerous centre and Gareth Taylor also headed wide from a Baynes free-kick.

But Foyle’s men held on and can now claim the club’s longest winning streak since Dickie Valentine’s Christmas Alphabet was number one and Don Revie was Football Writers’ Player of the Year.


Match facts

York City 2 (Carruthers 6; Brodie 80), Wrexham 1 (Fleming 82)

York City: Michael Ingham 8, Daniel Parslow 7, Luke Graham 7, David McGurk 8, James Meredith 8, Alex Lawless 8, Levi Mackin 7, Neil Barrett 7, Chris Carruthers 7, Michael Rankine 7, Richard Brodie 7.

Substitutions: Michael Gash (for Rankine, 90) Subs not used: Adam Smith, Andy Ferrell, Josh Mimms, Kevin Gall.

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: imperious again at the heart of City’s defence.


Wrexham: Chris Maxwell, Curtis Obeng, Mansour Assoumani, Frank Sinclair, Mike Williams, Wes Baynes, Andy Fleming, Nathan Fairhurst, Neil Taylor (Adrian Cieslewicz, 71), Gareth Taylor, Lamine Sakho (Matty Wolfenden, 85).

Subs not used: Sam Russell, Mark Jones, Marc Williams.


Shots on target: York 4, Wrexham 4.

Shots off target: York 5, Wrexham 5.

Corners: York 2, Wrexham 5.

Fouls conceded: York 10, Wrexham 15.

Offsides: York 0, Wrexham 6.

Booked: Sakho 39, Sinclair 45, Brodie 81.

Referee: Peter Wright (Southport).

Rating: belied his young age by performing decisively and making few mistakes.

Attendance: 3,006 (249 away fans).

Cross of the match: The delivery Rankine dug out to present Carruthers with his first City goal.

Tackle of the match: McGurk’s perfectly-timed challenge on Sakho on the stroke of half-time.

Save of the match: Ingham’s fingertip effort to deny Baynes.


Head to head: Luke Graham v Gareth Taylor

FORMER Manchester City striker and Wales international Taylor got little change out of on-loan centre-back Graham. Taylor won his fair share of headers and held the ball up well, but Graham was always in close attendance and the 36-year-old veteran was rarely given space in which to hurt the home team. Graham can count himself unlucky not to have enjoyed a fifth clean sheet in six starts for City.


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