JUST like council grit, belief has been in short supply at York City over recent years.

Bottom-half finishes in back-to-back Blue Square Premier seasons meant City supporters’ confidence levels were fragile entering the 2009/10 campaign.

The cheer that greeted news of Oxford’s defeat at the final whistle of Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Hayes and Yeading, however, in a game only possible due to the snow-shovelling efforts of home fans, signalled the faith Bootham Crescent regulars now have in their side.

From fretting about relegation with justification last season, even some Main Stand stalwarts – notoriously difficult to please – are now targeting a tilt at the title.

Their new-found optimism is understandable. The win over Hayes saw Martin Foyle’s men move on to 52 points, matching their grand total for last season with 20 games still to play.

Another three points, secured by a brace from 27-goal leading marksman Richard Brodie in between Chris Carruthers and Kevin Gall strikes, also saw City break a 45-year-old club record for consecutive league wins with their eighth in a row.

Furthermore, the Minstermen are now unbeaten in 20 home games – all statistics that would befit any promotion-chasing team.

Until now, Foyle has enjoyed slipping under the radar on any debate of genuine championship contenders, but City are beginning to demand attention with this triumph following on from the equally emphatic 3-0 Boxing Day defeat of Mansfield.

Such is Brodie’s current form opposition players are seemingly being sent off or conceding penalties on an almost game-by-game basis in their increasingly desperate attempts to stop him.

Hayes captain Tom Cadmore became the latest culprit when, as last man with the home side leading 2-0, he saw red after clipping Brodie’s heels 20 yards from goal on 51 minutes.

Arguably, ’keeper Simon Overland should have headed for the showers prior to his skipper’s dismissal having appeared to throw out his right arm to trip Brodie in the box midway through the first half.

But, to most people’s astonishment, especially Brodie’s, referee Paul Curry did not point to the penalty spot and then cautioned the ex-Newcastle Benfield striker for supposed simulation. Brodie was eventually withdrawn on the hour after Curry had appeared to contemplate punishing the 22-year-old forward with a second yellow card for diving.

His job, by then, was done, although Michael Gash and Gall picked up the mantle with aplomb, as replacements for Brodie and Michael Rankine, to illustrate the squad’s strength in depth.

The service to all of City’s strikers from the wing-less wonders, led by Alex Lawless and Carruthers, was also immaculate throughout.

Earlier, Esmond James gave the Minstermen a scare when he burst past David McGurk but dragged his shot across the face of Michael Ingham’s goal.

The home side should have forged ahead in the tenth minute, however, when Overland smothered a Brodie shot and Rankine, who regularly prefers power to placement, fired straight at covering defender Adam Green with his follow-up effort.

Carruthers stabbed a deflected close-range effort narrowly wide moments later before Brodie received his booking after collecting James Meredith’s through ball and rounding Overland.

Still smarting from the perceived injustice, Brodie robbed right-back Danny Allen-Page of possession on 25 minutes and sent in a low left-wing cross that Carruthers steered inside the near post with the aid of a deflection off Green.

Ingham was forced into his first save on the stroke of half-time but was not unduly tested by Allen-Page’s rising 30-yard drive.

Two minutes after the restart, City doubled their lead when Overland’s poor punch from Carruthers’ inswinging free-kick saw the ball skew at a 90 degree angle straight to Brodie, who sidefooted into the inviting net.

Cadmore departed shortly afterwards after Lawless has dissected the visitors’ defence to release Brodie who, after Rankine headed over from six yards, claimed his second of the match on 58 minutes.

Another measured through ball from Lawless picked out a well-timed run by Brodie, who sidestepped Overland’s dash to the edge of his penalty box before producing a floating finish that pinged in off the former Millwall trainee’s right-hand post.

On 63 minutes, Gash announced his arrival by releasing Carruthers for a clear run on goal with an intelligent reverse pass – his first touch of the game – but the former England under-20 international shot straight at Overland.

Gash also drove against a post from 20 yards after a flowing move involving Neil Barrett and Lawless.

It was Gall, though, who added the fourth goal, charging on to Carruthers’ long pass to round Overland and roll the ball into his unguarded net from 15 yards.

Gall also went close with a spectacular mid-air scissor kick before Hayes substitute Scott Fitzgerald grabbed a stoppage time consolation, beating Ingham with a near-post header from James’ corner.


Match facts

York City 4 (Carruthers 25; Brodie 47, 58; Gall 83, Hayes & Yeading United 1 (Fitzgerald 90)

York City: Michael Ingham 7, Daniel Parslow 8, Luke Graham 7, David McGurk 7, James Meredith 7, Alex Lawless 8, Levi Mackin 8, Neil Barrett 7, Chris Carruthers 8, Michael Rankine 7, Richard Brodie 9.

Substitutions: Michael Gash (for Rankine, 60) 8, Kevin Gall (for Brodie, 61) 8, Ben Purkiss (for Parslow, 68) 7.

Subs not used: Smith, Ferrell.

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 – looks unstoppable in this form.

Hayes: Simon Overland, Danny Allen-Page, Tom Cadmore, Matt Ruby, Adam Green, Esmond James, Ram Marwa, Marc Canham, Toby Little (Scott Fitzgerald, 68), Dale Binns (Sami El Abd, 53), Steve Basham (Stafforde Palmer, 78). Subs not used: Rob Gradwell, Chris Baker.

Yellow cards: Brodie 22, Green 34, Little 65, Mackin 84. Red: Cadmore 51.

Shots on target: York 10, United 2.

Shots off target: York 13, United 4.

Corners: York 9, United 5.

Fouls conceded: York 6, United 8.

Offsides: York 2 United 3.

Referee: Paul Curry (Ashington). Rating: poor and unnecessarily picky.

Attendance: 2,403 (30 from Hayes).

Mistake of the match: Decision to caution Brodie looked a big clanger.

Pass of the match: A 50-yard, cross-field ball by Parslow that would have made Glenn Hoddle proud.

Move of the match: Some great combination play between Gash, Gall and Lawless in the 89th minute.


Head to head: Alex Lawless v Adam Green

Hayes’ left-back rarely got close enough to tackle City’s intelligent playmaker and never really came to terms with Lawless’ tendency to drift inside from the flank.

When the pair did come into close combat, Lawless’ expert ball control and quick feet saw him usually retain possession with ease.

Green did prevent an early goal for Rankine, but Lawless threaded through two excellent balls for Brodie, which led to Cadmore’s dismissal and then City’s third goal.