Cambridge United 0, York City 1

U’s manager Martin Ling might have boasted about using internet footage to plot the Minstermen’s downfall during the first meeting between the two teams at Bootham Crescent back in September.

But a Michael Gash brace ensured honours ended even in a 2-2 draw that day.

Since then, City have made two trips to the Abbey Stadium and emerged victorious on both occasions with Saturday’s 1-0 Blue Square Premier triumph, secured by Neil Barrett’s third goal of the season, following on from November’s 2-1 FA Cup conquest.

The matches have also followed a similar format.

Cambridge began both enjoying long spells of possession and territorial superiority in midfield, only to fall behind against a City side, always dangerous on the counter-attack and then adept at doggedly defending a slender lead, including when ’keeper Danny Potter is thrown forward in a final act of desperate frustration by the home team.

The Minstermen managed just two shots on target and failed to win a single corner on Saturday but won three points for the ninth successive game due to a resilience Foyle has demanded from his team on their travels.

Skipper Daniel Parslow epitomised that determination, throwing himself into challenge after challenge as he nullified the threat of left-winger Robbie Willmott.

On the opposite flank, strikers Richard Brodie and Michael Rankine worked selflessly to counter the right-wing raids of full-back Rory McAuley that had been a feature of Cambridge’s first-half display.

Through the spine of the team, goalscorer Barrett and centre-back David McGurk were also in formidable mood.

Barrett might have opened the scoring on 20 minutes when he collected a curling pass from Ben Purkiss but the former Ebbsfleet midfielder scuffed his near-post shot wide.

Leading scorer Brodie also drove wide from the edge of the box.

At the other end, Parslow’s sliding challenge took the sting out of an on-target Willmott effort following Luke Graham’s slip.

Willmott also blazed over from a right-wing McAuley cross to the far post.

On 38 minutes, Paul Carden’s 30-yard drive whistled just wide of Michael Ingham’s goal, while McAuley found the former Northern Ireland international’s midriff from an angle.

Lee Phillips then headed over from a McAuley cross before Brodie was cautioned after Willmott jumped out of the way of his lunge for the ball on the halfway line.

The visitors forged ahead, though, on 48 minutes when a deflection took Barrett’s 25-yard strike beyond the reach of Potter and into the home ’keeper’s top left-hand corner following Rankine’s lay-off.

A glancing header by Rankine from Chris Carruthers’ cross saw Potter make his only save of the match on 70 minutes and Brodie departed the action moments later.

Foyle decided to take action and introduced Richard Pacquette after Brodie somehow escaped a second caution when he fell to his knees and referee Darren Drysdale awarded a free-kick to Cambridge for simulation.

Former Torquay striker Phillips then squandered an excellent chance to equalise, missing the target from six yards with his head after Wayne Hatswell had met Danny Crow’s deep cross from the left.

Aside from a couple of late nervous moments from an otherwise unflappable Ingham, City went on to defend their 18-yard box expertly with the sum of Cambridge’s remaining efforts restricted to off-target, edge-of-the-box efforts from Jai Reason and McAuley.

Ling and his players trudged off shortly afterwards having been handed another education in how to win a football match.

Match facts

Cambridge United 0, York City 1 (Barrett 48)

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

Substitutions: Richard Pacquette (for Brodie, 73), Djoumin Sangare (for Purkiss, 87), Andy Ferrell (for Carruthers, 90).

Not used: Gall, Smith.

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: Parslow – stuck to Willmott like glue, making countless tackles, clearances and headers.

Cambridge: Danny Potter, Rory McAuley, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Aiden Palmer, Sam Ives (Andy Parkinson, 67), Paul Carden, Jai Reason, Lee Phillips (Adam Marriott, 80), Danny Crow, Robbie Willmott.

Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Daryl Coakley, Laurie Walker.

Booked: Brodie 45.

Shots on target: United 5, York 2.

Shots off target: United 11, York 5.

Corners: United 4, York 0.

Fouls conceded: United 10, York 15.

Offsides: United 1, York 0 Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincs). Rating: quite sensible, especially when keeping the book in his pocket after players from both teams indulged in pushing and shoving.

Attendance: 2,646 (295 from City).

Tackle of the match: City skipper Parslow’s sliding challenge as Willmott bore down on Ingham’s goal.

Cross of the match: McAuley made several with the pick his far-post delivery that Willmott blazed over.

Head to head: Ben Purkiss v Robbie Willmott

With Cambridge employing a 4-3-3 formation, right-sided midfielder Purkiss did not really have a direct foe, but helped Parslow in his efforts to combat the threat of Willmott down the left. The former Gainsborough right-back was disciplined throughout, limiting his forays forward. He also helped cut out the supply to a frustrated Willmott.