Match report: York City 1, Histon 0

Saturday’s ninth straight home league win – albeit only 1-0 against bottom-of-the-table Histon – underlines how difficult a place Bootham Crescent has become for visiting teams under Gary Mills in 2010/11.

Following this weekend’s trip to Kettering, the Minstermen will play host to champions-elect Crawley Town a week tomorrow – a mouthwatering start to four consecutive home fixtures that will, in all likelihood, define the club’s season.

With Mills’ team having racked up the third-highest tally of consecutive league wins during the club’s 82-year history at their current home, big-spending Crawley, Richard Brodie et al, will know they are in for one of their toughest tests of the season.

City dominated long spells of Saturday’s match against the Stutes and, with a little more composure in the final third of the pitch, would have enjoyed a far more comfortable scoreline.

Jamie Reed’s 48th-minute goal, though, proved sufficient against the Cambridgeshire minnows, who only called Michael Ingham into two routine saves all afternoon.

On an otherwise disappointing day for Welsh footballers, Connah’s Quay-born Reed scored for the fourth time in three games and the former Bangor City striker continues to look the biggest goal threat in a season that has, unsurprisingly, seen the Minstermen struggle to compensate for the loss of the prolific Brodie in that department.

Despite only starting five matches, Reed’s return of six goals would place him just two behind top scorer Michael Rankine if penalty kicks were disregarded.

The Welsh Premier League graduate might also have finished this game with his hands on his hips but the fact that he was trusted to complete 90 minutes for the first time in City colours should give him an added injection of confidence between now and the end of the season.

In the exciting Peter Till and battle-hardened Michael Rankine, he certainly has two more than useful foils.

Till’s terrific burst into the visitors’ box led to goal poacher Reed’s scuffed match-winning effort while, like Brodie before him, he is currently benefiting from the selfless work of striking partner Rankine too.

Histon’s only two shots on target were both weak attempts from midfielder Lee Smith – the first a fourth-minute free-kick that failed to trouble Ingham at his near post before the hosts went on to dominate the rest of the opening 45 minutes.

David McGurk should have done better than heading straight into on-loan Crystal Palace ’keeper Wes Foderingham’s hands from a David McDermott corner, while Rankine fired narrowly wide from 25 yards.

Either side of the half-hour mark, McDermott also blazed over a promising left-footed opportunity and squandered a better chance, scuffing his close-range shot after Foderingham had parried from Reed in a one-on-one situation.

Reed was denied later in the half by a brilliant Zak Mills challenge as he collected a Jonathan Smith through ball.

Other than Lee Smith’s chance at the other end, on-loan Luton full-back Ed Asafu-Adjaye sent in the kind of inviting cross that FA Cup final legend Keith Houchen, watching on from the press box, would have relished but Stutes captain Antonio Murray chose not to throw his body at.

The diving header, it seems, was killed off in the 80s along with Rubik’s Cubes and shoulder pads.

Till showed greater determination than Murray, however, three minutes after the restart.

Picking up the ball 30 yards from goal, the former Walsall winger decided to drive into the home penalty box and left four Histon defenders trailing in his wake before getting away a stabbed shot that Foderingham could only push into the path of Reed.

Highlighting his expert anticipation, the City striker looked at first like he had almost arrived into the six-yard box too soon but adjusted his feet quickly to bundle the ball into a gaping goal.

McDermott was less predatory moments later when he was picked out eight yards from goal after Till and James Meredith had combined down the left flank, as they did to good effect all afternoon.

The former Kidderminster winger prodded meekly at the exposed and relieved Foderingham.

Rankine then forced a near-post save before Jonathan Smith hoisted a shot against the roof of the David Longhurst Stand and Reed also had Foderingham diving low to his right on 69 minutes.

City switched to 4-3-3 soon afterwards and, while Histon began to show a little more adventure in their search for an equaliser, the hosts rarely looked in trouble.

Lee Smith lifted another hopeful effort into Grosvenor Road, while Jim Stevenson prodded wide and City right-back Liam Darville was alert to clear the danger as Daniel Sparkes lurked for a far-post tap-in.

Top scorer Omer Riza also headed over, Lewis Taaffe volleyed high and wide, and Smith saw another chance trickle to Ingham but City had done just enough again.

A one-goal winning margin is now the common factor in seven of their nine successive home wins.

Match facts

York City 1 (Reed 48), Histon 0

York City: Michael Ingham 7, Liam Darville 7, Daniel Parslow 7, David McGurk 7, James Meredith 8, Scott Kerr 9, David McDermott 7, Jonathan Smith 7, Peter Till 8, Michael Rankine 7, Jamie Reed 7.

Subs: Chris Carruthers (for McDermott, 72), Ashley Chambers (for Rankine, 88). Not used: Neil Barrett, Leon Constantine, Andre Boucaud.

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: Kerr – intelligent positionally, reliable in possession again and always willing to help his team-mates and receive a pass.

Histon: Wes Foderingham, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Remy Clerima, David Livermore, Zak Mills, Elliott Cox (Lewis Taaffe, 56), Jim Stevenson, Lee Smith, Daniel Sparkes, Antonio Murray (Zac Attwood, 66), Omer Riza.

Subs not used: Callum Stewart, George Lawton, Jay Dowie.

Booked: Riza 57, Livermore 75.

Shots on target: York 10, Histon 2.

Shots off target: York 4, Histon 4.

Corners: York 9, Histon 4.

Offsides: York 3, Histon 0. Fouls conceded: York 13, Histon 14.

Referee: Scott Duncan (Newcastle). Rating: pretty good really, although let down by his assistants at times.

Attendance: 2,364 (29 from Histon).

Miss of the match: McDermott’s failure to net a simple first-half chance.

Cross of the match: Asafu-Adjaye’s right-wing delivery to Murray.

Run of the match: Till’s charge into the box proved the pivotal moment.

Head to head - Liam Darville v Daniel Sparkes

City’s former Leeds United right-back was rarely troubled by Histon academy graduate Sparkes, who looked to have a lively turn of pace.

Darville did deny Sparkes a certain goal when he reacted sharply to clear the danger at the far post.

He was largely forced back, though, by the Histon left winger and did not contribute much in an attacking sense with Meredith more prominent in that respect on the opposite flank.