Mills ‘delighted’ as York City win to clinch play-off place (From York Press)
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Mills ‘delighted’ as York City win to clinch play-off place
12:00pm Monday 23rd April 2012 in News
By Dave Flett, Sports reporter
YORK City manager Gary Mills declared himself “delighted” after his side secured a play-off place with one game of the Blue Square Bet Premier season still to go.
Following Erik Tonne’s 75th-minute goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win at ten-man Braintree, this weekend’s home clash against Forest Green will now only determine whether City will face Wrexham or Mansfield in a two-legged semi-final tie.
Three points in Essex, coupled with Luton’s defeat of Kidderminster, means no team can now deprive Mills’ men of a top-five spot.
Luton, though, will climb above fourth-placed City tomorrow night on goal difference if they win by more than a one-goal margin at Gateshead.
But, with just three points separating the two teams presently, the contest to finish fourth will not be over regardless of tomorrow’s result. Anything less than a Hatters victory at Gateshead will also mean they can still be overhauled for fifth place by Kidderminster going into the final programme of fixtures.
Luton visit champions Fleetwood on Saturday, while Kidderminster play host to a Mansfield team already guaranteed to finish third in the table.
For now, it is certain that City will play host to Mansfield on Wednesday, May 2 or Thursday May 3 if they remain fourth or league runners-up Wrexham on one of those dates if they finish fifth.
The deciding leg will then be played at either Field Mill or the Racecourse Ground on Monday, May 7 – five days before City tackle Newport in the FA Trophy final at Wembley, where the play-off final will also be contested on Sunday, May 20.
After seeing his side clinch a top-five place in front of 450 travelling fans, Mills said: “I’m delighted we are in the play-offs and it’s fantastic to be in that position going into our last game at home.
“Our fans were superb and the following was absolutely brilliant. It always is and we’ve still got so much to play for.
“We’re in the FA Trophy final and in the play-offs with a chance of getting to Wembley twice.
“It’s been a fantastic season and we want to finish it off in the right way now.”
Saturday’s victory also saw Mills’ team break a 38-year-old club record for least away defeats in a league campaign.
This season’s tally of just three losses surpassed the previous best figure by one, which had been set by the historic 1973/74 side – the only team to win promotion to the second tier of English football in City’s history.
Mills applauded his team’s efforts on the road but admitted he is only interested in creating history for one reason now, saying: “Our away form has been superb and, if our home performances had been better, then we would not have been relying on a result at Braintree to get into the play-offs.
“We’ve only lost three times away from home and, while my old team Tamworth thoroughly deserved to beat us, I think we should have also come back with draws from Newport and Gateshead, where we conceded three goals which isn’t like us. It’s fantastic to break records but there’s only one that I really want.
“I want to win the FA Trophy at Wembley and also get this fantastic club back into the Football League there. We would be the first team to do that and we are a step closer now.”
Mills went on to hail the patience of on-loan Sheffield United matchwinner Tonne in only his second league outing since joining the club in January, as well as that of his team, who never panicked against a stubborn home side reduced to ten men when striker Sean Marks was sent off after just 27 minutes.
The City chief said: “It was another magnificent effort by the players. We had to be patient but, if we are, I know we can always score a goal if we keep passing the ball and we did that well all afternoon, including when it was 11 against 11.
“Erik finished superbly when the ball rolled across on to his left foot and what I would say, even though his goal was quite a cultured finish, is that I’ve never seen a player with a shot like him.”
Goalkeeper coach Paul Musselwhite, meanwhile, kept the opposition out for a second successive match, following his debut in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at Cambridge, with first-choice Michael Ingham still sidelined by a shin injury.
Ingham is expected to have a second scan if the problem does not respond to further treatment this week but Mills praised 43-year-old veteran Musselwhite, who spared skipper Chris Smith’s blushes following a weak back pass when he denied Marks in the incident that led to the latter’s dismissal after he was shown a yellow card – his second of the afternoon – for supposed simulation in the penalty box.
Even Mills thought that decision was harsh but, on Musselwhite’s contribution to another 1-0 win, said: “It was another clean sheet, which is fantastic. The chips he eats ensured his big body got in the way after Smudger’s bad back pass.”
Comments(45)
fatmike
says...
1:24pm Mon 23 Apr 12
TheonlywayisCity
says...
1:37pm Mon 23 Apr 12
fatmike
says...
1:40pm Mon 23 Apr 12
rogue84
says...
1:54pm Mon 23 Apr 12
our home form is the worry for the 1st leg, which almost makes me slightly more confident. if we can get a win or even a draw, i'd fancy us to go to either field mill or the racecourse and hold out, hit them on the break with blair & chambers.....job done - sounds simple doesn't it!
yorkandproud
says...
2:49pm Mon 23 Apr 12
fatmike wrote:Fat Mike disappointed. Thought BH was a big hamburger. Come on City.
What's BH James?
paintitred
says...
3:17pm Mon 23 Apr 12
i remember last time tickets went on sale before we knew it was luton but at least we knew when we were playing.
paintitred
says...
3:18pm Mon 23 Apr 12
redbluelion
says...
3:21pm Mon 23 Apr 12
redbluelion
says...
3:21pm Mon 23 Apr 12
redbluelion
says...
3:21pm Mon 23 Apr 12
rogue84
says...
3:40pm Mon 23 Apr 12
ian923
says...
4:25pm Mon 23 Apr 12
Have Mansfield or Wrexham beaten us in the League this season-NO. I still think Kiddy are in with a big chance of play-offs because Luton have 2 very very tough games at Gateshead and Fleetwood and could easily lose both.Kiddy have a tough game v Mansfield though.We need a big crowd and a nice win on Saturday. Come on City!
openallhours
says...
4:57pm Mon 23 Apr 12
RooBeck
says...
5:08pm Mon 23 Apr 12
paintitred
says...
5:10pm Mon 23 Apr 12
openallhours wrote:Got to agree. A final no pressure match before the crunch games arrive . proberley the biggest few weeks in the clubs recent if not enitre history.
It will be nice to able to sit back and watch the game in a relaxed manner on Saturday, prior to all of the stress that's to follow after. Hadn't realised that kick off on Saturday will be 1pm and not the usual 3pm.
not sure what team i would like to see. we all know just how unpredictable these referees are
saturdays officals are
28 SAT
13:00
York City FC (First Team) v Forest Green Rovers FC (First Team)
Football Conference - Premier
Referee: Merchant, Robert
Assistant Referee: Dwyer, Mark
Assistant Referee: Grundy, Craig
Fourth Official: Walsh, Matthew
not sure if we had him or wether he has a red card in him. but why risk a wild undeserved red card ala Ben Gibson to some like matty blair or padd mac or even worse an injury,
we have bigger fish to fry then FGR.
thoughts ???
JamesHinch
says...
5:16pm Mon 23 Apr 12
RooBeck
says...
5:31pm Mon 23 Apr 12
paintitred wrote:See we have Premiership officials for the FATFinal on the 12th. May!
openallhours wrote:Got to agree. A final no pressure match before the crunch games arrive . proberley the biggest few weeks in the clubs recent if not enitre history.
It will be nice to able to sit back and watch the game in a relaxed manner on Saturday, prior to all of the stress that's to follow after. Hadn't realised that kick off on Saturday will be 1pm and not the usual 3pm.
not sure what team i would like to see. we all know just how unpredictable these referees are
saturdays officals are
28 SAT
13:00
York City FC (First Team) v Forest Green Rovers FC (First Team)
Football Conference - Premier
Referee: Merchant, Robert
Assistant Referee: Dwyer, Mark
Assistant Referee: Grundy, Craig
Fourth Official: Walsh, Matthew
not sure if we had him or wether he has a red card in him. but why risk a wild undeserved red card ala Ben Gibson to some like matty blair or padd mac or even worse an injury,
we have bigger fish to fry then FGR.
thoughts ???
redbluelion
says...
5:41pm Mon 23 Apr 12
rogue84 wrote:I REALLY DO HATE LUTON..
redbluelion it appears you really, really, really do hate luton!
redbluelion
says...
5:41pm Mon 23 Apr 12
rogue84 wrote:I REALLY DO HATE LUTON..
redbluelion it appears you really, really, really do hate luton!
redbluelion
says...
5:46pm Mon 23 Apr 12
redbluelion wrote:OK I HAVE A THING ABOUT REPEATING MYSELF ...
rogue84 wrote: redbluelion it appears you really, really, really do hate luton!I REALLY DO HATE LUTON..
big boy york
says...
5:50pm Mon 23 Apr 12
YcfcKeepingTheFaith
says...
6:20pm Mon 23 Apr 12
No.4-IanHolmes
says...
6:23pm Mon 23 Apr 12
12:17pm Mon 23 Apr 12
Just to clarify:
If we finish 4th we will be at home to Mansfield on Wed May 2nd and if we are 5th it would be Wrexham on Thurs May 3rd. :) Away legs both on BH Monday 7th.
Both Second Legs on 7th May. Is that definite? Have it noted down in my diary that 1 Second Leg would be on Sunday 6th May and the other on 7th May. Can't remember where I got that info from but I must have previously read it somewhere.
RooBeck
says...
6:35pm Mon 23 Apr 12
No.4-IanHolmes wrote:The Conference League web-site definately shows both first legs are over the 2nd and 3rd May(Weds/Thurs) and both second-legs are on the BHMonday(7th May). No kick-off times are mentioned - will this be for the clubs to arrange, OR, will it be determined by TV coverage?? (Remember the TV coverage for the Morecambe 2nd leg when Clayton Donaldson was taken-out by their keeper, who then feigned injury to win sympathy with the referee and who didn't show him a straight red and so they got their sub-keeper on and stayed at eleven and did us in the second-half? We did score from the resultant penalty but the ref badly bottled a blatant red-card and probably cost us the match and a Wembley appearance/return to the FL!!! COYR, lets put it right this time!
JamesHinch says...
12:17pm Mon 23 Apr 12
Just to clarify:
If we finish 4th we will be at home to Mansfield on Wed May 2nd and if we are 5th it would be Wrexham on Thurs May 3rd. :) Away legs both on BH Monday 7th.
Both Second Legs on 7th May. Is that definite? Have it noted down in my diary that 1 Second Leg would be on Sunday 6th May and the other on 7th May. Can't remember where I got that info from but I must have previously read it somewhere.
No.4-IanHolmes
says...
6:55pm Mon 23 Apr 12
henleazeyorkie
says...
7:03pm Mon 23 Apr 12
RooBeck wrote:Indeed. I see one of the assistant's is Sian Massey who prompted the infamous departures of Messrs Keys and Gray from the Sky team.
paintitred wrote:See we have Premiership officials for the FATFinal on the 12th. May!
openallhours wrote:Got to agree. A final no pressure match before the crunch games arrive . proberley the biggest few weeks in the clubs recent if not enitre history.
It will be nice to able to sit back and watch the game in a relaxed manner on Saturday, prior to all of the stress that's to follow after. Hadn't realised that kick off on Saturday will be 1pm and not the usual 3pm.
not sure what team i would like to see. we all know just how unpredictable these referees are
saturdays officals are
28 SAT
13:00
York City FC (First Team) v Forest Green Rovers FC (First Team)
Football Conference - Premier
Referee: Merchant, Robert
Assistant Referee: Dwyer, Mark
Assistant Referee: Grundy, Craig
Fourth Official: Walsh, Matthew
not sure if we had him or wether he has a red card in him. but why risk a wild undeserved red card ala Ben Gibson to some like matty blair or padd mac or even worse an injury,
we have bigger fish to fry then FGR.
thoughts ???
johnbyrneshair
says...
7:03pm Mon 23 Apr 12
Eric el Rojo
says...
8:37pm Mon 23 Apr 12
OLD - HEAD
says...
8:47pm Mon 23 Apr 12
duffy
says...
8:48pm Mon 23 Apr 12
fatmike
says...
9:55pm Mon 23 Apr 12
henleazeyorkie wrote:What?????? This is an outrage, we must not let this hapPen
RooBeck wrote:Indeed. I see one of the assistant's is Sian Massey who prompted the infamous departures of Messrs Keys and Gray from the Sky team.
paintitred wrote:See we have Premiership officials for the FATFinal on the 12th. May!
openallhours wrote:Got to agree. A final no pressure match before the crunch games arrive . proberley the biggest few weeks in the clubs recent if not enitre history.
It will be nice to able to sit back and watch the game in a relaxed manner on Saturday, prior to all of the stress that's to follow after. Hadn't realised that kick off on Saturday will be 1pm and not the usual 3pm.
not sure what team i would like to see. we all know just how unpredictable these referees are
saturdays officals are
28 SAT
13:00
York City FC (First Team) v Forest Green Rovers FC (First Team)
Football Conference - Premier
Referee: Merchant, Robert
Assistant Referee: Dwyer, Mark
Assistant Referee: Grundy, Craig
Fourth Official: Walsh, Matthew
not sure if we had him or wether he has a red card in him. but why risk a wild undeserved red card ala Ben Gibson to some like matty blair or padd mac or even worse an injury,
we have bigger fish to fry then FGR.
thoughts ???
fatmike
says...
9:59pm Mon 23 Apr 12
Wilyorkuk1983
says...
6:17am Tue 24 Apr 12
brahma
says...
7:13am Tue 24 Apr 12
Wilyorkuk1983 wrote:Premiership sides carry squads of dozens of players - we have just two dozen, all first team squad members, so all would be valid selections.
I seem to remember Mick McCarthy (as wolves manager) fielding a week team to play Man Utd and being finned for breaching rules, I assume the same could apply to City. Full strength team it will have to be on Saturday.
Wilyorkuk1983
says...
8:22am Tue 24 Apr 12
JamesHinch
says...
8:42am Tue 24 Apr 12
duffy
says...
9:31am Tue 24 Apr 12
JamesHinch wrote:We probably would but in my view Wrexham would be a better bet. They have a better pitch and play football. We just about always do well against footballing teams rather than physical, long ball teams like Mansfield
On 7th May the KO times are 2pm at Mansfield and 4.30pm at Wrexham. I am not sure the away capacities at each but suspect we would take more to Mansfield as its nearer and a better ko time.
JamesHinch
says...
10:30am Tue 24 Apr 12
Wrexham have not been the team they were when they still had Obeng and Fowler. With Walker back and Pottsy stepping up then we look good now.
A quick look at their forum suggests they would prefer Luton which is a good sign for us. Lets bring on the Dragons.
uhtred
says...
10:43am Tue 24 Apr 12
JamesHinch
says...
10:47am Tue 24 Apr 12
uhtred wrote:That's my natural reaction too but to get Wrexham we need Luton to beat the Heed really.
come on gateshead, beat luton tonight!
nicko75
says...
11:02am Tue 24 Apr 12
RooBeck
says...
11:02am Tue 24 Apr 12
uhtred wrote:Even a draw would take it to the final games on Saturday and though Kiddy have a tough match against Mansfield, they are at home, whereas to be certain of qualification, Luton would need to go to Fleetwood and get the win. That won't be easy because Fleetwood need the three points to overhaul Crawley's record breaking 105 points that was set last season, so they have something to play for. I would say that anything less than a win for Luton at The Heed tonight and they become the outsiders!!
come on gateshead, beat luton tonight!
RooBeck
says...
11:11am Tue 24 Apr 12
RooBeck wrote:Got ahead of myself here!! Two away draws and Luton would get it on goal-difference, even if Kiddy win on Saturday! A defeat for Luton at The Heed to-night, then Saturday's games will be interesting, with both play-off contenders then needing to go for the win!!
uhtred wrote:Even a draw would take it to the final games on Saturday and though Kiddy have a tough match against Mansfield, they are at home, whereas to be certain of qualification, Luton would need to go to Fleetwood and get the win. That won't be easy because Fleetwood need the three points to overhaul Crawley's record breaking 105 points that was set last season, so they have something to play for. I would say that anything less than a win for Luton at The Heed tonight and they become the outsiders!!
come on gateshead, beat luton tonight!
duffy
says...
11:46am Tue 24 Apr 12
JamesHinch says...
12:17pm Mon 23 Apr 12
If we finish 4th we will be at home to Mansfield on Wed May 2nd and if we are 5th it would be Wrexham on Thurs May 3rd. :) Away legs both on BH Monday 7th.