Foyle poised to reveal City final line-up (From York Press)

Foyle poised to reveal City final line-up

8:18am Tuesday 5th May 2009 in Sport By Dave Flett , Sports reporter

YORK City’s players will know whether they have made the side for Wembley two days before the FA Trophy final against Stevenage.

Manager Martin Foyle has decided to inform his players who will be starting in Saturday’s match early to ensure his team are fully prepared for the Setanta-televised clash.

Nine players – Michael Ingham, Ben Purkiss, David McGurk, Daniel Parslow, Shaun Pejic, Levi Mackin, Adam Boyes, Daniel McBreen and Richard Brodie – all seem certain choices in Foyle’s first XI but he will give 48-hours notice to the lucky candidates who will fill the other two places.

The City boss said: “Come Thursday, the players will know the team because we will need to work on the personnel and our system. I don’t think we are that good that we can just turn up and name the side two hours before kick off.

“Things could change with injury, of course, but you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out most of the players. The others are battling out for those last few places and the attitudes in training have been spot on.”

Of the ten outfield players contesting a probable two starting positions, Simon Rusk, Mark Greaves Mark Robinson and Andy McWilliams would appear the strongest contenders.

Simon Russell, Steven Hogg, Onome Sodje, and Craig Farrell, pending an appeal against his ineligibility, are good outside challengers while the chances of Steve Torpey, Ben Wilkinson, Liam Shepherd and Josh Radcliffe would appear limited.

Without cup-tied winger Adam Smith, Foyle will also contemplate whether to ditch the 4-4-2 formation that secured league safety and revert back to the 4-3-3 system that earned the club their Trophy final place.

Stevenage will go into Saturday’s final at Wembley against the Minstermen on the back of Blue Square Premier play-off semi-final heartache.

Stevenage were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Cambridge United yesterday, losing to a last-minute extra time goal from Scott Rendell.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg, Stevenage were hit by second half goals from Robbie Willmott and Rendell.

Stevenage also had Scott Laird sent off six minutes into extra time.

Cambridge will face Torquay in the final after the Gulls beat Histon 2-1 on aggregate.

• Selby Town were beaten 3-0 by Long Eaton United in the final of the Northern Counties East League President’s Cup at Staveley Miners Welfare yesterday. Long Eaton also pipped the Robins to second place in the premier division.