Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Northwich Victoria 0, York City 2 (Brodie 20, 50) JUST under 400 fans turn up to see York City take their first step on the road to Wembley as Richard Brodie bags a brace. The victory also represents Martin Foyle’s first as manager.

City survive an early scare when Lee Steele hits an upright for the lowly Vics but Brodie opens the scoring in spectacular style with a swirling 30-yard effort that dips under Ryan Clarke’s crossbar.

Brodie puts the tie beyond doubt five minutes after the break, deftly lifting the ball over an advancing Clarke after Mark Greaves and Onome Sodje had combined to create the opportunity.

City: Michael Ingham 7, Ben Purkiss 8, Daniel Parslow 8, David McGurk 7, Mark Robinson 7, Steven Hogg 7, Mark Greaves 8, Simon Rusk 7, Andy McWilliams 7, Richard Brodie 9, Onome Sodje 7. Substitutions: Simon Russell (for McWilliams, 83) Adam Boyes (for Sodje, 83) Craig Farrell (for Hogg, 85). Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Daniel McBreen.

Star man: Brodie.

Attendance: 393.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 Oxford United 1 (Constable 61), York City 2 (McBreen 48, Brodie 82) THE Minstermen become the first side to win a game at Oxford for four months with Richard Brodie’s 15th goal of the season settling matters.

Striking partner Daniel McBreen had earlier broken the deadlock three minutes into the second half, latching on to Brodie’s header from a long Michael Ingham punt before firing under home goalkeeper Billy Turley’s body.

Oxford level, though, just past the hour mark when Lewis Haldane heads against a post and James Constable pounces to convert the rebound from ten yards.

Martin Foyle’s men, who also had to contend with the loss of key defender David McGurk to injury early in the game, go on to secure victory when Brodie curls an excellent edge-of-the-box effort into Turley’s bottom right-hand corner after a strong diagonal run by Andy McWilliams.

City: Michael Ingham 7, Kyle Critchell 7, Daniel Parslow 7, David McGurk N/A, Mark Robinson 7, Simon Russell 6, Ben Wikinson 7, Mark Greaves 7, Andy McWilliams 7, Richard Brodie 8, Daniel McBreen 8. Substitutions: Darren Kelly (for McGurk 6min) 7, Craig Farrell (for Russell 66) 7, Liam Shepherd (for McWilliams 90). Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Onome Sodje.

Star man: McBreen.

Attendance: 1,958.

Saturday, January 31, 2009 Third round: Kidderminster Harriers 1 (Brittain 75), York City 1 (Boyes 25) TEENAGE striker Adam Boyes scores his first senior goal to give City a surprise lead at promotion-chasing Kidderminster.

In only his second senior start, 18-year-old Boyes collects a cushioned header from Richard Brodie before sidestepping two home challenges and driving inside Adam Bartlett’s right-hand post from 15 yards.

Justin Richards’ deflected effort hits the bar for the Harriers on the stroke of half-time before substitute Martin Brittain cuts inside Mark Robinson and beats Michael Ingham at his near post from the edge of the box with quarter-of-an-hour left to play.

Hearts were then in City supporters’ mouths as Matthew Barnes-Homer sprinted clear on goal but the Kidderminster striker sidefooted against a post at the death.

City: Michael Ingham 8, Ben Purkiss 7, Kyle Critchell 7, Daniel Parslow 7, Mark Robinson 7, Simon Rusk 9, Levi Mackin 7, Andy McWilliams 7, Adam Boyes 9, Richard Brodie 8, Daniel McBreen 7. Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Onome Sodje, Josh Radcliffe, Simon Russell, Ben Wilkinson.

Star man: Rusk.

Attendance: 1,153.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Third round replay: York City 1 (McBreen 74), Kidderminster Harriers 1 (Richards 79), York won 13-12 on penalties CITY and Kidderminster set a national record after an amazing 25 penalties are converted before Michael Ingham saves Justin Richards’ spot-kick to send his team into the last eight.

Earlier, both sets of players had successfully converted from 12 yards, including goalkeepers Ingham and Adam Bartlett.

Mark Robinson and Simon Rusk also score for a second time in the shoot-out, as does Kidderminster’s Daryl Knights, before Richards ends a marathon tie as the fall guy and Ingham the hero.

In normal time, Richards had equalised for the visitors with an impressive 25-yard effort that he curled beyond Ingham into the former Northern Ireland international’s top left-hand corner.

Only five minutes before, McBreen had fired the Minstermen in front, heading against a post from Rusk’s cross before forcing home the rebound.

Both teams then had chances to win the game in extra-time but a dramatic shoot-out was required to separate the sides after three-and-a-half hours of football in front of a sparse crowd.

City: Michael Ingham 7, Kyle Critchell 8, Mark Greaves 6, Daniel Parslow 6, Mark Robinson 7, Simon Rusk 8, Levi Mackin 8, Andy McWilliams 6, Daniel McBreen 7, Richard Brodie 6, Adam Boyes 6. Substitutions: Simon Russell (for Greaves, 24) 7, Josh Radcliffe (for McWilliams, 90) 7, Onome Sodje (for Boyes, 106). Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Liam Shepherd.

Star man: Rusk.

Attendance: 683.

Saturday, February 21, 2009 Quarter-final: York City 2 (McBreen 45, 82), Havant & Waterlooville 0 REVENGE is sweet for City as they dump last season’s FA Cup upstarts Havant out of the Trophy.

Havant, who had enjoyed a 1-0 victory at KitKat Crescent 15 months earlier before going on to ruffle Liverpool’s feathers in a memorable Anfield clash, provide meek opposition on this occasion as Australian striker Daniel McBreen bags a brace.

Just days after news breaks of McBreen’s plans to return down under with North Queensland Fury in the summer, the former Scunthorpe forward heads City in front on the stroke of half-time after an inviting cross from Mark Robinson.

He then adds a second in the closing stages with a dipping edge-of-the-box volley that sails over the head of visiting goalkeeper Kevin Scriven.

City: Michael Ingham 7, Kyle Critchell 6, Shaun Pejic 8, Daniel Parslow 6, Mark Robinson 8, Simon Rusk 6, Levi Mackin 7, Andy McWilliams 6, Adam Boyes 6, Richard Brodie 6, Daniel McBreen 8. Substitutions: Mark Greaves (for Rusk, 68) 6, Onome Sodje (for Boyes, 82), Simon Russell (for Brodie, 90). Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Liam Shepherd.

Star man: Pejic.

Attendance: 1,679.

Saturday, March 14, 2009 Semi-final, first leg: AFC Telford United 0, York City 2 (Rusk 10, Purkiss 67) UNLIKELY heroes Simon Rusk and Ben Purkiss fire City closer to Wembley with rare goals.

Rusk opens his Minstermen account after 50 senior games, working a clever short-corner routine with Andy McWilliams before beating Ryan Young at his near post from 20 yards.

Right-back Purkiss, pictured, then grabs only his second goal in two years with the club, ghosting into the penalty box to steal the ball off substitute Onome Sodje’s toes before finding Young’s bottom left-hand corner with a simple, sidefooted finish eight yards out.

City: Michael Ingham 7, Ben Purkiss 8, Shaun Pejic 8, Daniel Parslow 8, Mark Robinson 8, Levi Mackin 7, Andy McWilliams 8, Simon Rusk 8, Richard Brodie 7, Adam Boyes 7, Daniel McBreen 7. Substitutions: David McGurk (for Boyes, 55) 7, Onome Sodje (for Brodie, 66) 7, Mark Greaves (for Rusk, 76). Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Simon Russell.

Star man: Rusk.

Attendance: 2,792.

Saturday, March 21, 2009 Semi-final, second leg: York City 2 (Brodie 17, McBreen 62), AFC Telford United 1 (Brown 86) KITKAT Crescent erupts as York City reach Wembley for only the second time in the club’s 87-year history.

At the final whistle, home supporters invade the pitch to mob the players, who retreat to the directors’ box for 15 minutes of singing and dancing with the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu among those joining in the raucous celebrations.

Earlier, City’s nerves were settled just past the quarter-hour mark when Richard Brodie gave his side a 3-0 aggregate lead.

Brodie’s stunning finish pinged in off Telford goalkeeper Ryan Young’s right-hand post after Ben Purkiss had picked him out on the edge of the penalty box.

On 62 minutes, City fans could make their Wembley plans when a defensive mix-up gifted Daniel McBreen a free run on goal and he drilled a low shot past the exposed Young.

Andy Brown replied in the 86th minute for Telford but it proved scant consolation for the Blue Square North outfit.

City: Michael Ingham 7, Ben Purkiss 8, Shaun Pejic 7, Daniel Parslow 8, Mark Robinson 7, Levi Mackin 8, Andy McWilliams 7, Simon Rusk 8, Richard Brodie 8, Adam Boyes 6, Daniel McBreen 7. Substitutions: Onome Sodje (for Boyes, 64) 7, Mark Greaves (for Mackin, 69) 7, David McGurk (for Purkiss, 69) 6. Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Simon Russell.

Star man: Brodie.

Attendance: 3,512.