City rule Britannia to restore lost pride

After the 5-1 hammering of the first leg, progress in this year's Worthington Cup always looked beyond even the realms of fantasy.

But at least progress in terms of form and fortune were maintained and York, pride restored, can count themselves unlucky not to have won after dominating for long spells and creating far the better chances against a side tipped for the top in Division Two.

To confirm City's superiority on an entertaining night, rarely can a side basking in the comfort of a four goal advantage suffer a crescendo of boos from their own supporters, albeit small in numbers.

After 11 goals in their three opening matches York have now conceded just two in four and the City defence, devoid of the injured duo Peter Swan and Gary Hobson with Mark Sertori rested to the bench, certainly looks solid again, no matter who is in position.

Rarely did the Potters get round the back of the Minstermen as Alan Fettis's main concern proved to be shots from distance.

But a sparky Stoke certainly started bright and the fear was City hadn't learned their lessons from the first leg when Graham Fenton brushed off the challenge of Barry Jones down the left hand side and flicked the ball across the face of the York goal. Fortunately for City, the ever-dependable Wayne Hall was on hand to hack the danger clear.

Thereafter though City were in command and were unlucky not to take the lead just a minute later when Jones' diving header from Graham Potter's corner was cleared off the line.

On ten minutes, Lee Bullock's inch perfect cross from the right picked out Colin Alcide just six yards out but the City striker, possibly off balance, somehow contrived to head the ball sideways and away from goal.

Bullock, capitalising on a slip by Stoke's Brynjar Gunnarsson, again broke down the right but with no support in the middle was forced to shoot from a tight angle and although his shot had venom it failed to truly trouble Gavin Ward.

Still, City continued to look more comfortable and assured, particularly at the back after that intitial Fenton scare.

Up front, Alcide and the recalled John Williams offered City a different option to the so-far preferred David McNiven and Peter Duffield and unnerved the Stoke defence with their physical presence.

Stoke finally forced Fettis into action on 19 minutes after Clive Clarke picked up Marc Thompson's short pass to Darren Edmondson and laid the ball inside to James O'Connor.

The young Irishman lashed a rising drive towards the roof of the net only for Fettis to paw the ball over the bar.

But it was still the Minstermen who carried the greater threat - Alcide fluffing a couple of scrambled efforts in a crowded Potters' penalty area before Jones went close with another diving header at the far post, this time hitting the side netting.

Stoke continued to try their luck from range; Bjarni Gudjonsson lashing a 30 yard effort wide of the City meeting of post and bar before Fettis was at full stretch again to deny Graham Kavanagh with an excellent one-handed save.

On the stroke of half-time, Stoke finally pierced through the resolute City rearguard with a swift, incisive move.

Tony Dorigo lofted the ball down the line to Clarke whose first-time cross was met by Fenton at the far post but the former Leicester man could only side-foot his volley wide from eight yards.

Fears that, as in the first-half of the first-leg, the best of York had come an gone were soon dispelled within minutes of the restart.

Twice Williams played a clever ball inside for Potter, twice the former Stoke player advanced into the Potters' penalty area and twice saw his efforts - the first a delicate chip the second a rising drive - clear the crossbar.

Thompson lashed a free-kick just over the bar after referee Fraser Stretton advanced a York free-kick into the penalty area because of dissent from Stoke skipper Nick Mohan.

Stoke enjoyed some more concerted pressure of their own as the game opened up and both sides made full use of their substitute quotas.

But it was York who continued to carve out the better chances - substitute Barry Conlon raced clear on goal but was caught by Clarke and scuffed his effort wide under pressure.

Minutes later, Conlon could count himself unlucky not have broken his duck for the season when he rose imperiously to meet Potter's corner with a firm header but Ward somehow managed to claw the ball out from under his bar.

At the other end Fettis raced from his line quickly to save at the feet of Fenton but it was City who were to have the final words as Conlon stung the hands of Ward with a sharp turn and shot before the Stoke keeper was made to scurry across to keep out Potter's low tester.

Out of the Worthington Cup for another year then, but definitely not too down.

PICTURE:

City Match Facts

Worthington Cup First round, Second leg

Wednesday, September 7, 2000

Stoke City 0, York City 0

YORK CITY: Alan Fettis 7, Darren Edmondson 6, Graham Potter 7, Barry Jones 8, Matt Hocking 8, Kevin Hulme 7, Lee Bullock 7, Marc Thompson 7 (Mark Sertori 75mins), John Williams 7(David McNiven 80mins), Colin Alcide 6 (Barry Conlon 69mins, 6), Wayne Hall 8

Subs, not used: Russ Howarth, Steve Agnew

Goals: None

Bookings: None

Sent off: None

STOKE CITY: Gavin Ward, Mikael Hansson, Clive Clarke, Nicky Mohan (Wayne Thomas 59mins), Brynjar Gunnarsson, Bjarni Gudjonsson, Graham Kavanagh, Tony Dorigo (Chris Iwelumo 52mins), James O'Connor (Henrik Risom 72mins), Stefan Thordarson, Graham Fenton

Subs, not used: Carl Muggleton, Ben Petty

Goals: None

Booked: Mohan 57mins (dissent), Kavanagh 90mins (dissent).

Sent off: None

Evening Press/Unique Pub Man of the Match

Wayne Hall. As is the norm, never put a foot wrong to just shade the accolade from Matt Hocking.

Match Stats

York City

Half-time 0

Corners 6

Shots on target 6

Fouls committed 3

Stoke City

Half-time 0

Corners 9

Shots on target 4

Fouls committed 16

Attendance: 3,478

Referee: Frazer Stretton (Nottingham)

City's next match Saturday, September 9: York City v Scunthorpe United, ko 3pm, Nationwide League Division Three