Mansfield Town and York City fought out a titanic struggle in the 2nd Leg of their Blue Square Bet Premier play-off semi-final at Field Mill with the visitors edging the contest in Extra Time.
The Stags went into the game in confident mood having secured a 1-1 draw at York in the first leg, and with an unbeaten home record stretching back six months. However, top scorer Matt Green had got himself sent off in the 1st Leg and that would prove to be a major blow.
However, what Mansfield didn’t count on was the bravery and resilience showed by York City whose mental strength got them through to Wembley after being put under enormous pressure at times during the game.
After the game had got underway, Daniel Parslow’s vital block diverted Adam Murray’s shot over the crossbar from a Lindon Meikle. Meikle also forced Ingham into a routine near-post save with the only on-target shot of the opening 45 minutes.
In a very cagey game, Paddy McLaughlin missed the target with City’s only chances of the half, two long-range efforts that finished high and wide.
City began the second half in more positive fashion with Walker’s shot blocked by Gary Roberts after Marriott dropped a Chris Smith header. Matty Blair also cut in from the right to force a low save and York were getting on top of their hosts.
Mansfield, though, began to build up a head of steam as the half wore on. On 59 minutes, Louis Briscoe unleashed a low 15-yard drive that stung Ingham’s fingers and Meikle also fired into the side-netting from the edge of the box before City might have forged ahead from a 76th-minute counter-attack.
Midfielder Michael Potts released Blair down the right and, when his low cross was left by Walker, Moke lifted an excellent chance high and wide from 15 yards.
Mansfield, though, still looked the most likely winners in normal time with Louis Briscoe volleying across the face of goal from an impossible angle and Adam Murray firing over from 20 yards. Substitute Matt Rhead also saw a 90th-minute goalbound shot headed away by Smith but the game finished 0-0 and 30 extra minutes were necessary.
Seven minutes into Extra Time, Michael Potts weaved his way into the home box before dragging a 15-yard opportunity wide and, while Ingham pushed over a rising Meikle shot at the other end, Moke also drove into Marriott’s chest after good work from Ashley Chambers.
In the second period of extra-time, City broke the deadlock when Jamal Fyfield released Jason Walker for a run through the left channel. He beat a retreating Murray before chipping an inviting cross into the six-yard box, where Blair showed great determination to rise highest and head into the roof of Marriott’s net, sending the away end of 1,490 York fans into chaos.
Ritchie Sutton departed soon afterwards for a trip on Matty Blair, his second yellow of the game.
As a result, gaps opened up at the back in stoppage time, and Jason Walker should have added his name to the scoresheet but his deft chip over an advancing Marriott was not hit firmly enough to stop O’Neill clearing off the line.
After an electrifying burst by Moké down the left flank, Walker also delayed his shot in front of goal sufficiently for Marriott to smother his eventual effort before his follow-up attempt was blocked as well.
But the final whistle blew, and York City had made it through to the Wembley final, both players and fans celebrating together with the prospect of a genuine chance to achieve the dream of a return to the club’s rightful home – the Football League.
Mansfield Town: Marriott, O’Neill, Riley, Geohaghon, Sutton, Murray, Roberts, Howell (Rhead 64), Briscoe (Stevenson 104), Dyer, Meikle. Subs not used: Redmond, Thompson, Andrew.
York City: Ingham, Challinor (Moke 61), Smith, Doig (Fyfield 87), Meredith, Parslow, Oyebanjo, McLaughlin (Potts 72), Blair, Walker, Chambers. Subs not used: Musselwhite, Reed.
Attendance: 7,295
Footage from Premier Sports
Additional Editing and Production by Phil Howden
