Brodie crashes York towards play-offs

Richard Brodie crashed York City towards the play-offs with a dramatic injury-time penalty against Altrincham at Bootham Crescent.

The Minstermen had appeared set for a second successive home draw until Brodie was brought down inside the area by Greg Young deep into added time.

Brodie then managed to dismiss thoughts of his previous miss from the spot against Mansfield Town as he confidently smashed his penalty into the top corner.

However, there were nasty scenes at the final whistle following an incident in the tunnel as the players departed the pitch.

To their credit Altrincham proved stern challengers throughout, and might have taken the lead on sixteen minutes when veteran Colin Little allowed leading scorer Chris Senior to be superbly denied by Michael Ingham.

Earlier Neil Barrett miskicked from a Courtney Pitt cross at the opposite end, while twenty-six-goal Brodie drove wide from distance.

The dangerous Brodie also fired over after a neat Michael Gash flick before Barrett angled a shot into the side-netting after Stuart Coburn had fended off a drive from Pitt.

But it was Brodie who missed a much better chance for the home side just before the break as he side-footed tamely at Coburn after being released by Pitt, while Barrett headed over a James Meredith cross.

On loan Cambridge United winger Pitt soon forced Coburn into a sharp save at the beginning of the second-half, before his side were denied a penalty as Brodie appeared to be hauled down inside the area following Pitt’s through ball.

Brodie then had a header cleared off the line after a cross from Pitt, whose driven attempt was later turned into the net by an offside Barrett as the home side continued to be frustrated.

Moments later their cause looked much more difficult when Robins substitute Chris Denham hoisted a speculative 63rd minute finish over Ingham.

Back came their opponents, however, and Pitt’s cross six minutes later created problems for Coburn under heavy challenge from substitute Michael Rankine, which allowed the recalled David McGurk to turn in his first goal of the season from close-range.

Altrincham keeper Coburn then produced a fine save to keep out Brodie, while substitute Alex Lawless diverted Pitt’s cross straight at Coburn as the hosts searched for a winner.

But they were given another warning after Ingham had to clear sharply at the opposite end following careless defending between Ben Purkiss and Meredith.

And just when it appeared as if the honours were destined to remain shared, Brodie once again proved his outstanding value as he both won and converted a last-gasp penalty to the delight of the home crowd.

York City: Ingham, Purkiss, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Harsley, Clarke (Lawless 66), Barrett, Pitt (Carruthers 82), Gash (Rankine 66), Brodie

subs (unused): Parslow, Smith

Goals: McGurk (69), Brodie (90 pen)

Altrincham: Coburn, Williams, Smith, Young, Densmore, Danylyk, Doran (McAliskey 77), Lawton, Brown, Little (Denham 60), Senior (Carden 77)

subs (unused): Saunders, Welch

Goals: Denham (63)

Ref: A. Madley (West Yorkshire)

Att: 3,005