With their play-off place now finally secured, York City travel to relegation-threatened Eastbourne Borough for their penultimate away game of the regular season this weekend.
Having really gladdened the hearts of their loyal fans with the 5-0 midweek mauling of promotion rivals AFC Wimbledon, Martin Foyle’s side will be aiming to fulfil his request that they remain unbeaten for the rest of the season.
Indeed it can’t be stressed enough that there is still much to play for as the regular season draws to a close, with York needing as many victories as they can manage to lift them as high in the table as possible.
An eventual fourth-placed finish would mean they avoid the divisional runners-up in their play-off semi-final, while one position higher would achieve the same result, in addition to giving them home advantage for the second-leg and possible extra-time at Bootham Crescent.
Following their visit to Eastbourne this weekend, York then have very winnable home games against lowly Barrow and bottom-of-the-table Grays Athletic, before finally wrapping up their programme at current Blue Square Premier leaders Stevenage Borough on 24th April.
The play-offs then kick into action the following Thursday evening, with the second-legs scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd May (3pm).
Vital Quotes:
York manager Martin Foyle told The Press: “I will be chopping and changing because it`s been a long season. The last seven or eight weeks have been very hard. We`ve been doing a lot of travelling and playing midweek non-stop so you need to give people breathers. I want three points tomorrow and I`m not worried about them because nobody would be worried about us in their position. Because of their position, they will have to come at us, which was the last thing on their mind when they came to our place. That will open the game up and we will have chances, as we did on Wednesday night.”
Eastbourne Borough Team News:
Eastbourne will be missing their skipper Paul Armstrong due to a heavily bruised leg, with Simon Weatherstone expected to continue alongside Matt Smart. On loan Northampton Town striker Joe Benjamin will challenge Liam Enver-Marum for a starting place in attack. Defender Marc Pullan was also hoping for a recall.
Player to watch: Jamie Taylor
The former Dagenham & Redbridge striker has twelve goals this term in a side who have always struggled to find the target.
York City Team News:
York are unlikely to risk their 30-goal leading marksman Richard Brodie, who suffered a slight hamstring pull after claiming a hat-trick against AFC Wimbledon in midweek. The England ‘C’ international striker is also only three cautions away from a potential three-match suspension having already seen twelve yellow cards this term. Otherwise, defender Djoumin Sangare will need another check on his knee injury.
Player to watch: Luke Graham
Undoubtedly one of Martin Foyle’s most inspired signings and an impressive presence in the middle of defence.
Match Facts & Stats
Eastbourne handed York one of only two home defeats this season as Liam Enver-Marum was on target in a 1-0 win at Bootham Crescent in late February. Borough also overcame the Minstermen in their only previous visit to Priory Lane last season, when Christian Smith was netted for the visitors in a 2-1 defeat.
York’s side that day was: Ingham, Critchell, Parslow, Greaves (Farrell), Robinson (Shepherd), Rusk, Smith, Mackin, McWilliams (Boyes), Brodie, Brown
Next Fixtures:
Eastbourne – Kettering (A); York – Barrow (H)
