Following four points from two successive home games, York City are back on their travels when seeking revenge against FC United of Manchester on Easter Monday (kick-off 3.00pm).
The Minstermen are back up to fourth in the table and should view this latest game as a clear opportunity of making a big statement of intent, particularly given fixtures elsewhere.
Fellow challengers Kidderminster Harriers are simultaneously hosting promotion rivals Brackley Town, while Blyth Spartans, currently just outside the top-seven, are visiting title-hopefuls Harrogate Town.
Otherwise, Spennymoor Town have a potentially tough local derby with improving neighbours Darlington; although Stockport County will fancy their chances of maintaining their recent progress at home to lowly Tamworth.
Indeed Kidderminster’s remaining fixtures make especially interesting reading for after taking on Brackley on Monday, they in turn face play-off rivals Blyth (A), Stockport (H) and Spennymoor (A) in three of their next four games.
For their part, FC United are targeting a league double over their visitors having already claimed a shock 2-0 victory when scoring twice in the last fifteen minutes at Bootham Crescent in late August.
Vital Quotes:
“We’ve taken four out of six points from our two home game and in both we’ve had two good forty-five minutes,” manager Martin Gray told BBC Radio York. “We’ve now got to go to FC United and have a good ninety minutes. Simon Heslop comes straight back into the squad, there’s no question about it. He’s had his two-game ban and is ready to go and kept himself right. It’s good to have another body back. Hopefully, Alex Pattison could also be available as well. I’m hoping sooner rather than later on the other two [Alex Kempster and Louis Almond].”
FC United of Manchester Team News:
Former City midfielder Danny Racchi was sent-off during their weekend 1-0 defeat at Leamington. Meanwhile, Jeff King, who struck a recent hat-trick in their 4-0 victory against Bradford Park Avenue, missed out along with Craig Lindfield. However, Tom Greaves was a goalscorer at Bootham Crescent earlier in the season and should once again lead their line.
FC United of Manchester (possible): Allinson, Senior, Higham, Kay, Hughes, Fagbola, Glynn, Racchi, Greaves, McCarthy, Garner
Player to watch: Danny Racchi
Former York midfielder who was actually sent-off in their weekend defeat at Leamington.
York City Team News:
Midfielder Simon Heslop returns from a two-match suspension but the visitors have doubts over forward pair Alex Kempster and Louis Almond [both hamstring], plus on loan playmaker Alex Pattison [ankle]. Leading scorer Jon Parkin is also currently unavailable following minor knee surgery. But Clovis Kamdjo [cruciate ligament] isn’t far away from a recall after over a year on the sidelines.
York City [possible]: Bartlett, Burn, Parslow, Bencherif, Law, Heslop, Newton, Ferguson, Connolly, Smith, Correia
subs: Moke, Brown, Simpson, McNaughton, Gray
Player to watch: Connor Smith
Certainly did his starting chances no harm with a vital equaliser at the weekend.
Match Facts & Stats
It’s another first-ever visit for York.
Next Fixtures:
FC United – Tamworth (A); York – Harrogate (H)
Easter Monday’s Games: AFC Telford v Leamington; Chorley v Bradford PA; Curzon Ashton v Alfreton; FC United of Manchester v York City; Harrogate v Blyth; Kidderminster v Brackley; North Ferriby v Gainsborough; Nuneaton v Boston; Southport v Salford; Spennymoor v Darlington; Stockport v Tamworth
