Travelling back just four short years to May 2014 as York City approached the final game of the season protecting a long unbeaten sequence on their way to the League Two play-offs.
Manager Nigel Worthington was full of praise for both players and supporters as the Minstermen extended their undefeated run to a magnificent seventeen games by drawing their final outing 2-2 at already-promoted Scunthorpe United.
In-form York will next take on Fleetwood Town in the play-off semi-finals. York actually began their unbroken stretch by winning 2-1 at Fleetwood at the beginning of February, having earlier been third-bottom of the table for the New Year.
The Minstermen were protecting a long sixteen-game unbeaten run over three months
However, City were forced to fight back after Paddy Madden and Terry Hawkridge opened up a two-goal lead for their opponents, before on loan Ryan Brobbel arrowed into the far corner to reduce the deficit in first-half stoppage time.
The visitors were already guaranteed a play-off spot but stayed determined to protect their proud unbeaten run, and striker Calvin Andrew helped in Will Hayhurst’s cross at close-range to equalise with nineteen minutes remaining.
That sent the travelling York fans into complete overdrive behind the very same goal.
An outstanding 1,389 York supporters roared on their unbeaten favourites at Glanford Park
“We allowed Scunthorpe to pass the ball far too easily, so we mentioned one word at half-time – character,” Worthington later told The Press. “When you go two down, you look for character in your team and that shone through in bundles during a magnificent second half.
“We asked the players to simplify everything and step up their game in the second half. We pushed them back, pressed and pressed and won no end of corners,” he continued. “We had a couple of very good half chances and I was delighted that we came back to draw 2-2 because the biggest thing was to keep the unbeaten run going.”
Meanwhile, Worthington also had rich praise for the 1,389 travelling City supporters at Glanford Park.
“Our support was unbelievable,” he enthused. “I can’t thank them enough. We are always delighted to see our home supporters but the people who travel the length and breadth of the country and give up their time and pay for tickets deserve great credit and are a big part of what’s going on at the club.”
The late and great Marc Watson was amongst York’s “unbelievable” supporters
The Minstermen’s recovery over the second-half of the campaign has been nothing short of astonishing with them harbouring very real fears of relegation at Christmas.
However, nine of their eleven victories achieved from February onwards were by a single-goal margin while on loan goalkeeper Nick Pope conceded just three times in as many months.
Indeed they had never actually been behind during that outstanding sequence until Scunthorpe – and one again resilient York proved they were firmly up for the challenge.
Video Link: Scunthorpe United FC
Rewind Extra – May 2014
