Three matches into the season and no victories yet for York City, which left their manager Martin Foyle stating he would happily take an ‘ugly’ 1-0 win against Barrow at Bootham Crescent tonight.
Those comments followed a scrambled weekend draw at part-timers Bath City as York’s rather wobbly and error-strewn start to the new campaign was maintained. The Minstermen have conceded four goals to date and three of them have come directly from their own mistakes. But their problems don’t just exist at the back. Foyle’s side have created enough chances in two of those games to win both comfortably, with the usually very dependable Richard Brodie their chief culprit. The 37-goal hit-man from last term is going to have to rediscover his form pretty quickly if last season’s play-off finalists aren’t going to be left facing a sizeable points deficit on the already fast-out-of-the-blocks Luton Town at the top.
Their visitors Barrow arrive on the back of their first win of the season after two goals from the always impressive Jason Walker managed to see-off another of the currently underachieving sides, Rushden & Diamonds, at the weekend. That was enough to push them nicely up the table and above their latest opponents. However, a demanding home support will be hoping that it will be all-change come later tonight and that the usual order of things will be restored.
Vital Quotes:
“All these games are very awkward but the last two games we have played really well and it is individual errors and getting them out of the locker,” York boss Martin Foyle told The Press. “I am not panicking. We are creating enough chances and there is not a lot wrong. We just need to go back to basics.”
“When you don`t win your first two games you`re under a bit of pressure,” commented Barrow striker Jason Walker in The Press. “But the manager changed things and it worked. Hopefully if we play like that again against York, we can get a good result. When you score goals as a striker it brings a lot of confidence, so hopefully I`ll go into the York game with a lot of confidence. If I hadn`t scored against Rushden it would have been none in three, but now it`s two in three.”
York City Team News:
Weekend saviour Peter Till is certainly pressing hard for a fist start after his superb late strike earned a point at Bath City. Duane Courtney could also come under consideration for a full debut, while fellow summer signing Greg Young also made the bench at the weekend.
York City (possible): Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Sangare, Meredith, Lawless, Barrett, Carruthers, Till, Gash, Brodie
subs: Courtney, Young, Rankine, Smith, McDermott
Player to watch: Michael Gash
Scored his first goal of the campaign at the weekend and York fans will once again be watching his performances very closely over the coming weeks as the former Ebbsfleet striker continues to try and justify his sizeable transfer fee.
Barrow Team News:
Midfielder Mark Boyd is a doubt after suffering bruising to the ribs at the weekend. Definitely out is suspended schemer Robin Hulbert and sidelined strike pair Nick Chadwick and Gregg Blundell. But experienced left-back Paul Edwards is back in contention after re-signing for the club following an unsuccessful trial at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Barrow (from): Martin, Spender, Edwards, Jones, Bolland, Goodfellow, Sheridan, Boyd, Owen, Walker, Rutherford, M. Pearson, Forrest, Wiles, Cook, Milne
Player to watch: Jason Walker
A top striker at this level with a decent goal return and good attitude that has really served Barrow well over the past couple of seasons.
Match Facts & Stats
This is the fifth league meeting betweeen the sides at Conference level and York are currently unbeaten with one win and three draws. Last season Richard Brodie scored twice and Michael Gash was also on the mark as the home side eventually ran out 3-0 victors. However, Barrow have twice beaten York in recent times at Holker Street – knocking them out of the FA Trophy last term and the Conference Cup the previous year. During their respective Football League days, Barrow made 30 trips to Bootham Crescent, winning nine times and drawing five.
Next Fixtures:
York – Altrincham (H); Barrow – Wrexham (A)
