York City will be looking to carry the momentum of a dramatic late midweek victory against Southport into their weekend meeting with Chorley at Bootham Crescent.
Substitute James Gray was the unlikely goal-hero in the first of four added minutes after his former club had fought back from a couple of goals behind.
Such incidents can often totally change a season and are later viewed as a real defining moment of the campaign- and it would be hugely appropriate if that proved to be the case, particularly given the events of earlier that day with both the chairman and CEO announced as leaving the club.
The Minstermen produced a particularly substandard display when losing the reverse fixture to Chorley 2-0 in early September – and can certainly afford no repeat of that this time.
Their visitors were actually beaten play-off finalists after being defeated by FC Halifax Town last season, but are currently occupying a mid-table position.
However, they still have games in hand and could yet mount a late challenge to once again feature in the end-of-campaign knockouts, where their opponents are seemingly increasingly likely to be involved despite current problems.
Vital Quotes:
“They’re very solid defensively and have always been a hard nut to break,” manager Martin Gray told BBC Radio York. “But it’s a game that they’ve got to come and win. I think they’ve got seven or eight games remaining and have to get as many points as they can to try and close the gap. So they’ll be very much attacking-minded and on the front foot. We’ve got to make sure we respect that, but it will be a tough game.”
York City Team News:
York were hoping that attacking trio Alex Kempster, Louis Almond and Alex Pattison would all recover from midweek knocks. However, leading scorer Jon Parkin definitely misses out following a minor ‘cleaning up’ of his knee, while Simon Heslop completes a two-game suspension. Fellow midfielder Clovis Kamdjo is though closing in on a return after over a year out with cruciate ligament damage.
York City (possible): Bartlett, Burn, Parslow, Bencherif, Law, Pattison, Newton, Ferguson, Connolly, Almond, Kempster
subs (from): Moke, Gray, Correia, Brown, Simpson, Smith, Kamdjo
Player to watch: Sean Newton
Back to form in midweek and simply has to maintain that going forward.
Chorley Team News:
Defender Dale Whitham is suspended having been sent-off in their latest home defeat to Boston United. Khuis Metz also remains a doubt following a recent knock, while ex-Accrington Stanley winger Lee Molyneux could start after recently arriving on loan from Guiseley.
Chorley (possible): Urwin; Challoner, Leather, Teague, Blakeman; O’Keefe,
Cottrell, Wilson, Newby, Carver, Metz
subs: Walker, Hughes, Burgess, Molyneux
Player to watch: Jason Walker
Much-respected former York ‘Wembley-twice’ striker, now 34-years-old and usually restricted to coming off the bench.
Match Facts & Stats
The two sides have never met at Bootham Crescent.
Next Fixtures:
York – FC United of Manchester (A); Chorley – Bradford PA (H)
Friday’s Results: Alfreton 1-1 Nuneaton; Boston 3-2 Kidderminster; Brackley 0-0 Harrogate; Bradford PA 2-3 Stockport; Gainsborough 4-1 Spennymoor; Salford 2-1 Curzon Ashton; Tamworth 4-1 North Ferriby
Saturday’s Games: Blyth v AFC Telford; Darlington v Southport; Leamington v FC United of Manchester; York City v Chorley
