Richard Brodie snatched a sensational last-minute winner to earn York City a narrow advantage heading into their play-off semi-final second-leg at Luton Town.
The Minstermen’s leading scorer seized upon a defensive slip from the otherwise secure Shane Blackett and lashed his finish past Mark Tyler to the delight of the home faithful behind the goal.
Brodie’s 34th goal of an incredible season was enough to inflict a first defeat in fifteen games upon the visitors and give their opponents what could be a crucial lead for the return game in four days time.
Earlier York’s ‘Clubman of the Year’ Michael Ingham had denied the opposition with a number of fine saves as the Hatters dominated the opening half in particular.
After a delayed kick-off due to crowd congestion and then a wonderful reception for the hosts, it was ex-Middlesbrough reserve Tom Craddock wide of the mark for the visitors after a cross from York-born Simon Heslop.
Luton midfielder Keith Keane also drilled a 30-yard attempt that was excellently turned aside by Ingham, while Craddock had a rapid snapshot charged down and deflected over the bar.
All York had managed in reply were a couple of tame Levi Mackin strikes before both Brodie and Alex Lawless had shots blocked.
Home keeper Ingham then excelled to brilliantly keep out a diving header from Kevin Gallen and also his attempted follow-up after Keane’s corner was helped on by Blackett, while the lively Claude Gnapka went desperately close when his shot struck an upright.
The Hatters were still well in control with Craddock wide just before the interval and former QPR striker Gallen drilling straight at Ingham shortly after it.
But visiting keeper Tyler had to scramble away a Luke Graham header with the assistance of his post following a Chris Carruthers cross before also holding onto a looped header from Brodie after a Lawless assist as the home side briefly rallied.
The Minstermen had another escape, though, just before the hour when Gallen and Craddock combined for the stretching Gnapka to clear the crossbar.
However, a Ben Purkiss cross at the other end after good work from Michael Rankine then found Carruthers arriving at pace but unable to control his finish and hooking over.
With the contest seemingly destined to remain scoreless there was a dramatic late twist, when a fluffed header from Blackett was seized upon by the majestic Brodie, who crashed the ball past Tyler and into the net.
York City: Ingham, Purkiss, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Lawless, Mackin, Barrett (Smith 78), Carruthers, Rankine (Gash 90), Brodie
subs (unused): Mimms, Parslow, Pacquette
Goals: Brodie (90)
Luton Town: Tyler, Newton, Pilkington, Blackett, Murray, Gnakpa (Barnes-Homer 74), Heslop, Keane, Howells, Craddock, Gallen
subs (unused): Gore, Kovacs, Hatch, Hall
Ref: B. Malone
Att: 6,204 (1,240 Luton)
Share this article
Related Articles
