Away goals struggle is big concern
THE FA Cup would hopefully provide a little light relief from the trials and tribulations of the National League, not this year though as County crashed out of the cup with a tepid display at Bootham Crescent.
We made an early start to Saturday, convinced that the team would put the cherry on top of a nice day out we arrived at lunch time, parked outside the ground and wandered into town for a bit of culture.
York is a beautiful place, the medieval part of the city is great for a pie and a pint, if you don’t mind the crowds, there were plenty of familiar faces as the travelling faithful wandered through the shambles and took some sun by the cathedral but we were here for one reason, cup glory.
Sadly most of the team showed less commitment than the support!
I was as surprised as most people that Adam Hammill didn’t start, in mid week he was the undoubted star in a mid-season friendly over Trafford scoring from his own half and setting up the other two in a 3-1 win, he is without doubt the best player in non-league football at the moment and the fact he isn’t starting baffles me, have we brought in another injured player?
The game itself was frustrating to say the least.
We should have been three goals up by the time York opened the scoring.
Palmer, Bell and Rodney all missing guilt edged chances and when York did score it was slightly against the run of play.
The ball was swung in by Kempster, the County defence to a man did their impression of a statue and watched as the ball drifted into Ben’s net.
Two minutes later the lead was doubled as Sean Newton’s (being his usual belligerent self) shot took a wicked deflection to leave the County keeper helpless.
The second half was no better, more chances missed by the County, there were two clear penalty shouts for us but the referee waved them away, (have we had a penalty this season?) and a stupid red card for Joe Leesley who once again disappointed us all.
The worrying statistic is that we haven’t scored an away goal since Wrexham back in August and with the current set up I can’t see where the next is coming from.
Tactily inept, scared of shooting and at times incapable of playing a forward pass but “hey” we can now concentrate on the League – Dover and Bromley away anyone?