Today I'm going back five years to 2017 and York City's National League Premier fixture against Barrow at Bootham Crescent, played in front of 2,430 fans.
The first goal of the game, scored in the 21st minute, was a route one special nodded into the path of The Press Star Man Amari Morgan-Smith who, clean through, had a simple chance to beat the keeper and did so. Barrow's 74th minute equaliser was one of those "after you Claude" moments with two York defenders looking at each other and Kyle Letheren, the York goalkeeper, who eventually came late for the ball and fumbled it into the path of Jordan Williams who made no mistake. And that was that. Or so we thought. We were four minutes into added time at the end of the match when something happened that never seems to happen in York games. We had a last minute winner and this against a side who started the day having had fewer defeats that any other side in the division! Hurrah! A long throw in bounced its way through the box and was met on the half volley by Sean Newton who lashed it home to his obvious sheer delight! I do like a bit of passion and Newton's celebration was a delight (take a look at the video attached to my blog if you get a chance).
Mention of Kyle Letheren may spark a question in the minds of one or two of my older Leeds United supporting readers. The answer is yes! Kyle, City's Welsh goalkeeper that day, is indeed the son of Glan Letheren, another Welsh goalkeeper (it must be something in the DNA) who made just one appearance for Leeds United in the Football League as well as playing for Scunthorpe United, Chesterfield and Swansea City. Glan was never capped by Wales and, so far, his son hasn't received a call up either.
York started and finished the game rock bottom of the National League Premier table despite the much needed three points from this victory. Manager Gary Mills, who had returned to the club to replace the much hated Jackie McNamara the previous October, with this win indicated that he was capable of turning things around. We had hope. But as all football fans know, it's the hope that kills you. York, in 21st place (out of 24), were relegated into the National League North by a single point at the end of the season and have yet to return.
CRB Match No. 2133
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