A DREADFUL end to 2008 saw York City lose to part-timers Altrincham for the first time since dropping out of the Football League.

City had won five and drawn two of their seven previous meetings with the Robins, including 5-0 and 4-0 drubbings, but never looked like making their professionalism count in this latest encounter despite taking the lead courtesy of Richard Brodie’s 13th goal of the season.

The visitors went on to claim the points after Chris Senior’s second-half equaliser and Dale Johnson’s 89th-minute strike following a rare mistake by David McGurk.

As yet, nobody has dared to whisper the cliche “City are too good to go down” – perhaps because few believe it.

Losing to an Altrincham team, who have only escaped relegation themselves due to the misfortunes of other clubs over the last three years, is certainly not an encouraging portent going into the New Year.

Martin Foyle’s men, who have now been booed off the pitch at different stages in their last three home games, will kick off 2009 just four points above the Blue Square Premier trap door with seven of the eight teams below them boasting two games in hand.

Woking – the eighth – have also played one fixture fewer.

The transfer window will, hopefully, be one of opportunity for Foyle.

Midfield reinforcements are clearly needed, with yesterday’s display reminiscent of so many prior to the former Port Vale manager’s arrival at KitKat Crescent.

Without Steven Hogg, whose long-term fitness remains an apparent concern, the Minstermen struggle for creativity in that area of the pitch.

Of the three midfield players Foyle started with yesterday, Rusk is yet to score in 41 outings, Simon Russell has not netted in 23 games and all three of converted centre-back Mark Greaves’ goals have come from his head.

In common with recent displays, City also made a sluggish start against an uncompromising Altrincham team, only mustering their first goal attempt, other than a blocked Russell effort, when Adam Smith fired wide from 30 yards on 24 minutes.

Smith, playing as part of a three-pronged strikeforce alongside Richard Brodie and Onome Sodje, then began to inject some purpose into City’s play by dropping deeper to receive the ball and commit Altrincham defenders.

On 26 minutes, his 25-yard effort deflected wide off team-mate Russell, while Brodie’s weak header called Robins ’keeper Stuart Coburn into action for the first time moments later.

Inevitably, it was a positive run by Smith that led to City breaking the deadlock on 33 minutes.

The on-loan Gainsborough winger fed Brodie, whose progress was halted on the edge of the penalty box by Shaun Densmore.

Referee Geoff Eltringham awarded a free-kick and Brodie’s low driven effort caught Doughty, the last left-sided man in Altrincham’s wall, before spinning into Coburn’s bottom corner.

But the goal signalled little improvement in City’s play with Johnson wasting a decent opportunity to level shortly afterwards by aiming weakly at Ingham and Warren Peyton firing high and wide for from 25 yards.

Smith continued to look City’s biggest attacking threat after the interval, cutting in from the right before seeing a 20-yard effort saved on 49 minutes.

But, within seconds, the visitors were level.

Little managed to cross into the six-yard box from the by-line despite a sliding, near-post challenge by McGurk and Senior stooped low to head into an inviting net from point-blank range.

The Minstermen won their first corner of the game on 55 minutes, but continued to look disjointed despite a brief switch to 4-4-2 before Russell’s withdrawal.

Chances still fell for the home team, however, with Brodie dragging a 15-yard effort wide and substitute Ben Wilkinson seeing his miskicked shot loop up into the arms of a grateful Coburn after he had been picked out in the penalty box by Purkiss.

Rusk also tested Coburn from the edge of the box but, ominously, Ingham needed to push a Johnson strike around his near post moments later.

Former Hull City reserve Wilkinson went close to atoning for his earlier miss when he drove narrowly wide after exchanging passes with Rusk, but Johnson capitalised on a costly mistake to secure victory on 89 minutes.

A long punt down the left wing carried little threat until McGurk’s slip freed the former Droylsden striker for a clear, diagonal run on goal.

Cutting in from the touchline, Johnson went on to beat Ingham with a confident, curling finish that found the City ’keeper’s bottom left-hand corner.

Three further opportunities could have seen the frantic Minstermen snatch a late point during eight minutes of injury time, added on due to a lengthy stoppage that led to Anthony Danylyk being stretchered off.

First, Greaves headed back across the face of goal after Smith’s cross to the far post.

The same pairing then combined to tee up a chance for Brodie, but his shot was deflected wide.

Finally, with Ingham even thrown forward for a corner, Purkiss saw a low, deflected 20-yard drive narrowly miss the target.

Match facts Michael Ingham 7
Ben Purkiss 6
Danny Parslow 6
David McGurk 5
Andy McWilliams 6
Simon Russell 5
Mark Greaves 5
Simon Rusk 6
Adam Smith 7
Richard Brodie 5
Onome Sodje 5

Substitutions:

Daniel McBreen (for Sodje, 64) 5
Ben Wilkinson (for Russell, 69) 6
Adam Boyes (for Rusk, 90)
Subs not used: Mimms, Kelly.

City’s star man: Smith – expressed himself on the ball better than any of his team-mates.

Altrincham: Stuart Coburn, James Smith (Colin Little, 29), Greg Young, Mark McGregor, Chris Lane, Shaun Densmore, Warren Peyton, Anthony Danylyk (Alex Meechan, 83), Matt Doughty, Dale Johnson, Chris Senior (Lee Elam, 82). Subs (not used): Joe O’Neill, Andy Ralph.

Yellow cards: McWilliams 71, McBreen 79.

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Sunderland). Rating: positive with his decisions and got few wrong.

Attendance: 2,389 (161 away fans).

Miss of the match: Wilkinson’s miskick in front of goal that would have given City a 2-1 lead.

Move of the match: The one-two Wilkinson worked with Rusk before firing narrowly wide was one of City’s few slick passing interchanges.

Mistake of the match: McGurk’s slip that let in Johnson for the winning goal.

City player watch: Michael Ingham

Shots held: 5
Shots parried: 1
Crosses caught: 6
Crosses punched: 1
Crosses dropped: 0
Kicks to own player: 13
Kicks to opposition: 21
Kick success rate: 38.2 per cent
Throws to own player: 7
Throws to opposition: 0
Throw success rate: 100 per cent
Fouls won: 1
Fouls conceded: 0
Yellow cards: 0
Final summary: Michael Ingham had little chance with either goal and made a decent save to prevent Johnson netting at his near post on 85 minutes.

The former Northern Ireland international’s handling was reliable with his judgement on crosses faultless.

He also got distance on his kicks and found a team-mate at a reasonable rate.