YORK City became the first side since mid-September – and only the third all season – to enjoy victory at Oxford United.

Another spectacular Richard Brodie strike – his 15th goal of the season – settled last night’s FA Trophy tie at the Kassam Stadium to set up a third round trip to Kidderminster Harriers.

Brodie’s striking partner Daniel McBreen, who enjoyed his strongest display in a City shirt this season, had earlier broken the deadlock three minutes into the second half before James Constable levelled the scores just past the hour.

City suffered an early blow when talismanic centre-back David McGurk limped out of the action after just six minutes but replacement Darren Kelly compensated for his loss with a solid display.

On-loan Leicester City striker Ricky Sappleton drove narrowly wide with the evening’s first chance after six minutes – a 12-yard shot on the turn.

Sappleton then teed up Constable but he also missed the target from 25 yards.

The visitors’ first opportunity fell to Brodie on 24 minutes but he shot wide of the near post from a diminishing angle after McBreen had flicked on goalkeeper Michael Ingham’s long punt with his head.

Ben Wilkinson sliced an edge-of-the-box effort out for a throw-in after home ’keeper Billy Turley had been penalised for picking up a Matt Day back pass.

But the former Hull City midfielder forced Turley into his only save of the first half on 28 minutes when his 15-yard strike was beaten out after he had neatly sidestepped Luke Foster’s challenge.

At the other end, City survived a scare seconds before the interval when Ingham had to palm out Adam Chapman’s curling free-kick into the six-yard box and then react quickly to prevent captain Mark Greaves claiming his second own goal of the season.

Sappleton drove wildly off target from 25 yards early in the second half after nutmegging Danny Parslow with a nifty back-heel before McBreen opened the scoring on 48 minutes.

In an almost carbon-copy of Brodie’s first-half opportunity, the England ‘C’ international released his Australian striking partner by flicking on Ingham’s long clearance.

McBreen then drove straight for goal before firing under Turley’s body and watching his ten-yard effort cross the line after hitting the inside of a post.

On-loan Sheffield United midfielder Sam Chapman and substitute Joe Burnell both went close at the other end with decent 20-yard efforts, but Simon Russell should have done better for City from a similar distance when he dragged his shot wastefully wide with debutant Kyle Critchell having made an excellent and untracked, overlapping burst into the penalty box.

Oxford equalised moments later when Lewis Haldane headed a left-wing Shane Killock cross against a post and Constable drilled a low ten-yard shot inside Ingham’s near post from the rebound.

The City ’keeper was then forced to tip over a well-struck Chapman free-kick but Brodie settled the tie in terrific style.

McBreen swept a pass out to the left for Andy McWilliams, whose diagonal run across the penalty box was halted by Day, only for the ball to break for Brodie, who bent a first-time, 20-yard shot into Turley’s bottom right-hand corner.


Match facts

Oxford United 1 (Constable 61), York City (McBreen 48, Brodie 82)

City: Michael Ingham 7, Kyle Critchell 7, Danny Parslow 7, David McGurk N/A, Mark Robinson 7, Simon Russell 6, Ben Wikinson 7, Mark Greaves 7, Andy McWilliams 7, Richard Brodie 8, Daniel McBreen 8.

Substitutions: Darren Kelly (for McGurk 6min) 7, Craig Farrell (for Russell 66) 7, Liam Shepherd (for McWilliams 90).

Subs not used: Mimms, Sodje.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: McBreen – commanding in the air and worked hard in tandem with Brodie.


Oxford: Billy Turley, James Clarke (Joe Burnell, 56), Luke Foster, Matt Day, Shane Killock, Yemi Odubade, Adam Chapman (Chris Carruthers, 79), Eddie Hutchinson, Lewis Haldane, James Constable, Ricky Sappleton.

Subs: Phil Trainer, Matt Taylor, Ben Hinchcliffe.


Yellow cards: Kelly 9, Robinson 9, Clarke 15, McBreen 27, Hutchinson 84, Carruthers 86.

Shots on target: Oxford 6, York 3

Shots off target: Oxford 9, York 6

Corners: Oxford 3, York 1

Fouls conceded: Oxford 9, York 15

Offsides: Oxford 8, York 2

Referee: Rob Whitton (Essex).

Rating: over-officious. A real stickler for the Respect campaign, revelling in regular cautions for dissent.

Attendance: 1,958 (82 from City).

Mistake of the match: Referee Whitton penalising Oxford when Greaves was felled by a McWilliams challenge.

Shot of the match: Brodie’s match-winning strike.

Save of the match: Ingham’s tip over from Chapman’s free-kick.


City player watch: Kyle Critchell

Goal attempts on target: 0

Goal attempts off target: 0

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 9

Passes to opposition: 8

Crosses to own player: 1

Crosses to opposition: 3

Pass completion rate: 47.6 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 1

Dribbles ball lost: 1

Dribble completion rate: 50 per cent

Headers: 8

Tackles: 7

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 11

Fouls won: 1

Fouls conceded: 1

Offsides: 0

Yellow cards: 0

Final summary: On-loan right-back gave a brave display as illustrated by tackling tally. His challenging was also clean, failing to concede a single free-kick until second-half stoppage time. Distribution might have been better but, overall, he enjoyed a solid debut.


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