YOU have to hope being labelled the worst side in York City’s proud history will eventually stir something in this group of players.

The statistics and the results don’t lie. In 87 years, there has never been a lowlier bunch and, against Northwich Victoria, they showed why.

They may bemoan Jonny Allan’s injury time goal, slotted under Michael Ingham after he left Mark Robinson flat on his backside, but they deserved nothing. Don’t let that minor second half flurry, capped by Robinson’s well-taken penalty, disguise the cracks.

City were awful in the opening 45 minutes, only marginally better after the break, and were outfought by a Vics team who played with something alien to a fair few of Martin Foyle’s men – pride.

If you believe what Foyle said in the post-match press conference, Northwich’s players battled on despite having not been paid for three months.

Without the prospect of a trip to Wembley, City – by contrast – look disinterested. Without the prospect of the Arch, many play like they realise their days at KitKat Crescent are numbered.

There are exceptions.

Ingham has been quality this season and his two centre-backs, David McGurk and Daniel Parslow, wear the club’s crest on their hearts. And, of course, there is Richard Brodie.

The boy who became a man in the face of biting criticism has become the unlikely talisman. His effort in that second period, despite reportedly suffering from a thigh problem, shamed some of his colleagues.

Everything that was good about the Oxford performance, the passion, the bite in the tackle and the flowing, creative play, was missing on Saturday.

Remember this is a side that, in the FA Trophy, has won at Oxford, beaten Kidderminster and crushed promotion-chasing Telford but couldn’t beat a Northwich side which had previously tasted victory just twice on their travels.

The rut had set in long before Allan opened the scoring on 26 minutes. Shaun Pejic was off the pitch after being clattered on the nose and there seemed to be confusion between the bench and physio Jeff Miller over whether he was fit to continue.

Northwich went on the offensive and Onome Sodje, summing up in one moment what is wrong with the Minstermen this season, pulled out of a bye-line tackle – forcing McGurk to save his blushes with a quite brilliant block from Joel Byrom’s shot.

But, from the ensuing corner, Matt Bailey pulled the ball back for Allan, who shot through a crowd past a despairing dive from Ingham. The crowd started calling for Brodie’s introduction as the front three of Sodje, Daniel McBreen and Adam Boyes failed to make any impact on a sturdy Vics defence.

Admittedly, they weren’t helped by City’s determination to aimlessly thump the ball forward, but they were hardly shouldering attacking responsibility with any vigour either.

McGurk showed some “passion” in first half stoppage time and was lucky not to get a red card when, after being fouled by Allan, he retaliated by giving the forward a slap around the head.

And the Minstermen, perhaps finally beginning to realise the gravity of the situation, rose somewhat from their slumber as the second period got into gear.

Ryan Clarke saved a scuffed shot from Boyes on 55 minutes, and Brodie’s off-the-ball running was finally giving City an outlet in the channels.

It was his work which led to the equaliser on 68 minutes.

Running into the box, he took the ball around the outside of Simon Grand who, foolishly, stuck out a leg in the direction of the striker. Referee Geoff Eltringham hesitated, and even Foyle said he wasn’t sure, but the linesman was convinced and the penalty was awarded.

This time, Robinson – who had come the length of the pitch against Oxford only to see Sodje miss – took control, took the ball and smashed the spot kick past Clarke. That the hero would become the villain is harsh on Robinson who, despite some of the crowd’s criticisms, was by no means the worst player.

But he has to hold his hands up for Northwich’s winning goal.

It came after a period of City pressure which had threatened to give them an unlikely win. Adam Smith, who sparkled as a late substitute, flashed a cross into the box which was nearly put into his own goal by Bailey, before he cleared off the line when Smith’s thunderbolt was parried by Clarke and looped towards the net.

Brodie shot at Clarke with time running out, after a clever piece of trickery on the bye-line, before the sickening second goal arrived. Byrom put the ball through the middle and Robinson was out-muscled by Allan as he tried to head the ball back to Ingham.

The left-back stumbled and fell, and Allan ran on to push the ball under the advancing Ingham and delay Northwich’s relegation for another week – to the delight of the 60 travelling supporters.

Northwich are still fighting their impending demise. City could do with following their example – before it’s too late.

Match facts

York City 1, Robinson 68 pen

Northwich 2, Allan 26, 90

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

Michael Ingham 6
Shaun Pejic 5
David McGurk 6
Danny Parslow 6
Mark Robinson 5
Christian Smith 4
Mark Greaves 4
Simon Brown 4
Adam Boyes 4
Onome Sodje 4
Daniel McBreen 4
Substitutions: Ben Purkiss (for Pejic, 27) 5 Richard Brodie (for McBreen, 45) 7 Adam Smith (for Brown, 73) 7 Subs not used: Mackin, Hogg.

City’s star man: Richard Brodie – did his best to give City a spark but was largely fighting a one-man battle.

Northwich: Ryan Clarke, Danny Meadowcroft, Matt Bailey, Simon Grand, Ryan Brown, Lee Elam (Leo Richard 84), Matty Crowell, Joel Byrom, Luke Joyce, Jonny Allan, Aaron Burns (Jamie Mullan 92). Subs not used: Luke Horrocks, Wayne Riley.

Bookings: C Smith 34, Robinson 41, Joyce 44, Allan 46, McGurk 46, Grand 62, Bailey 75, Crowell 91.

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Sunderland). Rating: May have got the penalty wrong and probably should have sent McGurk off.

Attendance: 2,421.

Save of the match: Adam Smith’s thunderbolt needed a wonderful parry from Ryan Clarke.

Miss of the match: Brodie should have equalised, after Vics’ second goal, when picked out by Greaves.

Mistake of the match: Robinson was caught on his toes for the winning goal. How much will that cost City?

City player watch: Mark Robinson

Shots on target: 1
Shots off target: 0
Passes to team-mate: 21
Passes to opposition: 2
Pass completion rate: 91 per cent
Crosses to team-mate: 2
Crosses to opposition: 9
Dribbles, ball retained: 0
Dribbles, ball lost: 0
Headers: 11
Tackles: 1
Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 11
Fouls won: 0
Fouls conceded: 1
Overall: Dispatched his penalty with confidence. Lee Elam gave him a few problems, but Robinson was just able to keep him under control.

The high number of crosses which found the opposition demonstrated City’s propensity to thump it forward and his performance was spoiled by the mistake for Allan’s second goal.

Shots on target: City 2, Northwich 3.

Shots off target: City 5, Northwich 1.

Corners: City 4, Northwich 5.

Fouls: City 12, Northwich 17.

Offside: City 5, Northwich 4.