IN six dynamic games as striking partners, Richard Brodie and Michael Gash have now plundered 13 goals for York City.

Unlucky for some maybe? Well, certainly ten-man Kidderminster Harriers who, without City’s prolific pair, would have earned at least a share of the spoils at Bootham Crescent.

Following centre-back Gavin Caines’ ninth-minute sending off, Kidderminster made light of their numerical disadvantage with a prodigious work ethic.

Mark Yates’ men managed twice as many shots on goal than their off-colour hosts who, for a second successive match, missed Alex Lawless’ ability to move the ball quickly and efficiently in the middle of the park.

Such was City’s struggle for a stranglehold that Brodie was shifted to the left flank midway through the second period and centre-back David McGurk was called upon to anchor the midfield again in the closing stages.

By then, the Minstermen were clinging on for three points, which they secured courtesy of a late save by Michael Ingham, who redeemed himself for the earlier error that had seen Kidderminster claw their way back to 3-2 with half-an-hour left to play.

Select your favourite football fable from “it’s never easy to play against ten men” or “strikers win you games” and you will have a fairly accurate summary of Saturday’s proceedings.

Home manager Martin Foyle will be hoping another classic cliche – the sign of a successful team is winning when you’re not at your best – also rings true come the end of the season.

The presence of Brodie and Gash in his starting line-up definitely ensures City carry a goal threat at all times.

Foyle’s side managed just three on-target attempts at Kidderminster ’keeper Dean Coleman’s goal, but enjoyed a 100 per cent success rate.

Having scored his first goal from the penalty spot, Brodie was then in the right place to bounce another one in off his belly before Gash claimed his third header of the season from an Adam Smith cross.

It was the visitors, though, who converted the first chance of the afternoon on two minutes.

The dangerous David McDermott, who was afforded far too much time and space by City on the right flank, delivered the first of a flurry of first-half crosses to the far post where an unmarked Brian Smikle stooped to head past Ingham.

It was a sloppy start, but Caines then misjudged a long Ben Purkiss ball six minutes later to gift Brodie a clear run on goal.

The City striker seemed to take an age before electing to shoot only for Caines to clip his heels, meaning Brodie’s eventual effort trickled against the post. Had it gone in, Caines would have stayed on the pitch, but referee Paul Davison pointed to the spot and then brandished his red card.

Brodie stepped up to score his third penalty of the season, sidefooting confidently into Coleman’s bottom right-hand corner.

Midfielder Chris McPhee moved into the centre of defence to compensate for Caines’ loss, while the creative Darryl Knights was sacrificed for a more combative Nathan Hayward.

Andy Ferrell, playing against his former club, went close for City on 28 minutes when his curling 25-yard effort narrowly missed Coleman’s top right-hand corner.

Seconds later, Hayward was forced off to receive treatment for a head injury and, with Harriers down to nine men during his three minutes on the sidelines, the home side capitalised.

Ferrell weighed up his options before picking out Djoumin Sangare in the penalty box.

The French centre-back then used his strength to roll off his marker before heading for the byline and sending a cross to the far post that Coleman’s glove diverted towards Brodie, who stuck out his chest to claim a ninth goal of the season.

Neil Barrett should have at least tested Coleman on 39 minutes after a neat passing exchange between Purkiss and Gash but dragged his shot across the face of goal.

Kidderminster’s ten men, deciding attack was the best form of defence, refused to sit back though and Robbie Matthews headed over after escaping Purkiss’ attentions to meet Hayward’s deep cross on the stroke of half-time.

Ferrell was inches away from scoring his first goal for City early in the second period after another raid down the right by Purkiss before Gash extended the home side’s lead on 58 minutes.

The £55,000 striker fed the ball out to a shimmying Adam Smith on the right flank and then headed for the six-yard box where he rose to meet the winger’s cross and beat an exposed Coleman.

It only took Kidderminster four minutes, however, to get back into the game.

Barrett’s sliding tackle from behind on McDermott gave Harriers a free-kick 25 yards from the City goal.

McDermott then pushed the ball square to Matthew Barnes-Homer whose low, long-range effort straight at Ingham squrimed through his arms and between his legs.

City manager Foyle responded by replacing Levi Mackin with Michael Rankine, overlooking Craig Nelthorpe as he switched Brodie on to the left wing while Ferrell moving into his favoured central midfield role.

Rankine went close to putting the result beyond doubt shortly afterwards when he collected Gash’s flick on from a long Ingham punt and drove narrowly wide.

But it was Kidderminster who ended the game looking like they had an extra man on the pitch.

Ingham took two attempts to grab a Matthews shot and also berated left-back James Meredith after Barnes-Homer had gone close with a dipping volley and Sangare had stuck his neck out to bravely head away a goalbound Smikle strike.

With the City ’keeper looking increasingly vulnerable, though, he saved his best for last when diving to his right on 86 minutes to get a strong fist to Duane Courtney’s powerful drive.

McDermott departed the action much to City’s relief two minutes into stoppage time and Foyle was left to reflect on a fairly fortunate four points gained in five days.


Match facts

York City 3 (Brodie 9 (pen), 32; Gash 58), Kidderminster Harriers 2 (Smikle 2; Barnes-Homer 62)

York City: Michael Ingham 6, Ben Purkiss 8, Djoumin Sangare 8, Daniel Parslow 7, James Meredith 6, Adam Smith 7, Levi Mackin 6, Neil Barrett 6, Andy Ferrell 7, Michael Gash 8, Richard Brodie 8.

Substitutions: Michael Rankine (for Mackin, 68) 7 David McGurk (for Ferrell, 84).

Subs not used: Richard Pacquette, Craig Nelthorpe, Josh Mimms.

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: Purkiss – a constant source of quality attacking service from the right flank.


Harriers: Dean Coleman, Duane Courtney, Gavin Caines, Martin Riley, Lee Baker, David McDermott (Aaron Farrell, 90), Darryl Knights (Nathan Hayward, 16), Chris McPhee, Brian Smikle, Robbie Matthews, Matthew Barnes-Homer.

Subs not used: Kyle Hadley, Tom Sharpe, Liam Dolman.


Yellow cards: none. Red card: Caines 9.

Referee: Paul Davison (Cleveland).

Rating: pretty accomplished but let down by a couple of baffling assistant decisions.

Attendance: 2,509 (113 away fans).

Mistake of the match: Ingham’s lapse for Kidderminster’s second goal.

Save of the match: Ingham’s diving stop from Courtney’s late effort.