THERE was no place for the faint-hearted at this epic contest where York City somehow survived a second-half battering from Cambridge to reach the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2001-02, the Minstermen's last season in the Football League.
Cambridge forced 18 corners to York's one, four of them in the last two minutes when all 22 players were in the York penalty area.
What a finish, with York manager Martin Foyle describing it with a smile as "a horrible time for everyone on the bench."
A super 25-yard strike by Michael Rankine, in a rich seam of form just now, put York ahead in the 37th minute.
Two minutes later, england C striker Richard Brodie took his total to 18 for the season with a penalty after he had been upended.
Brodie missed a great chance to make it 3-0 in the second half after running clear, but that was a rare raid by York as they spent virtually every other moment defending, David McGurk and Luke Graham being outstanding.
Tony Tonkin (82) narrowed the gap and there were a dozen heart-stopping moments before the final whistle from the excellent Steve Rushton.
York have won six successive games to reach third in the Blue Square Premier table in addition to their cup exploits and their biggest away following of the season, 799, went away delighted and relieved with the result.
Cambridge United: Potter; Gleeson, Saah, Hatswell, Tonkin; Willmott, McAuley, Ives (Marriot 80), Pitt; Holroyd, Crow. Unused substitutes: Coulson, Parkinson, Farrell, Coakley, Patrick, Walker.
York City: Ingham; Parslow, McGurk, Graham, Meredith; Lawless, Barrett (Ferrell 88), Mackin, Carruthers; Brodie, Rankine (Gash 86). Unused substitutes: Mimms, Smith, Gall, Berry, McWilliams.
Referee: S Rushton (Stoke).
Man of the match: David McGurk.
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