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York City 2 Stockport County 1: Double substitution by Mills does the trick as Minstermen move up
THE brave decision by York City manager Gary Mills to take off his two leading marksmen, Jason Walker and Matty Blair, who have scored 15 goals each, proved crucial as the Minstermen grabbed victory with seconds of stoppage time to go.
York, far from being at their best, had stuttered along for three-quarters of the game, creating few chances as Stockport gave them little time or space with no indication that they are battling against relegation.
But then came a dramatic change to this moderate encounter with the York manager bringing on Jamie Reed and Matthew Blinkhorn in place of Walker and Blair.
It did the trick as York began to pressure the visitors’ defence.
Blinkhorn hit a post and Ben Gibson headed against the bar. But Stockport, who had taken a 52nd-minute lead with a fine goal by Danny L Rowe, still led with six minutes to go.
York’s persistence eventually paid dividends with Reed, as he has done so in the past, coming off the bench to equalise with a shot on the turn from Paddy McLaughlin’s corner from the right.
Then, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, McLaughlin’s corner saw Reed flick the ball on for Blinkhorn to head home from point-blank range.
The three points moved York up a place to fourth and with only one defeat (at Gateshead on September 27) in their last 20 league games, and with three successive home league matches to come, the Minstermen will now fancy their chances of securing promotion.
Mills said: “That was a real test of character. My players never gave up and got us a massive three points.”
York City: Ingham; Challinor, Smith, Doig, Gibson; Kerr, Brown (Swallow 60), McLaughlin; Blair (Reed 66), Walker (Blinkhorn 66), Chambers. Unused substitutes: Parslow, Tonne.
Stockport County: Ormson; Halls, O’Donnell (Piergianni 3), Connor, Holden; McConville, Nolan, Turnbull, Mainwaring (Cole 56), Danny L Rowe, Elliott. Unused substitutes: Hirmer, Danny M Rowe.
Referee: A Harrington (Hartlepool).
Man of the match: Scott Kerr.
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