York City 1 Mansfield Town 1: York will look to gain from dismissed Green’s absence

It would not be York City if things came easy.

Playing against a side reduced to 10 men – Mansfield’s 30-goal top scorer Matt Green was sent off for two cautionable offences – does not mean the floodgates will burst open, no matter how unseasonable the recent nationwide deluge has been.

Regularly in the second half of the season, York have made heavy weather of promising situations.

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The first leg of the FA Trophy semi-final against Luton is a case in point with York only managing a 1-0 win against effectively nine men.

Last night they battled against the obdurate 10 of Mansfield, who remained capable of snatching a win to take back to Field Mill on Monday on the counter-attack.

The dismissal of Green 16 minutes from time turned a fiery encounter into an exercise in attack versus defence, but Gary Mills’s side – neat as they were – could not seize the initiative.

Green will be banned for Monday’s return, much to the delight no doubt of the Minstermen faithful, though Mills felt afterwards his side shackled Mansfield’s major threat admirably.

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Green was the man two years ago who scored the opening goal for Oxford against York City in the play-off final at Wembley.

Mansfield carry plenty more threats to concern Mills over the coming days, notably Exodus Geohaghon, who in a show-stealing performance set up the opener for Ross Dyer and then scored in his own net to restore parity for York.

This was the third draw between the teams in as many meetings this season and with away goals not counting in the Blue Square Premier play-offs, it is effectively a one-off game on May Day.

Not that this was a redundant tie, the 6,057 gate being York’s highest for three years and ensuring a handsome financial return for the club in what is a crucial month.

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York have already booked one date at Wembley on Saturday week when they will contest the FA Trophy final for the second time in four seasons.

Five days later, on March 17, they get a verdict from York City Council on whether they have the green light for a long-sought-after new stadium at Monks Cross.

Such a facility will be vital for the growth of the club and it is hoped a run of victories in this most pivotal of periods will help sway the council to give the proposal a seal of approval.

The Minstermen started with purpose, Matty Blair popping up on either wing to pose questions to the Mansfield defence.

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Central defender Chris Doig sliced a shot over from Patrick McLaughlin’s second-minute corner but the hosts’ early zest was gradually neutralised by the Stags’ 4-2-3-1 formation.

The long throws of former Rotherham United defender Geohaghon presented early concern.

York goalkeeper Michael Ingham caused hearts to stop when he appeared to collect a long ball outside of the box while under pressure but fortunately for the home faithful, referee Richard Clark was in lenient mood.

Mansfield threatened when Anthony Howell narrowly flicked a header from Gary Roberts’s clipped centre over the bar.

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Then McLaughlin danced in from the right for York and saw his goalbound shot deflected wide.

A goal was coming and duly arrived on 24 minutes, the source unsurprisingly a long throw from Geohaghon.

This time it was arrowed in from the right wing at a lower trajectory, striker Dyer darting in front of Blair to glance into the far corner from 10 yards.

Chris Smith summed up the frustration for York when he needlessly scythed Green down in midfield. That he only received a yellow card was fortunate.

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York needed a cool head and James Chambers showed the way with a driving shot that Mansfield goalkeeper Alan Marriott did well to punch clear.

Mills’s men were rewarded for their patience with an equaliser three minutes before the break. Jon Challinor sent a tantalising cross in from the angle of the penalty area on the right wing, right into the corridor of uncertainty between defender and goalkeeper. Walker was closing in on it and his presence did enough to disconcert Geohaghon who diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Moments later, Walker fired a volley wide as York looked to cash in on their growing confidence.

The game remained open in the second half with Blair fizzing a long-range effort at Marriott before Howell had a shot saved by Ingham at the other end.

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Geohaghon – who gave scant regard to his duties as a defender by popping up all over the pitch – then saw a cross cut out and a shot blocked as York defended desperately.

Green’s dismissal was harsh, but given his history against York and his record this season, the home crowd were only too glad to see the back of him.

York, though, could not take advantage, Smith heading over from six yards from one of a host of corners and set-pieces they forced.

Chambers then glanced a header wide as York threw everything forward but to no avail.

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York City: Ingham; Challinor, Smith, Doig, Fyfield; McLaughlin (Moke 82), Meredith, Parslow; Blair, Chambers, Walker. Unused substitutes: Musselwhite, Reed, Potts, Brown.

Mansfield Town: Marriott, O’Neill, Sutton, Riley (Andrew 18), Geohaghon; Meikle (Briscoe 79), Murray, Howell, Roberts; Green, Dyer (Rhead 90). Unused substitutes: Stevenson, Redmond.

Referee: R Clark (Northumberland).