VIDEO - York City win the FA Trophy
They beat Macclesfield 3-2 at Wembley on Sunday afternoon
York City's nightmare season ended on a tumultuous high, as a 85th minute Jon Parkin winner saw the Minstermen lift the FA Trophy.
YORK CITY HAVE WON THE FA TROPHY! 3-2 FULL TIME pic.twitter.com/qoKtME773u
The game was a classic, the scores level at 2-2 at the half-time interval, Parkin and Vadaine Oliver the City goalscorers. Under the cosh in the second period, in all honestly Macclesfield looked more likely to score, but when York's leading goalscorer outmuscled his two markers with five minutes to go, a third successive Wembley win for York City was secured.
It was a breathless first half, the pace set by Parkin's early strike after eight minutes of action. Danny Holmes, playing in an unfamiliar position at left back, swung in a cross with his right-foot, Parkin only needed to glance it with the top of his head to divert it past Macclesfield keeper Scott Flinders.
I've just spoken to Jon Parkin, who claims he knew what he was going to do when the ball came to him for the winner #ycfc @minsterfm pic.twitter.com/DmBz92XhWf
But the Silkmen were level five minutes later, after Mitch Hancox's free kick from the left of the area fell to Browne. The winger had space and duly drilled the ball under two City defenders and the legs of Letheren.
Arguably Macclesfield should have had the opportunity to take the lead from the spot, Yan Klukowski was lucky not to concede a penalty as he leant on Danny Whitaker. As it was City went back in front just after 20 minutes. Holmes was involved in the build up again, sliding Sean Newton through in the left channel, who slid a square ball to his right for Oliver to tap in at the far post.
Aidan Connolly has claimed the winning goal - something to argue about on the bus home #ycfc @minsterfm pic.twitter.com/NmoKpVhv6U
So often when ahead this season York City have dropped back and invited pressure, and Gary Mills' team did the same here, losing any attacking threat because they were sitting so deep. The excellent Browne should have punished them for it with 10 minutes to go of the first half, excellently working himself into some space, before lashing over from 12 yards.
It looked like the Minstermen would take their lead into the half-time break, but out of nowhere Norburn fired a thunderous 35 yard drive over Letheren in the first minute of added time. The City keeper may well be disappointed with his efforts, the shot was straight over his head, and it will have forced a change in the team talk delivered by Mills only moments later.
York switched to a back four for the second half, Adriano Moke replacing Klukowski, who had looked rusty at times in the opening period. The change, however, seemed to hinder City's attacking efforts in the opening half an hour of the half, with the width of the wing-backs no linger available.
By contrast, Macclesfield were all the more threatening after the break, Whitaker volleying inches wide of Letheren's left post after 57 minutes. If the York keeper hadn't been in such good for, furthermore, the Minstermen would have been in serious trouble. A smart dive to his left to parry a Hancox shot after 64 minutes was a highlight, as was his effort to smother the onrushing Browne 15 minutes later. Hamza Becnherif was also required to head off the line from a Kingsley James volley as York clung to the 2-2 scoreline.
Slowly, York found some momentum, the introduction of Aidan Connolly giving them extra bodies in attack. Then came the winner.
Hamza Bencherif fired a long diagonal ball up to Parkin, he chested it down, turned onto his right foot, outmuscled John McCombe, then struck. The shot deflected off the sliding George Pilkington and looped over Flinders, sending the City fans into raptures.
By Peter Rogers, York City Reporter