York City 3 Mansfield Town 0

​MANSFIELD Town were clinically dispatched by in-form play-off rivals York City at Kit Kat Crescent this afternoon.

The Stags had high hopes of ending the hosts unbeaten home run in the Blue Square Premier.

Instead, it was City who extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches, ten of which they have won.

Once the league’s top scorer, Richard Brodie, had put York in front in the 21st minute, the result was rarely in doubt.

And the game was certainly over as a contest two minutes into the second half when Luke Jones was sent off and Brodie scored the resulting penalty.

Substitute Michael Gash rounded off a comfortable victory for the Minstermen in the closing stages as the 642 visiting supporters left for home thoroughly disappointed.

The Stags were sent out by David Holdsworth in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Jon Challinor playing just behind Kyle Perry in attack.

Neither side created many chances in a first half that was dominated by the referee’s whistle.

Mansfield were first to threaten but Michael Brough blazed over inside the first 30 seconds after good work from Andy Burgess and Jon Challinor.

At the other end, York looked most likely to score from set pieces and crosses into the box – and it was from one such situation that they stole in front.

Keeper Alan Marriott failed to collect a left-wing cross and in the ensuing scramble, Brodie headed home from close range.

Levi Mackin then smashed over the top while Alex Lawless clipped wide of the left hand post.

Mansfield were limited to isolated spells of possession during the rest of the first half and failed to test home keeper Michael Ingham.

After the restart, the Stags brought on Ollie Hotchkiss and Ryan Williams for Brough and Lee Morris.

But any Mansfield hopes of them transforming the game were quickly wiped out by a sending off and a York second.

Using his strength, Brodie wrestled himself goalside of Jones and the defender pulled down the striker, resulting in a penalty and a red card as the last man.

Brodie picked himself up to rifle the spot kick into the left-hand corner, giving Marriott no chance.

The front man went close again when he rolled a defender from Chris Carruthers’ thrown and fired just beyond the far post.

Mansfield at last began to rally in the closing stages and substitute Williams was not too far right with a right foot curler.

That was after Andy Burgess had sent a long range shot high and wide.

Michael Rankine was denied a third York goal when his deflected free-kick was snaffled by Marriott.

But it was 3-0 to the Minstermen when Gash coolly slotted home just moments after coming following Neil Barrett’s buccaneering run.

As Brodie went in search of a hat-trick his shot struck Gash and looked to be trickling in until Paul Heckingbottom cleared off the line.

Mansfield’s afternoon was summed up when Kyle Perry miscued a volley from close range after Gary Silk’s free-kick had been flicked on.

 

York: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Lawless (Gall 83), Mackin, Barrett, Carruthers (Ferrell 83), Rankine (Gash 79), Brodie. Subs not used: Purkiss, Smith.

Mansfield: Marriott, Silk, Garner, Jones, Heckingbottom, Morris (Williams 46), Somner, Brough (Hotchkiss 46), Burgess (Speight 67), Challinor, Perry. Subs not used: Duffy, Sandercombe.

Referee: Robert Madley (Ossett).

Attendance: 4,587 (642 visitors).