6 mins Ashcroft shot 0-1

8 mins Browne penalty 0-2

34 mins Chopra shot 1-2

38 Ferrell penalty 2-2

Half time: York 2 Newcastle 2

53 mins Orr shot 3-2

75 mins Browne shot 3-3

88 mins Fox shot 3-4

Full time: York 4 Newcastle 3 

Tommy Craig said:

To follow......

A see-saw game in the Pontins League provided rich entertainment for a handful of shivering spectators at Bootham Crescent on Wednesday afternoon. 

However, despite making it seventeen goals scored in our last five matches, it was the home side who brought our four-match winning run to an end with a decisive late strike as the mists descended.

We'd earlier recovered from being two goals down within the first eight minutes before we'd even crossed the halfway line to level by the interval - Chopra's shot and Ferrell's penalty bringing us back to 2-2.

And when Bradley Orr put us in front shortly after the break things looked promising, but we failed to increase that lead and were made to pay as the Minstermen broke away twice to claim the victory.

highlights:

2 mins Defensive slackness let in York striker Liam George but the former Luton Town player spooned his shot well wide from the edge of the box.

6 mins Midfielder Kane Ashcroft shot the home side ahead, after Bryan Stewart had put Norton on his backside down the York left. His cross took a deflection which helped it on its way to Ashcroft, who converted from the edge of the box past a possibly unsighted 'keeper Smith. 0-1 

8 mins Things got worse for the Magpies when Ramage was adjudged to have fouled Gary Browne just inside the Newcastle box, after the striker ran on to a Stewart through ball.

Browne got up to double York's lead from the spot, Smith unable to block his shot despite it being hit almost at him. Despite the decision looking debatable, there was no debate from United over the award. 0-2

28 mins Alan O'Brien forced a corner but went down clutching his right ankle. After off-field attention from Paul Ferris, he returned a few moments later.

33 mins A rare Newcastle attack saw a vain penalty appeal after Gary Anderson caught Offiong from behind as he moved on to Michael Chopra's knock down from Daryl Smylie's centre. However the referee waved away our appeals.

34 mins A Smylie cross from the right was nodded back by the limping O'Brien for Chopra to get in a snap shot. However it was claimed easily by City 'keeper Chris Porter.

34 mins York were caught in possession midway in their own half and after breaking forward into space, Chopra turned inside central defender Sean Davies to slip it past keeper. 1-2

Before the restart a clearly ailing O'Brien made way for Bradley Orr.

38 mins Davies fouled Offiong on the edge of the York box and referee Richardson pointed to the penalty spot for the second time in the match - a soft award. 

Offiong took the spot kick but sent his weak effort straight at the goalkeeper, the ball being cleared by defence away to safety. However, the referee spotted that Porter had encroached from his line and ordered a retake.

This time Andy Ferrell stepped up to wrong-foot the severely dischuffed 'keeper and knock it into the bottom left hand of the goal to level the match 2-2. 

Before the restart Porter (pictured) unleashed a tirade of abuse at the referee, who neglected to produce a card. A check of the squad list later revealed Porter to be from Smogland and a former mackem player - we might have known. 

39 mins Within seconds of the restart, a strong challenge from Offiong left City left back Baynes in a heap on sidelines and the Newcastle striker was spoken to. No card was produced for the tackle though, despite yet more cursing and histrionics from guess who....Porter.

41 mins The game restarted with Baynes carried off to the dressing room for treatment and a sub on in his place.

HT 2:2

46 mins Newcastle reshuffled for the second half, with Lewis Guy replacing Offiong to partner Chopra up front and Martin Brittain coming on to occupy a right-side midfield berth.

As a consequence captain Ramage dropped into the centre of the back four alongside Taylor, while Ferrell went to the left side of midfield, leaving Orr and Smylie in the middle.

48 mins Much to the annoyance of coach Tommy Craig, the linesman flagged for a back pass against Newcastle - York gaining a free kick approx 8 yards to the right of the 6 yard box. However the wall did it's job Ferrell blocking the danger.

51 mins Brittain dropped his corner from the left in towards the near post, Ramage timing his run perfectly to elude the home defence and power in a first-time half volley that Porter did very well to push away.

53 mins Substitute Bradley Orr hooked the ball home from 10 yards after another United corner caused problems in the York area. The ball had bounced around dangerously before the midfielder converted his first goal in this league and his third of the season in all. 3-2

71 mins Smylie's pass infield from the right was picked up by Chopra, who jinked and shimmied a shooting position on the edge of the City box before driving powerfully just wide of the upright.

75 mins The goal of the game as Taylor's mistake allowed strike pair George and Browne to exchange passes and Browne claimed his second goal of the game, beating Smith with a crisp 18 yard shot beyond him into the bottom corner of the goal. 3-3

84 mins Some good work on the left byline from Ferrell saw him send over a low cross that Guy met with a first time shot. However Porter somehow kept out and from the rebound the 'keeper again denied Chopra at the expense of a corner. To round off a hectic passage of play, Guy met Brittain's corner at the far post but headed over the bar from close range.

88 mins City 'keeper Porter almost found himself stranded in midfield but cleared the ball forward to George. He in turn found Browne, who released midfielder Christian Fox (pictured) on the overlap. 

His run into the left side of the area took him beyond Taylor and the onetime toon transfer target drove the ball home low into the opposite corner although Smith got a hand on it. 3-4

90 mins United's final chance to claim a point went begging after Chopra was fouled on edge of area. However, Brittain's curling free kick went wide.

FT 4:3

Biffa

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