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[Darren]

Alty 2 York City 2
By Connor Murphy
Comment
ALTY highlighted the extent of their recent transformation after drawing 2-2 with an impressive York side on Saturday.

Just over a month ago, Alty had meekly capitulated to York 3-1 in the FA Trophy but this team is the same only in name.

Graham Heathcote always insisted he would make changes in the transfer window but the differences are not merely cosmetic. This has been a genuine transformation - one that has given them renewed hope of escaping relegation.

Maybe they should have taken all three points after going 2-0 up through a Colin Little double but this was a result that would not have been possible just weeks ago and one that takes them another point closer towards their ultimate goal.

Although it was a game that provided plenty of excitement, the first half took far too long to get going.

Containment was Alty's first priority and they stuck to that task extremely well, setting up two rigid banks of four that denied the visitors any space in and around the penalty area.

York, on the other hand, seemed to be treating the game as they would a training session, neatly passing the ball around but lacking any kind of thrust or ambition.

So, despite their slightly defence-minded approach, it was Alty who had the better of the few first half chances.

When they broke out, they did so with real purpose and gave the visitors a few unwanted jitters.

Tom Cahill came close six minutes in, heading just wide of the post after Ryan Shotton's long throw had evaded everyone else in the penalty area. But unfortunately for the youngster that was his only contribution of any note, injury curtailing his afternoon after just 18 minutes and forcing the introduction of Little.

That failed to dampen the Robins' spirits though and twice Chris Senior fashioned out half chances thanks to his lightning pace. A bright run saw the little striker get his head to Shotton's clipped ball, although it went straight at keeper Tom Evans, and then he just failed to get on the end of a through ball when it looked as if he had got in behind the York defence.

But, if Alty enjoyed more of the chances, York had the single most clear cut opportunity. A clever ball from Onome Sodje sent Martyn Woolford racing away down the left as the hosts were caught on the break, but somehow former Vics striker Paul Brayson managed to fire off target after receiving the cut back.

Then, out of nowhere, a moment of magic gave Alty the lead four minutes before the break.

There seemed to be no threat as Liam King's hopeful punt forward looped off a York player towards the edge of the area but Little beautifully controlled the ball, taking both opposition centre halves out of play before placing his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Stunned into action, York could - and probably should - have been level before half time.

Brayson was unlucky, curling a decent effort wide from the edge of the box, but David McGurk was just wasteful as he hit the post from point blank range after Brayson's free kick had found him completely unmarked.

The drama that had ended the first half carried into the second as the fans were treated to a pulsating encounter.

And with both teams desperate to make the next chance count, Alty drew first blood.

A superb free kick from Ryan Toulson caught the Minstermen completely flat-footed at the back and Little darted in to ram the ball home inside the six-yard box.

But from that point on, it was all York.

Manager Colin Walker made what seemed like a puzzling change when he brought on defender Anthony Lloyd for striker Sodje. But it turned out to be a masterstroke.

With Woolford pushed up front and the midfield encouraged to get forward at every opportunity, wave after wave of York attacks crashed against the home defence.

Alty managed to stand firm until a moment of brilliance on 64 minutes changed the course of the game once more.

This time it was Manny Panther who provided it, the midfielder showing an incredible turn of pace to race clear of Warren Peyton down the right. Stuart Coburn rushed out towards Panther and he simply rolled the ball in to Woolford for a simple tap in.

Just two minutes later, that combination paid dividends again. Panther once again beat Peyton, this time on the left, and swung a cross into Woolford, who flicked the ball home at the near post.

As the game continued at a frenetic pace, the Minstermen had plenty of opportunities to snatch what had once seemed an unlikely victory.

It looked game over for Alty when Panther combined with Woolford once more, but this time he skied his shot as a hat-trick beckoned.

Then Woolford turned provider to set up Nicky Wroe, although he too lashed his effort well off target.

But a late York winner would have been extremely harsh on the Robins, who did enough to claim their seventh point from the last 12 available.

6:46pm Saturday 19th January 2008