United  bowed out of the FA Trophy as a late goal from Richard Brodie sent former Manor Ground favourite, and now York manager, Martin Foyle away from his old club all smiles. James Constable's thirteenth of the season had raised United's hopes of snatching another win after Daniel McBreen's opener for York, but Brodie's fine finish left United with just the league to concentrate on.

 Sticking to 4-4-2 United gave Shane Killock a debut at left back and Adam Chapman a first start in central midfield while Ricky Sappleton started for the first time up front. York were so scared of him that they took centre half David McGurk off inside the first six minutes, with Darren Kelly coming on in his place. Sappleton immediately snapped a shot just the wrong side of the post with the keeper beaten and then ref Whitton joined the fun by booking Kelly inside two minutes of him getting on the pitch. We don't know what for but it allows us to make a rare geographical play on words. York were a bit of a shambles at that stage.

A booking for James Clarke for something else we didn't understand soon followed, but in between the trivia there were some good moves from United with Sappleton and Constable looking like a proper partnership up front and Yemi Odubade full of tricks on his return. York had the odd moment of danger, such as an inexcusable back pass from Day to Turley which gave them a free kick inside the area, but when even  that was shanked out for a throw in you began to sense this was a side short on confidence.

United though have the infuriating habit of playing other teams into form  and only a  smart save from Turley after a Richard Brodie shot on 37 kept things level. York had had the clearer opportunities but right on the stroke of half time came the closest thing to a goal as Chapman's free kick was deflected at goal and blocked on the line, with keeper Ingham making a great reflex block to deny Luke Foster as he tried to guide the loose ball into the seemingly empty net.

That save proved very handy three minutes after the restart as York finally found a way through. A simple ball down the left channel was enough to undo the United defence who chased in vain as Daniel McBreen gathered the ball in his stride, took it on ten yards and then cracked a shot between Turley and his right hand post, the ball skimming the upright before entering the United net to make it 1-0.

Boss Chris Wilder swiftly withdrew James Clarke and brought on Joe Burnell, with Chapman switching to his more natural right back role, and on 61 minutes United were level as Constable showed his clinical side yet again. Haldane headed a left wing cross back across and as Ingham scrambled to save at the base of his post. Sappleton retrieved it on the by line and supplied Constable who shimmied, touched the ball to his right and then absolutely buried the chance for yet another goal at home; that's five games on the trot and rising.

Previously every time Constable had scored this season United had won, and now they started to throw men forward and look to get the job done at the first attempt. York dropped deeper and chances started to come along. Ingham tipped a Chapman free kick over the bar on 74 and it looked as though a siege was coming when out of the blue York went up the other end and won it. Andy McWilliams was allowed to skip past two challenges from the left and just as he he was stopped the ball ran to Richard Brodie. Top scorer Brodie took one touch then bent a fine left footed shot round Turley and unerringly into the corner of the net from twenty yards. A good finish but the move could easily have been stopped at source.

With so many new faces it was always going to be tough to keep the momentum of recent weeks at home going, but this was a disjoined effort and United will be hoping for better as they welcome Altrincham on Saturday in the Blue Square Premier.

United

Turley, Day, Foster, Killock, Clarke (Burnell 56), Odubade, Chapman (Carruthers 78), Hutchinson, Haldane, Constable, Sappleton

Subs

Hinchliffe,Trainer, Taylor

York City

 Ingham, Critchell, McWilliams (Shepherd 90), McGurk, (Kelly 6) Parslow, Robinson, Greaves, Wilkinson, Russell (Farrell 66), McBreen, Brodie

Subs

Mimms,  Sodje

Att: 1,958

Away: 82

Report by Chris Williams