York 3
Harriers 2

HARRIERS gave money-bags York a bloody nose with a spirited display, despite having to cope with Gavin Caines’ sending off on Saturday.

The Aggborough outfit were the better side despite having to play with ten men after centreback Caines was shown a straight red card.

After the match, manager Mark Yates was proud of his players’ efforts as they produced a fine display under the baking heat of the late September sun.

“I’m proud of my players, of the way they performed, the way they played with ten men for 75 minutes and were the better team for all of the game,” commented the manager.

“We got off to a great start, we go on and attack again and the only disappointment for me is their first goal.

“I tell a lie, there’s two disappointing things. The fact a long ball from their 18-yard box wasn’t defended properly is disappointing.

“I don’t criticise my players but that shouldn’t happen, we worked hard on it in training all week and it has cost us a penalty and a sending off.

“We had to play with ten men for the rest of the game and it has cost us three points.”

Impressively, there was little or no difference between ten men Harriers and York.

The hosts were one of the division’s big spenders in the summer but could count themselves very fortunate to see their unbeaten record at home this campaign remain intact.

It looked as though Harriers were going to have it all their own way when Brian Smikle met David McDermott’s cross from the right and stooped to plant a firm header beyond keeper Michael Ingham inside the second minute.

The game’s pivotal moment came in the ninth minute, when the luckless Caines was caught out by in-form York hitman Richard Brodie, who sped past him to latch onto a speculative long ball forward.

The centreback desperately tried to keep up with the hitman and pulled him back as he fired in an effort that hit the post.

Despite having a shot, the referee brandished a red card at the defender and blew for a penalty, which Brodie slotted to the left of keeper Dean Coleman.

The York hitman grabbed his second goal of the game in the 32nd minute, when Harriers were reduced to nine men while substitute midfielder Nathan Hayward had treatment after a clash of heads.

York’s financial muscle finally told early in the second half when Michael Gash, who cost £55,000 from Ebbsfleet in the summer, rose above Harriers’ defence to head Adam Smith’s cross into the back of the net and seemingly give York an unassailable lead.

The 3-1 score did little justice to Harriers’ performance, as they had actually controlled the game and discovered a real gem in 17-year-old Hayward.

The former youth team player, enjoying his first season as a professional, hardly looked fazed when he replaced Darryl Knights to stiffen up the middle of the pitch, after versatile skipper Chris McPhee had slotted efficiently into the back four.

Hayward had sidefooted a decent effort wide in the first half, while Smikle and Matthew Barnes-Homer forced decent saves from Ingham.

Striker Robbie Matthews also had a decent chance in the 44th minute but headed over the bar with just the keeper to beat.

However, York’s keeper gave them a lifeline in the 57th minute when he allowed Barnes-Homer’s stinging low 30-yard free-kick to slip through his arms, between his legs and into the back of the net.

But Harriers could not build on their moment of fortune and Ingham made good blocks to deny Matthews and Smikle.

Despite being the better side, Harriers missed out on any points and must have been wondering what would have happened if they had 11 players on the pitch.

Harriers: Coleman 6; Baker; Riley 6; Caines 2; Courtney 6; Smikle 7, McPhee 8, McDermott 8 (Farrell, 92); Knights (Hayward, 16); Matthews 6; Barnes-Homer 6. Unused substitutes: Dolman; Hadley; Sharpe.

York: Ingham; Purkiss; Meredith; Parslow; Smith; Ferrell (McGurk, 84); Gash; Barrett; Brodie; Mackin (Rankine, 67); Sangare. Unused substitutes: Pacquette; Nelthorpe; Mimms. Referee: Paul Davison. Attendance: 2,509 (113)