2001-02 York City v R&DFC

by Andrew
Diamonds’ historic first-ever game in the Football League started under bright skies at Bootham Crescent, and the day ended on an even brighter note after a first-half goal from Warren Patmore earned the first three points of the season.
Brian Talbot’s closely-guarded team selection was finally revealed just before kick-off with Billy Turley, Gary Mills, Daniel Talbot and Warren Patmore given the nod in the positions where the manager had options. Patmore showed early encouraging touches, his height causing problems in the York defence, but the first shot in  anger fell to Garry Butterworth whose shot from the edge of the area was always moving away from the right-hand post.
York’s first real effort on goal didn’t arrive until the 25th minute when Nick Richardson’s header flew well wide of  Turley’s right-hand post. The moment all Diamonds fans had been waiting for arrived on 27 minutes. A great ball down the right from Jon Brady enabled Justin Jackson to get behind the defence, and his cross was superbly back-heeled home by Patmore.
It was so nearly two on 36 minutes when Jackson, following good work in the box, laid the ball off to Talbot whose drive flew just wide.
On 40 minutes York came desperately close to levelling the scores, but a superb goalline block by Garry Butterworth denied debut man Michael Proctor.
Appropriately enough for a city which houses the National Railway Museum, York started the second half like a train,  but Diamonds weathered the storm of a number of corners and responded with a couple of half-chances themselves.  Efforts from Jackson and Brady both flew over the bar, but the home side were certainly in the ascendancy. The  pressure kept coming and Turley had to be alert on more than one occasion to keep the lead intact.
Duane Darby was introduced into the attack on 70 minutes, replacing Patmore, and soon made himself known to the home side. He fired a shot straight at Fettis, and was then booked for a challenge on Hobson.
By the end it was a real back to the walls job for Diamonds, and they were grateful to Turley again for a fine save.to deny Nogan as the game entered its final stages.

Team: Turley, Mustafa, Underwood, Mills, Peters, Rodwell, Butterworth, Brady, Jackson, Patmore, Talbot.