FA Cup First Round - 3 November 2012

YORK CITY V AFC WIMBLEDON

League 2 teams enter the FA Cup at this round and two of them meet here at Bootham Crescent. York regained Football League status this season after eight in the conference; AFC Wimbledon attained it last season capping an impressive rise from their Southern League re-formation in 2002 in the wake of the Milton Keynes hi-jack of the original club.

After a half term week of wind and rain today is cool but bright in York and the pitch looks freshly mown and perfect. The ground is covered on three sides with seating down the touchlines. Standing behind the goal with the home fans, leaning on a crush barrier, it’s just like the old days. The £16 entry and £3 programme are more like the new days.

York’s colourful strip is a red shirt with white sleeves and blue shorts; Wimbledon’s yellow shirt has a South American style sky blue diagonal. York appear to have won the toss, as Wimbledon kick off with their keeper peering into the setting but still bright sun.

York start well and force a couple of early corners which, recognising the height advantage of the Wimbledon defenders, are dinked effectively into the near post. Wimbledon respond with good work down the right with Jolley catching the eye with some trickery. But it is York who have most of the ball and exert most of the pressure, forcing back passes and harrying Wimbledon keeper Brown into hurried and often sliced clearances.

About twenty minutes in, the York pressure crystallises into a firm shot from Smith which is deflected over the and, from the resulting cleared corner, a curled effort from Kearns that comes back off the crossbar. Later, a good run from Chambers is foiled by a last ditch tackle.

As the half nears its conclusion York’s high energy game is flagging, but two further corners give the home fans hope before a quick Wimbledon break produces a fierce shot on target. York keeper Ingham parries and the ball runs dangerously loose before a defender hoofs it over the stand.

So it’s nil-nil at half time. York have looked the more likely to score; their small but nippy forwards have stretched the big defenders on the ground, but have not got past them. Wimbledon’s best attacking has been from the right, but it has been sporadic and it is them that will be happiest with half time equity.

One winner at half time is announced: Yorkie the Lion has won the mascot race run at Doncaster (whether the football ground or the racecourse is unclear, but probably not over the fences) held in support of Prostate Cancer UK. He takes a bow.

York are out very early for the second half, but make a poor start that ends with a nervy back pass and a rushed clearance out of the ground from Ingham. He is soon exposed again as Wimbledon half time substitute, centre forward Harrison, has a run on goal ended by a well-timed tackle. York’s response results in a few corners but it is Wimbledon who have the better efforts on goal. Left back Cummings thumps a shot just over from 30 yards, and then Midson drifts inside from the left but screws a good shooting chance wide of the near post. Harrison continues to make an impact, but his inviting cross along the six yard line finds no team mates.

York are second best now and manager Gary Mills makes a change, well received by the home fans, bringing on Reed for McLaughlin up front. It signals a good spell from York. Centre forward Walker finally wriggles free to cut in and send a right foot shot narrowly over. Then a poor clearance from Brown is seized upon by Kerr who plays Walker through, allowing him to draw the keeper and square the ball to Reed to tap in for a 1-0 home lead.

York don’t sit back but go for the second goal. A shot from distance is uncomfortably shuffled away by Brown; a wicked cross is headed behind by a defender, and from the corner a header goes wide. A rare break by Wimbledon sees Harrison one on one with the back-pedalling Smith, who just manages to nick the ball off him.

It is lively, end to end stuff now and Wimbledon make their final substitutions with Strutton and Osano coming on with 15 minutes to go. But Brown continues to be the busier keeper saving a cross shot then blocking the follow up effort at the near post.

Wimbledon do get upfied and are awarded a free kick just outside the York penalty area. Number 9 Harrison has first dibs on the kick but only chips it tamely over the wall into Ingham’s chest. When another clumsy York challenge gives a second opportunity from the same spot, Harrison is shooed away and substitute Strutton has a go. This one is hit fiercer and pin balls off the edge of the wall and the inside of the post before rolling over the line, behind the bemused Ingham, for the equaliser.

York are stung into action and try to regain the lead. Walker’s dipping free kick from the edge of the box goes over, as does a shot from Reed. When yet another near post corner is flicked on and headed firmly towards the gaping net the crowd rise in anticipation only to gasp in disbelief as Brown somehow flies across his goal and palms it away.

Four minutes added time brings frantic attempts from both teams to break the deadlock, including a 40 yard effort from Harrison for Wimbledon and a York header that goes just wide. But there is no decider and a replay a week on Tuesday will determine who goes through to round two.

All but 285 of the 2,752 crowd leave a little disappointed that York were unable to make home advantage and better league position tell on the day. These teams meet again in the league next Saturday, so the tie may be decided eventually by attrition rather than inspiration.