Stevenage 2 York City 0

May 10 2009 by Steve Brown, Sunday Sun

Alas, Richard Brodie’s low cut-back from the right was scuffed wide by Daniel McBreen, and but for Shaun Pejic’s 13th-minute long-range strike which arrowed off target, the first half-hour belonged to Borough. Darren Murphy shot straight at Michael Ingham, Gary Mills and Peter Vincenti were well over and Michael Bostwick narrowly wide. Andy Drury was blocked by Pejic, then curled just over before seeing his cross headed wide by Vincenti.

And amid all that came an even better chance for Stevenage, and even greater relief for York as Morison, having ridden Danny Parslow’s tackle and prodded past Ingham, had his effort hacked clear by Pejic.

Stevenage were dominating now, as should a side not beaten by York in three years. Yet still matters remained somewhat scrappy, prompting a Mexican wave among unsated fans. They soon had more to claim their interest, as the game edged towards openness, ebbing now one way then another.

So for York, Simon Rusk volleyed over. For Stevenage, Morison fired into Ingham from a tight angle and, after Boylan nodded wide, shot off target again himself.

And at the end of the first half York might well have snuck a lead. Drifting inside from his left flank, Adam Boyes broke clear from Ronny Henry but blasted into Chris Day’s body, and on the stroke of the break Mark Greaves’ goalbound shot was blocked . . . by team-mate Pejic.

Their luck did not change. Six minutes after the restart Brodie’s shot appeared to strike the admittedly-withdrawing hand of Bostwick, only for referee Jones – he’s not Norwegian – to wave away appeals for a penalty.

Thereafter Boyes fired wide and Ben Purkiss’ free-kick struck the wall, Brodie lifted another free-kick over and Purkiss sent yet another inches wide.

Otherwise, however, just as the opening half-hour had been Stevenage’s, so the last 30 minutes were too.

First Ingham dived full-length to palm Vincenti’s darting shot behind, then he saw the same player head off target but his own player Parslow go closer still to handing Borough a goal, when the defender headed Drury’s cross just wide of his own post.

Before and after that though, Stevenage did the job themselves.

On 68 minutes Drury’s corner was headed back into the mix by Mark Roberts, Morison latched on to the ball, took a touch and crashed it into the net from close range.

Then in the final minute of added time, Morison’s quick-thinking saw his throw loop over the Minstermen’s backline, freeing up Boylan to spring clear and thump a stunning angled volley past Ingham to finally dust the occasion with the flourish it warranted.