United missed out on the chance to climb into sixth place this afternoon as York hit back to claim a point. Leading through a Mickey Corcoran header in the first half, United conceded a soft equaliser due to a defensive mix-up involving the same player to drop two points they really should have taken.

It was the visitors who stormed forwards from kick off and in the third minute striker Paul Brayson saw a flicked header loop over the stranded Billy Turley and strike the crossbar. That came after a driving run by left winger Martyn Woolford and with the pacey Onome Sodje also in an adventurous looking three man front line it was interesting to see the tactical battle unfold against United's two up front and one just behind formation.

Stuart Elliott fired in a stinging free kick on 16 which deflected kindly for Turley off the wall and flew straight at the keeper, but United then created their best chance of the game on 20 as Duffy teed up Jeannin, with Elliott deflecting the French full back's right footed effort over the bar.

It was an open game with neither side really on top or able to build up ahead of steam, but it took a good save from Turley to deny Manny Panther on 26 as the midfielder was given too much space to work in on the edge of the box. The warning signs were there, and on 31 it was the impressive Elliott who created and then should have scored the opener. His precise pass found Brayson inside the box, whose neat turn left Mickey Corcoran lunging, leaving an inviting outstretched leg for Brayson to trip over. Ref Phil Gibbs gave the spot kick, Elliott struck firmly to Turley's left but United's number one had guessed correctly and made a superb save to push the ball round the post.

Much the busier keeper, Turleyhad kept his side in it and that seemed to lift The U's, who were quickly ahead. Odubade had troubled the York defence throughout and on 36 minutes was brought crudely down just outside the box on the right hand side. Jeannin floated in a perfect free kick and Corcoran rose at the far post to send a header flying past keeper Henderson for his first goal at home for United.

Anaclet might have doubled the lead soon after but delayed his shot for a fraction of a second and had the ball nicked away, and on 40 minutes there was controversy as Duffy challenged the keeper who dropped the ball for Quinn to prod home, only for play to be brought back for Duffy's challenge.

It was Duffy's last involvement (other than a needless booking for arguing about the decision) before he was forced off with a nasty looking arm injury just before the break, allowing Gary Twigg to make his return. Early reports suggested that Duffy may have broken his wrist.

Interestingly, York switched to 4-4-2 after the break to try and find a way back into the game, and having lost the top scorer United then lost their skipper ten minutes into the second half as Barry Quinn limped off, allowing Chris Willmott to make a first appearance for almost a year. Willmott's first action was to get behind two attackers and head powerfully clear, and just to have the big defender back on the pitch was great to see.

The second period was far more cagey than the first had been, but an Odubade lay off and Jeannin cross on 57 almost created a second goal as Shaw threw himself at the ball at the near post and missed it by the width of a non existent hair. York, having come back from 2-0 down at home to Halifax on Thursday, looked as through they were tiring, and United started to string passes together and move the ball nicely but were lacking the killer touch, which kept York interested when they should have been killed off.

What was looking like a cruise suddenly became something else though on 89 as an innocuous looking cross from the right was heading straight for the head of Corcoran. You can usually hear Turley call from anywhere in the stadium but whether he called this time is unclear. Whatever happened, Corcoran ducked and left the ball, it went straight onto the head of Sodje and Turley was left rooted to the spot as the ball flashed into the net. A needless goal to concede and a needlessly tense finale to what had been a Sunday afternoon stroll.

York took the sting out of things, with players taking time out of the game whenever possible to rest weary legs, and United could find no way through. Frustration all round, but the returns of Twigg and Willmott can only be good things but United need to  cut out the individual errors which are costing them dear.

 Att: 4,944

Away: 220

Report Chris Williams

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