Last gasp goal sees Seasiders to draw (From Gazette & Herald)

Last gasp goal sees Seasiders to draw

Nationwide Conference: Scarborough 2, York City 2

Scarborough were just five seconds from going down to their sixth successive defeat when scoring ace Chris Hughes earned them a point in the local derby against old rivals York City.

City had several opportunities to complete the festive season double over Scarborough, who are struggling to survive in the Nationwide Conference League, but while they were frequently on top of the game, they found the Seasiders in determined form, despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half.

York created three fine scoring chances in the first 10 minutes when James Dudgeon had a great shot finger-tipped over the bar by Scarborough keeper Leigh Walker.

Then Mark Convery scraped the ball over the bar from 15 yards, while Dudgeon was again unlucky with a chance which ended up on the roof of the net.

There were further opportunities for the Minstermen from Andy Bishop and Darren Dunning, before Bishop finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute to score the first of two goals after some neat work by Lee Andrews. He was well set up by Convery to put the ball home from short range.

But four minutes later, Scarborough, who had had only isolated chances for much of the first half, got back into the game thanks to top scorer Brian Wake, who crashed the ball into the back of the net after it had hit the underside of the bar and bounced out.

Scarborough found new confidence and style in the second half, with Hughes and Lee Fowler creating some dangerous breaks. But they suffered a setback when Carl Cook was sent off for a second bookable offence on the hour.

Joe O'Neill almost put York ahead again but his short range shot was saved on the line. Tempers became frayed, resulting in four players being booked after squaring up to each other.

City took the lead when Bishop took his tally this season to 14 goals, despite Scarborough's Steve Baker desperately trying to clear the ball, but the referee ruled that it had crossed the line.

Neil Bishop raised Scarborough's hopes of earning a draw in the late stages with a fine on-target shot but it lacked power and keeper Chris Porter saved comfortably.

Scarborough kept up the pressure and, with four minutes of added time already gone, Hughes beat a packed goalmouth and seized his chance when the ball fell loose and he blasted it had into the corner of the net to the delight of the crowd of 4,057 - Scarborough's biggest for a year.

Updated: 10:46 Wednesday, January 04, 2006