York City 1-0 Luton Town

Richard Brodie netted his 31st goal of the season

Richard Brodie's last-minute goal gave York a narrow win in the first leg of their Blue Square Premier play-off semi-final with Luton.

Brodie pounced on a mistake by Hatters defender Shane Blackett and fired home a clinical finish from 12 yards.

Defeat was harsh on Luton, who had seen Claude Gnakpa strike the post and Tom Craddock head over the bar.

Luke Graham also struck the upright for the hosts and a draw seemed inevitable until Brodie's 31st goal this season.

York had enjoyed the majority of the opening possession, but it was Luton who seemed most likely to force the early breakthrough.

First Keith Keane's 30-yard effort was well saved by Michael Ingham, then Craddock headed over from the resulting corner.

606: DEBATE There is no doubt we are a better team than York so I think we should still be confident of winning comfortably at Kenilworth Road ltfc 1984

The hosts responded well, with Brodie and Alex Lawless forcing saves from Mark Tyler before Ingham was called into action to deny Fred Murray.

The woodwork at both ends was then tested, as Gnakpa latched onto Jake Howells' cross and Graham's header came back off the frame.

A stalemate loomed until Brodie's dramatic winner, but Luton, who had been 14 games unbeaten, will still feel that their dream of an immediate return to the Football League is alive ahead of Monday's second leg at Kenilworth Road.

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York: Ingham, Purkiss, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Lawless, Barrett (Smith 78), Mackin, Carruthers, Rankine (Gash 90), Brodie.
Subs not used: Mimms, Parslow, Pacquette.

Booked: Smith.

Goals: Brodie 90.

Luton: Tyler, Newton, Pilkington, Blackett, Murray, Gnakpa (Barnes-Homer 74), Heslop, Keane, Howells, Craddock, Gallen.
Subs not used: Gore, Kovacs, Hatch, Hall.

Att: 6,204.

Ref: Brendan Malone.