Cup hope for York

"Yorkie" the mascot celebrates with Darren Edmondson

York 1-0 Grimsby
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Cash-strapped York earned themselves a financial lifeline by securing a lucrative FA Cup fourth-round match with Premiership side Fulham.

York had an own-goal from Alan Nielson to thank for their giant-killing victory over First Division Grimsby.

The future of the Third Division strugglers remains in doubt - but the cash generated by the Fulham match will go some way towards keeping the club from going to the wall.

But despite the diversions of their side's Cup run, York fans made clear their unhappiness with chairman Douglas Craig both inside and outside the ground.

the way we played tonight has to give us confidence for the future

Terry Dolan
York boss

Fans wore T-shirts with Craig's face printed on them and above it the word "Judas". The message from others was: "Save York City".

But York's play belied their troubled status and only Danny Coyne, outstanding in the Grimsby goal, ensured the game was not over by half-time.

There was little he could do about the only goal of the game.

Creative build-up saw Michael Proctor, skipper Lee Nogan and Richard Cooper work a right-wing overlap for York.

Darren Edmondson sliced Cooper's cross, but covering defender Nielson deflected the ball past the helpless Coyne.

It was the first goal he had conceded in 2002 after three successive clean sheets.

I'm not going to offer any excuses for that - it just wasn't good enough

Paul Groves
Grimsby player-manager

Coyne then stole the show with a string of saves - but he was not helped by poor defending from Grimsby.

Grimsby barely troubled York keeper Alan Fettis and now face only a battle to preserve their First Division status.

But for York it is time to put their League misery to one side - and dream about another Cup triumph.

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York: Fettis, Hocking, Basham, Hobson, Edmondson, Richardson, Cooper, Bullock, Potter, Nogan, Proctor.
Subs Not Used: Duffield, Mathie, Howarth, Smith, Stamp.

Booked: Bullock, Edmondson.

Grimsby: Coyne, Gallimore, Neilson, Chapman (Boulding 58), Ford, Campbell (David Smith 81), Groves, Burnett, Butterfield, Christopher Thompson (Raven 85), Jevons.
Subs Not Used: Croudson, Bolder.

Booked: Christopher Thompson, Jevon Groves, Gallimore.

Att: 6,638

Ref: R Furnandiz (Doncaster).