Blue Square Premier League

Nov 24 2009 by Steve Brown, The Journal

THE "most outstanding performers" may be missing but Ian Bogie believes Gateshead’s trip to Kit Kat Crescent still promises to take the biscuit. York City, however, will be one tough cookie.

The Tynesiders have been buoyed by Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Grays Athletic, and a favourable FA Trophy first round draw, which will see them entertain Harrogate Town – of Blue Square North – next month.

First though, Blue Square Premier, and a daunting proposition. The Minstermen lost two of their first four league games but have only lost two more in 19 across all competitions. Unbeaten at home and in their last eight, they have also won their last four, and stand fifth in the table.

Bogie believes York’s victory at the International Stadium in August, when they overcame a 1-0 deficit to win late in the game, kick-started their season.

Yet he goes with confidence raised and, while in-form duo James Curtis and Gateshead-born former Whickham and Newcastle Benfield striker Richard Brodie are suspended for the visitors and hosts respectively, believes an enticing spectacle is in the offing.

“It’s a big game, it should be a good one but it’s a shame the two teams’ most outstanding performers this season are missing,” he said, of Brodie and Curtis, set to be replaced by one of Chris Swailes, Stephane Pelonde or Carl Jones.

“Saturday was a must-win for us, it always is when you play teams around you in the bottom six. It was vital we didn’t get beaten and we’re pleased to have taken four points from Grays home and away.

“It’s lifted our confidence but going to York will be difficult, they’re on a fantastic run. When they came to ours earlier in the season I thought we deserved to win but we lost.

“That really kick-started their season, they’re in the top six, in form and haven’t been beaten at home. It’s going to be a big ask for us to get anything there but we’ll go, as ever, with belief and try to get a result.”

On the Trophy draw, Bogie added: “You’re always pleased with a home draw and no disrespect to Harrogate but they’re a division below us and it could have been a lot tougher.

“We’ll be favourites but it will still be difficult. We’ve not had the best of times against them while I’ve been manager here, so it’s a potential banana skin but they’ve undergone a lot of changes recently and we’ll be looking to change our fortunes against them.”