United make the long trip to York this evening and will face a City side boasting four wins and a draw in their opening five matches at Kit Kat Crescent. Furthermore Martin Foyle's new look team have conceded just one goal in front of the home fans, so the U's attack will be made to work hard for any reward.

Since their relegation from the Football League in 2004 the Minstermen have struggled to maintain a serious challenge for promotion, despite being regularly labelled as pre-season play-off candidates. The only highlights being a flirtation with the 2006/07 play-offs, where they lost out to eventual winners Morecambe, along with an FA Trophy Final appearance against Stevenage last season; a game which they lost 2-0.

The 2007/08 campaign saw them conclude in 14th place, whilst 2008/09, barring that trip to Wembley, proved disastrous as they finished 17th. Six home defeats and a paltry three away wins were accompanied by the poorest goalscoring record outside the four relegation spots; their 47 goals meaning an average of just over one per game. No prizes for guessing which areas of the City squad needed strengthening first over the summer months.

The Minstermen were in danger of falling through the Conference North trapdoor but, thankfully for their long-suffering fans, they avoided that indignity courtesy of a trio of victories over Eastbourne, Forest Green and Weymouth which kept them up with two games to spare.

Previous incumbent Colin Walker, who briefly played for United in the mid-eighties, left the City hot-seat last November after a poor run of results and former Port Vale legend Foyle took the reins.

sWith City floundering in the bottom half Foyle's brief was to keep them away from danger, which he did, just. The 46-year old scored 155 goals in over 450 league appearances for Vale, Aldershot and Oxford so should have an eye for a striker. Therefore, top of his shopping list over the summer was Michael Gash, who notched two goals in seven games during his spell at the Abbey in 2006/07.

Gash's protracted transfer from Ebbsfleet, where he became top scorer with thirteen goals last year, was sealed shortly before the start of this season, with City paying a whopping £55,000 for his services.

His partner in crime within the front-line is Richard Brodie, who attracted criticism from some quarters of the home support last season despite bagging seventeen goals. Just three of those came in the last twelve games when City were really struggling, but his confidence has been boosted by the guidance of Foyle, duly prompting an upturn in fortunes which has seen him score regularly this term.

Brodie's strike partner last year was Onome Sodje, who was surprisingly snapped up by Championship side Barnsley in July after a goal tally of just seven in 36 starts, whilst a second shock move saw fellow forward Adam Boyes join Scunthorpe. The youngster made just ten appearances for City, scoring two goals, but the Championship outfit obviously saw enough to recruit him. Completing the striker exodus was Craig Farrell who departed for Rushden. They were passed on the way out by the aforementioned Gash, Rushden's Michael Rankine, ex-QPR hit man Richard Pacquette and Adam Smith, who had a spell on loan at Kit Kat Crescent last season.

However, it is not just offensively that City have bolstered. There was also a lack of goals in midfield last season, so Simon Rusk, (46 apps, 0 goals) fell victim to the shake-up and was farmed out to Crawley in June, with winger Simon Russell joining Tamworth on loan. A multitude of arrivals now fight for a place in the middle of the park. Gash's former Ebbsfleet team mate Neil Barrett joined the Foyle revolution along with ex-Forest Green wide-man Alex Lawless, and Andy Ferrell who left sunny Kidderminster.

After being released by Oxford - who also administered a complete overhaul of their squad - left winger Craig Nelthorpe opted for the bright lights of York, but has so far been restricted to a bench warming role. Foyle clearly wants as much competition for places as possible, so also decided to snap up Wrexham's Levi Mackin, who has previously spent time on loan with the Minstermen.

The back-line has been further cemented with the capture of left-back James Meredith (pictured right), who United fans may remember being on loan at the Abbey from Derby County during the 206/07 season. He has been a regular starter since his arrival.

Centre-half Alan O'Hare, Club Captain at Mansfield last season, has struggled to stake his claim for a starting berth, likewise utility defender Djoumin Sangare who flew the nest from struggling Salisbury. Sangare, though, may be handed a role alongside the towering Danny Parslow on Tuesday due to first choice David McGurk struggling to be fit.

Exactly what impact Foyle's metamorphosised team will have on their promotion chances we will have to wait and see. However, a club who spends £50,000 plus for a player at this level, as well as signing up a further nine, will presumably want a return for their money.

This season

Foyle will have used the trip to Oxford in the season opener as a barometer for how well his City squad has gelled, but will have been disappointing with the manner in which his side threw away the points. A Richard Brodie strike looked to have won it, but the Minstermen conceded two goals in the final three minutes to leave empty-handed. A 0-0 draw at home to Rushden put the Kit Kat Crescent faithful on edge, but their patience has since been rewarded thanks to victories over Forest Green, Crawley, Kettering and Histon, who are the only side to breach the City defence at home to date.

Their only away win came at Gateshead when Gash's first for his new club secured a 2-1 triumph, although, they will have to perform better on the road if they are to succeed this season. A further loss came at Wrexham, with unconvincing draws gained at Barrow and Hayes & Yeading.

Top scorer for City this season is Richard Brodie, who has a healthy seven goals to his name.

Matchday Connection

Mark Convery patrolled the York City midfield for two seasons after his arrival from Darlington in June 2005. He started out as an apprentice with Sunderland but failed to make the grade, so signed for North East neighbours Darlo via a loan spell with Danish First Division outfit Hvidovre. Mark became a favourite with the Quakers fans and donned the black and white shirt in 85 league and cup games, scoring two goals, before his move to Kit Kat Crescent.

His time with City was punctuated by a metatarsal injury but, Newcastle born Mark still made 68 appearances in all competitions for the Minstermen, also weighing in with nine goals. By all accounts City were disappointed to lose his services to United in the summer of 2007, but Jimmy Quinn had persisted in chasing the now 28-year old.

Ironically he made his debut in United's 2-1 opening day win at York, and recorded his first goal for the club six weeks later as we pocketed another 2-1 away success, this time at Stevenage. Sadly, though, Mark seemed to be a regular in the physio room, meaning his progress was hampered, whilst an apparent fall out with Quinn later that season saw him loaned to Weymouth.

Gary Brabin's arrival last season saw Mark become a regular again for United, but further injuries and a lack of form spelt the beginning of the end. His final game came during our 3-1 loss at Burton in December 2008, and after 35 games and three goals he was released from his contract. He joined Newcastle Blue Star and helped them to Unibond Premier League Division One Play-off glory before making a surprise return to Darlington in July. He has appeared for the Quakers five times this season.

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