The 23rd January 1971 and a classic FA Cup Fourth Round tie between Fourth Division York City and First Division Southampton.

It was one of the most exciting games ever witnessed at Bootham Crescent as the heroic underdogs bravely fought back from almost certain elimination.

The season of 1970-71 had been a highly successful one for York City, for after being comfortably placed in the middle of the division at the turn of the year, they ultimately stormed to promotion.

There was a spectacular sequence of results during March and April in particular as City went 'goal crazy', defeating Cambridge United (H) 3-0, Grimsby Town (H) 4-1, Northampton Town (H) 4-1, Lincoln City (A) 5-4 and Hartlepool (H) 4-0.

Earlier successes that season included Crewe Alexandra (A) 4-3 and Barrow (H) 4-3, together with a 4-6 reversal at Brentford.

Eventually the club rose to fourth place, behind champions Notts County, Bournemouth and Oldham Athletic and one point ahead of Chester. This was due in no small part to a vital 1-1 draw at Sealand Road in April, with a goal courtesy of legendary striker Paul Aimson.

That was to ultimately prove crucial as City still achieved promotion despite losing their last two fixtures at Workington 0-1 and spectacularly at Bournemouth 0-4.

The club also went on a cup run that year and having seen of non-leaguers Tamworth (after a replay) and Boston United, they were drawn at home to Second Division Bolton Wanderers in Round Three.

Midfielder Ian Davidson was the hero that day as his two first half goals secured victory in front of 10,882 fans.

For the Fourth Round tie with First Division Southampton an additional three thousand people packed into Bootham Crescent and were witness to a thrilling encounter.

The first half of the match proved scoreless but not without quality as City outplayed their illustrious hosts with some superb football.

The Saints had some of the biggest names within their ranks in those days, notably star England striker Mike Channon, Welsh international centre-forward Ron Davies and winger Terry Paine, a member of the victorious England World Cup winning squad of 1966 and the then holder of the record number of league appearances.

Against the run of play the visitors went into a 2-0 lead at the start of the second period, courtesy of strikes from Jimmy Gabriel and Channon himself.

Not to be denied the valiant York side pulled a goal back through a Kevin McMahon header with ten minutes remaining, but four minutes later Davies appeared to effectively seal the game for the Saints.

On 87 minutes York midfield schemer Dick Hewitt cracked in a close range second and with the crowd by now in a state of absolute frenzy the magnificent York side poured forward in search of a dramatic last gasp leveller.

In the final minute they sent the fans into ecstasy when, following a cross from right-back John Mackin, ace marksman Paul Aimson rose high to bullet home a superb header.

The team received a standing ovation from their fans as they came off the pitch, it had been a magnificent match and a truly memorable fightback from the York side.

The game was covered on the ITV Sunday lunchtime football show as their main feature and so the jubilant City faithful were able to watch all the dramatic action once again.

City put in a tremendous effort in the replay at the Dell before eventually succumbing 2-3 to their higher ranked hosts.

York City: Hillyard, Mackin, Burrows, Davidson, Swallow, Topping, Taylor (Henderson), McMahon, Aimson, Hewitt, Johanneson

Goals: McMahon, Hewitt, Aimson

Southampton: Martin, Kirkup, Hollywood, Fisher, McGrath, Gabriel, Paine, Channon, Davies, O'Neill, Walker

Goals: Gabriel, Channon, Davies

Att: 13,775

Link:YCTV