PLAY-OFF hero David McGurk reckons York City will be able to draw on the experience of their FA Trophy final appearance when they return to Wembley.

The talismanic centre-half, awarded an unprecedented ten out of ten by York City reporter Dave Flett for a magnificent performance in the Minstermen’s 1-0 win at Luton Town on Monday, says the squad is determined to “put on a performance” on May 16 when they meet Oxford United for a place in the Football League.

McGurk was singled out for a brilliant second-half tackle on the Hatters’ Tom Craddock, which helped City record a second successive clean sheet against a previously free-scoring Luton.

But the club’s longest-serving player preferred to hail the performance of his colleagues in the two-legged play-off semi-final and described the victory as “probably the best feeling I have had in football”.

“I saw a report that said my tackle was unbelievable, but it was actually my fault in the first place,” he said. “He has gone through and outpaced me. But you can’t single anyone out. The whole team were fantastic. The back four and Michael Ingham have been fantastic all season and we have done it again.

“There has to be a special word for Mez (James Meredith). Gnakpa was a threat and Mez has nullified that. He didn’t have the energy to keep going at him.

“I wouldn’t say it was a brilliant performance but the occasion and what was at stake, and the way we defended, was fantastic. Now it is a big game at Wembley.”

Twelve months ago, City were disappointed under the arch when Stevenage picked up the FA Trophy following a 2-0 win.

But, despite the defeat, McGurk believes the experience of playing at Wembley will stand the Minstermen in good stead ahead of the Blue Square Premier play-off final.

He added: “It will be massive. We have got four or five players in the starting 11 who have had that experience and, last season, it was a case of getting there, looking round the place and thinking ‘wow’.

“This time, hopefully, we will get there and put on a performance. Last year it was about keeping it 0-0 for as long as we could because we weren’t a threat going forward. Now we have got two forwards who would give anyone a game in this league.

“As I have said before, it’s all right getting to the final but it is not enough. Everything rests on this game. Everything we have been talking about since I have been here.

“It means everything to the club to get back into the League and hopefully this is the time we are going to do it.”