YORK City striker Jon Parkin has hailed his wonder strike at Cheltenham as the best goal he has ever scored.

Parkin beat home goalkeeper Shane Higgs from 40 yards with a dipping volley but also later admitted that he only shot because he was 'breathing out of his backside' and felt unable to carry the ball forward.

The powerful striker's goal was later cancelled out by Damien Spencer as City settled for a 1-1 draw but it was Parkin's effort that lit up an otherwise dull match.

"The only reason I shot really was because I was breathing out of my backside," Parkin said afterwards.

"Lee Bullock did well to get his body in front of their defender and I just thought I would have a pop and luckily for me it went in.

"I think it would definitely be up there as the best goal I have scored. But, personally, I did not have a good game and was tired at the end. That's why I came off.

"It was frustrating when they equalised but I think the lads have ground out another good result."

Parkin now begins a four-match ban, starting with Sunday's FA Cup clash against his hometown club Barnsley and, having missed most of the first third of the season because of injury, he intends to raise his fitness levels during his time on the sidelines.

He said: "I'm obviously disappointed with the suspension but I will just have to get my head down in training, work hard and hopefully come back as fit as I possibly can."

Player-boss Chris Brass praised Parkin's perseverance, having scored his spectacular goal despite enduring an otherwise frustrating afternoon.

Brass, having fined Parkin for his red card at Scunthorpe, still appreciates the young forward's value to the squad.

He said: "Jon got his goal although I think he got a bit frustrated again and, by his own admission, was not really at the races.

"He stuck at it though and showed an awful lot of character and when his chance came along it was a hell of a goal.

"If that had been on a bigger stage we would have been watching it for one or two days. It was a tremendous strike and, at this early stage, is already a contender for Goal of the Season.

"You have to be positive with people. Jon's an honest lad and he's still young.

"He's still learning the game and he kept going. You have to keep working at him and he knows he has to keep improving but that's all you can say to him.

"You don't go on at people and keep ramming it down their throats because he's an integral part of our squad and somebody who will be successful in the long run."

Updated: 11:01 Monday, November 03, 2003