York City saw their advantage over the basement bottom clubs reduced to five points last night.

However, with a number of the strugglers having now eaten up their games in hand City's relegation worries eased slightly.

Halifax, visitors to Bootham Crescent on Saturday, returned to the foot of the League after a 2-1 home defeat to Blackpool.

Torquay moved off the bottom with a 2-0 home win over Macclesfield but Lincoln dropped further into the mire with a 2-0 defeat at Brighton.

Rochdale put six past relegation-threatened Carlisle without reply while Darlington eased their plight with a 3-0 home win over Shrewsbury. Former City striker Glenn Naylor scored.

City junior Chris Hogg is expected to skipper his country tonight when England Under-15s take on the Czech Republic in France.

As revealed in the Evening Press last week, Hogg is part of a 18-man squad competing in the Montaigu International Tournament.

Barry Jones was included in the reserve team outing at Blackpool this afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

City reserves: Howarth, Edmondson, Stamp, Fielding, Jones, Hobson, Thompson, Wood, McNiven, Mathie, Emmerson. Subs: Collinson, Wise, Barry, Turley.

Updated: 12:59 Wednesday, April 11, 2001