York City 1 Barnet 0

MATCH WINNER: Matt Hocking soars through the air (No 2) to head in City's crucial goal against Barnet at Bootham Crescent

The tide is turning for York City, according to match-winner Matt Hocking.

The former Hull City defender celebrated his 22nd birthday a day early by sealing City's first win in 11 attempts with a headed goal against second-placed Barnet on Saturday.

Victory failed to lift them above 19th place but crucially, with bottom club Chester also winning, maintained their healthy 11 point gap from the dreaded drop zone.

Now Hocking firmly believes City are back on track and ready to climb the table.

"I think we are turning the corner. We are a happy camp and while we have always had belief in ourselves it is confidence, which comes from seeing our performances turn into results, that is the difference now and I think we can build on that."

Hocking put City's success down to their preparations last week where nothing was left to chance on Barnet's style.

"We knew what to expect, we knew what Barnet were about and how they were going to play," he said.

"It was gritty and we had to stick in there and battle but our preparations had laid the foundations."

The win over a team flying high in Division Three proved, said Hocking, that little separated top from bottom.

"They are second in the league and you wouldn't say that they are one of the best teams we have played," he said.

"It is such a hard league that everyone can beat anyone and we should be up there and you never know what could happen if we can get a run going."

Manager Neil Thompson echoed Hocking's sentiments that practice and preparations on the training ground had made perfect.

"We knew what Barnet were like putting the ball into the box and you have to deal with that at source," said the City chief.

"We did a lot of work this week on that and I thought the lads carried it out to the letter. We had to put pressure on the ball, not allow free delivery into the box and then we had to defend the second ball as well and we did that well."

Thompson admitted the win was all important.

"It has been a long time coming and it is not before time.

"We have been ahead in a lot of games recently and I don't think we have been as bad as our form suggests."

But he believed his side were fully deserving of their victory and was delighted that his side had recorded their first clean sheet since November.

"The lads dug in and we created a lot of chances, certainly the most clear-cut. With a bit more quality on the finishing we could have won more handsomely.

"The clean sheet has been a long time coming, I think we have been playing some decent football at times but giving away sloppy goals.

"Today we were solid all through the team, right from the front."

Now, like Hocking, Thompson is convinced his side can lift-off.

"This should give everyone a boost. Not winning does effect you but I think we have shown a lot of character to pull through and get this win

"One win does not make a season but it is certainly a start.

"We go to Northampton buoyed by the performance and there is no need to fear anyone."

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