Maximum effort

City's Rodney Rowe, left, tangles with Macclesfield's Pedro Matias in an incident which ended with both men being shown the yellow card

Nine from three is the sum target for York City caretaker boss Neil Thompson after the Minstermen stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a 2-1 win at Macclesfield.

The vital victory means City can slam shut the trapdoor of relegation tomorrow night with another three point haul against Blackpool, leaving just the locks to bolt in the final two matches against Bournemouth and Manchester City.

After taking a two goal half-time lead and seemingly coasting, City ensured a frantic finale when Macclesfield substitute Graeme Tomlinson scored with just 12 minutes remaining.

But backed by more than 500 travelling fans, the City rearguard, marshalled superbly throughout by Chris Fairclough, held firm for all three points.

Now a bullish Thompson is demanding the same result three times over. "We have now gone four games unbeaten and we haven't done that for a long time," said the delighted City chief.

"Winning breeds confidence and while we mustn't get carried away, with nine points to go for we must go for all nine. We have two home games to look forward too and the target is still 56 points. With the teams at the bottom winning we cannot rely on others."

Thompson, who hailed the Minstermen's travelling support as "tremendous", admitted he was disappointed his side didn't kill the game off in the first half.

"At the end of the day we should have been four or five up at half-time and had the game finished. But we held on well and showed what we are made off.

"We dominated the game in terms of chances. The home side are always going to have spells of play but we hung on. We thoroughly deserved the win and no one could deny us that."

And Thompson is certain the hard work done on the training field over the last few weeks was starting to reap dividends. He said: "We have put a lot of effort in over the last three or four weeks and I think it is starting to pay-off. We have worked on the back four playing as a unit and we are now defending properly as I call it.

"Defending higher up the field has a knock on effect that when the ball goes up to our forwards our midfield is closer to them. It sounds simple but you have got to do it. If you get it right you get results. We are still waiting for a clean sheet but we will get it."

Thompson, while reluctant to single any of his team out for praise, admitted former Spurs, Leeds and Nottingham Forest defender Fairclough had added an extra dimension to the City defence - experience.

"He is a quality person and a quality player," enthused the caretaker boss. You do not get championship medals for nothing and the lads have got someone to look up to, to learn things from."

And the Fairclough factor was having its biggest effect on his partner at the heart of the defence, skipper Barry Jones, confirmed Thompson. "Jones has come on a bomb since playing alongside Chris. He has probably had his best three games since he arrived here.

Jones too was full of praise for his newest ally. He said: "Chris has brought a lot of experience to the club and is a real asset, especially in the position we are in we need as much experience as we can get."

York City reserves take on Sheffield United reserves in division two of the Pontin's League, at Sheffield, tonight, kick-off 7pm.

City: Warrington, Thompson, Hall, Agnew, Reed, Rennison, Bullock, Woods, Connelly, Dibie, Turley. Subs: Keegan, Whitfield, Farley.

City have confirmed that the kick-off time for tomorrow night's division two match against Blackpool at Bootham Crescent is 7.45pm

York City Inters were held to a 2-2 draw by Hull City on Saturday.

Hull took the lead from the penalty spot after 20 minutes before goals from Michael Dibie and Tom Dufton gave York a 2-1 half-time lead. The Tigers grabbed their equaliser with just three minutes to go.

The Inters' final Alliance match of the season was taking place today at home to Lincoln City.

Tortuous route to safety

by David Stanford

At Least there's rarely a dull moment watching York City these days.

Whether its conceding late goals or scoring them, the Minstermen are going to ensure the road to Division Two safety is a torturous one for their fans.

Watching York should come with a health warning; those of a nervous disposition steer well clear.

After nigh on 80 minutes of frugality and stubborn resistance at the rear, potency and power up front, the three points seemed safely tucked away.

Indeed, such was York's superiority that thoughts were instead focusing on City banking their first shut-out in 19 games.

Then disaster, the concentration slipped and Macclesfield were back in the hunt.

It would be unfair to say that it was only the width of the woodwork that saved City after Keiron Durkan's late, late header thumped off the cross bar.

But after dominating for pretty much all of the match, City really were that close to leaving Moss Rose with just a point instead of their deserved booty of three.

It would have been an injustice on a grand scale.

Not that Macclesfield didn't have their moments.

As early as the third minute, Spaniard Pedro Matias, who once made a fleeting appearance for Real Madrid, saw his cross beat Neil Thompson at the far post and land at the feet of Durkan.

He cracked in a fierce drive from an acute angle which roasted Mimms fingertips.

As expected in such an important relegation clash, the pace was unrelenting in the opening exchanges but moments after Macc could have taken the lead so City found themselves a goal to the good.

There seemed little danger when the irrepressible Rodney Rowe collected the ball out wide on the left.

But a neat turn and a change of pace took him past two defenders before he shot under Price from the tightest of angles.

The ball was bouncing more than a new born baby boy, on a pitch more akin to a school park than Division Two.

But it was City who always looked the more consummate and complete.

With the early Macclesfield storm quelled, and City cutting off the supply line to their one real outlet, Matias, it was the Minstermen who rolled up their sleeves and dug in deepest.

As if to emphasis York's new found solidity, the twin pillars of Barry Jones and Chris Fairclough at the heart of the City defence rarely missed a header all afternoon.

Up front, Rowe and the effervescent Marc Williams refused to give the Macclesfield defence a moments rest.

Wide men Martin Garratt and Alan Pouton were full of running and always quick to support as York unravelled the Silkmen at will.

Such was City's total control that Macc manager Sammy McIlroy was forced to abandon his 4-5-1 formation on the half-hour mark.

Neil Sorvel was hauled off, replaced by John Askey to give loan striker Richard Landon some much needed support.

But aside from a Steve Wood header that should have levelled matters and the odd piece of trickery from Matias, York were growing with stature as the half drew to a close.

Indeed, they should have been at least four up before Mark Tinkler doubled York's advantage deep into stoppage time.

Rowe outpaced Darren Tinson down the right before rounding Price only for Steve Hitchen to hack the ball off the line.

Earlier, Tinkler sent Rowe racing clear down the opposite flank only for his cross to arrive at the far post just as Williams arrived at the near.

Then it was Williams turn to see his cross flash agonisingly across the face of the Macclesfield goal.

Pouton chased the lose ball down and returned it with interest to the late arriving Tinkler but the midfield ace couldn't direct his header on target.

No matter, just seconds from the half time whistle and the same pairing linked up again with Tinkler this time wheeling away in delight.

Andrew Dawson found Pouton who slipped the lunge of Greg Brown before cutting inside and laying the ball into the path of the advancing Tinkler.

His low drive from 18 yards was hardly fierce but still posed Price problems, the Macclesfield 'keeper allowing the ball to go under his body.

It was no more than City deserved.

After the break, the Minstermen remained stoic as Macclesfield continued to huff and puff but threaten not.

Any Silkmen sniffs of glory were left floundering on the rocks that were Jones and Fairlcough, while Williams and Rowe were asking Macclesfield's defence, robbed of their usual centre half pairing of Efe Sodje and Steve Payne, plenty of questions.

But then out of nothing substitute Graeme Tomlinson gave Macclesfield a glimmer of hope with a goal on 78 minutes.

Ben Sedgemore hit a vicious low drive from 25 yards which Mimms couldn't hold and Tomlinson nipped in to tuck away the loose ball from a narrow angle.

Needless to say it was frenetic finale as City seemed content to press the self-destruct button.Matias cut inside substitute Matt Hocking before finding Durkan arriving late once again at the far post. His diving header rattled the crossbar.

The same player then dragged his shot wide as Thompson and Fairclough tangled on the edge of the area, the ball eventually rolling through the latter's legs into the path of Durkan.

But hang on the Minstermen did. It was no longer textbook defending but who cared?

When the final whistle went, and after more than six minutes of injury time, the sigh of relief from the City faithful must have been heard back in North Yorkshire.

Now, after a week when there has been much talk of 'the triple' so City have a triple of their own to acquire - three wins, starting with Blackpool tomorrow night. and safety is assured.

Just don't plan on leaving Bootham Crescent early.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.