Dismayed goalkeeper Bobby Mimms cut a glum figure as York City's relegation woes deepened.

Netted: York City striker Marc Williams celebrates Martin Garratt's goal that brought the Minstermen back to 1-1 against Stoke City at Bootham Crescent on Saturday

Mimms railed that the penalty which fired Stoke City ahead in Saturday's 2-2 draw should not have been given, adding that the man he allegedly fouled, striker Peter Thorne, even admitted as much at the final whistle.

And to compound Mimms' misery the City number one reflected on not having a single shot to save before the Potters pinched a last-ditch equaliser.

The draw dropped the Minstermen one place to 20th spot.

Just goals scored is keeping them out of the relegation places as three of their nearest rivals - Oldham, Lincoln City and Northampton town - all plundered shock away wins.

Now even more pressure has been piled on tomorrow's visit of Blackpool to Bootham Crescent with City having just four games to secure safety.

Mimms insisted City should not have been playing catch-up after Stoke went in front through an 11th-minute penalty from midfielder Graham Kavanagh awarded by referee John Kirkby for a foul by Mimms on Thorne.

Immediately after the spot-kick was granted City's goalkeeper ran to the nearest referee's assistant, who never flagged the offence.Declared Mimms: "Thorne told me after the game it wasn't a penalty.

"As he came into the area I slid out. I pulled my arms away as I thought I wasn't going to get the ball.

"The lad's' got an extra touch and then he has brushed against my chest and gone over. It wasn't a penalty."

The City 'keeper said all he wanted the referee to do was to check it over with the other official, whom Mimms claimed was closer to the incident.

"The ref said he was waiting for confirmation but there wasn't any so I wanted him to consult with the linesman."

Ironically, Thorne was a youngster on Blackburn Rovers' books at the outset of his career while Mimms was first-choice at the Lancashire club.

City's goalkeeper was also annoyed how Stoke pilfered a leveller when up until the dying stages they had hardly been in the match.

"I've not had anything to do. They've not put us under any pressure until those last five minutes."

Equally distraught was City caretaker chief Neil Thompson.

"We have defended as well as we have done all this season but for those last five minutes.

"We just switched off as a team and it just shows that you've got to defend for 90 minutes," said Thompson.

"It's been happening all season and you don't have to be a brain surgeon to see that we concede too many goals.

"I think we are defending better of late but we are in this habit of giving goals away."

Thompson said City's task now was to drag as many plus points as possible out of the last few weeks, he said.

"Each game is going to be like a cup final and we have to approach it right.

"The positive thing is we are three games unbeaten and we now have four games left to sort it all out."

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