YORK City goal hero James Dudgeon has agreed terms to stay at KitKat Crescent until the end of the season.

Dudgeon scored for the fourth time this season in the Minstermen's 1-0 victory at Crawley Town on Saturday and is pleased that manager Billy McEwan has offered him another six-month deal.

The 24-year-old defender has won back his starting place after the return of David McGurk to Darlington and is now determined to stay in the team.

About his contract situation, Dudgeon said: "I have spoken to Billy and I have agreed terms so it should be sorted out within the next week or so."

Dudgeon's goals from centre back have proved invaluable this season and only striker Andy Bishop and Clayton Donaldson have scored more times in league games for City.

Forward Joe O'Neill has even expressed his jealousy at Dudgeon's strike-rate but the modest former Worksop defender believes fortune is favouring him.

He said: "I've always scored a few headers but this season I've had a few on the floor as well. I had a volley at Scarborough in the first minute that was saved and now I've got another one-yard screamer. Joe has just said to me 'why can't I be in the right place at the right time?' but I think it's just down to luck."

Dudgeon believes the team's high fitness levels also told at Crawley, where the visitors' strong second-half performance was rewarded with his 61st-minute goal.

He added: "We looked a bit shaky in the first 15 minutes but then we came into the game and I think fitness is a big thing for us.

"We are all young lads and a lot of teams seem to blow up against us because they can't cope with the pace we set.

"Since Christmas, we have have also been passing better. We are not playing as well as we did earlier in the season but I think we are getting there."

Dudgeon was pleased to survive a late onslaught by Crawley, considering the team's propensity to throw away leads in the dying stages this season, highlighted most recently in the 2-2 draw at Scarborough.

He said: "Because we are young, we are inexperienced in that area and it's a lesson we have to learn because it's probably cost us ten points this season. We could be closer to the top of the league but Crawley put us under pressure at the end and we did not fold so that's a good sign."

Renowned Conference poacher Daryl Clare was also kept off the scoresheet by City's back four and Dudgeon has been encouraged by the first two matches he has played alongside former Scarborough team-mate Mark Hotte in the starting line-up for City.

Dudgeon said: "I've known Mark for a long time and I think we have looked a solid unit at the back for the last two games with Dave Merris and Lee Andrews doing well at full-back. I didn't think Daryl Clare was particularly lively against us but you could see he's a good player."

Updated: 11:00 Monday, January 09, 2006