YORK City defender James Dudgeon has listed five reasons why the team are desperate to win their final game of the season against second-placed Hereford United.

The Minstermen might be out of the play-off picture now but Dudgeon is hoping to prove the club can defeat a top-six side for the first time this season.

He also wants to reward the KitKat Crescent faithful with a final-day victory, reach 66 points, gain revenge for December's 1-0 defeat at Hereford and earn himself a new contract.

Former Worksop Town defender Dudgeon said: "This match is all about professionalism. The gaffer has said every game is important and he's right.

"There are contracts to play for and we want to get as many points as we can. We also want to get our own back on them having lost there and nobody wants to lose the last game of the season in front of your own fans.

"I'd like to end the jinx of not beating any of the top six teams as well. We have had some good games against them but need to beat one now."

Dudgeon believes the main difference between City and the top-six clubs is that they have a less-established side.

The 25-year-old defender also agrees with manager Billy McEwan's assertion that the team needs to be mentally and physically stronger next season, revealing that the players have already been given weights programmes to follow over the summer.

He said: "The majority of the teams who will finish above us have been together for two, three, four or, even, five years whereas we have only been together for nine months and I think we have looked organised and done well considering that. I think we will develop mental strength from our disappointments against Halifax and Cambridge and the late goals we have conceded this season.

"We also need to be physically stronger as was shown at Stevenage when, despite being down to ten and nine men, they could still cause us problems by launching the ball forward at their five 6ft 3in players."

Dudgeon added his praise for coach Colin Walker, who invited him to KitKat Crescent for a trial last summer and has proven a valuable addition to McEwan's backroom staff this season.

He said: "Colin took me to Barnsley when I was 16 and gave me my footballing education for four years. I admire him a lot.

"He's a good talker and a really good coach who knows about the game attacking wise and defensively and he's also been on a goalkeeping course. He's really knowledgeable.

"The gaffer's pretty hands-on but Colin also helps all the lads and often has a quiet word."

Updated: 09:19 Thursday, April 27, 2006