“IT was mental.”

Harrison Male could not have described York City’s late, late victory over FC Halifax Town any better, as the Minstermen moved back into pole position of the Vanarama National League.

After falling behind in the first-half following a strike by Jamie Cooke on the counter-attack, York had to endure relentless pressure from Halifax, with Male making multiple saves to keep Town at bay at the Shay.

Once City had weathered the storm of their hosts, Malachi Fagan-Walcott drew the Minstermen level with a volleyed effort from Dan Batty’s corner, levelling the scores in stoppage-time.

And just minutes later, having already celebrated two victories in the last seven days, Ollie Pearce continued his hot streak of form with a headed effort that won the three points with one minute left on the clock.

Male couldn’t quite believe the end scenes, and spoke on City’s supporters turnout after more York fans travelled to the Shay than Halifax.

“It was mental,” Male laughed.

“I don’t think we’ve played any worse, I don’t think that we can play any worse than that second-half, but top teams win games.

“That’s what we did today.

“I had a feeling. With all of those fans up there, I just had a feeling.

“After that 20 minutes in the second-half, I just thought ‘oh my god, what is happening here?’, but as time went on and we grew back into the game slowly.

“As soon as we got our first, I knew that we were going to get our second.

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“For the first goal I got halfway [celebrating] and thought no, we can win this, so I rushed back.

“When the second one went in I just flew as fast as I could to the fans! I knee-slided straight into them all!

“I look at the fans and that is what I play for personally.

“I want them to go home tonight and be buzzing, it blows my mind, does the fans at this club.

“They provide that 12th man and days like today, we needed that 12th man.

“It was a tough game, a Yorkshire derby, and we’ve come out on top.”

Male was forced to make almost a double figure amount of saves within a 20 minute period that Halifax dominated play, whilst York struggled to make any progress up the pitch.

The goalkeeper’s saves would go on to prove decisive in the final result, and brought a calmness to the side, something that Male looks to do in each match that he plays.

Male would also go on to speak about the togetherness within the group, after manager Adam Hinshelwood had credited the character within the squad.

He continued: “I’m not too sure what happened, I’m just there trying to save it.

“I’ve been consistent, and as a ‘keeper, that is what you want.

“You want to stay as consistent as you can, bring calmness to the team, that’s what I try and provide in any situation.

“You boys don’t get to see it day in, day out, but we graft.

“Whenever the gaffer says we work hard in training, I listened to his interview and someone asked him about the standards, and what he drives for all of us, everyone has jumped on board.

“We get the results like we did today because of what we do in training.

“The team and the togetherness, we talk about it all of the time, the bond is tight.

“Whatever scenario gets thrown at us, I’m not being funny but they should have been out of sight in that 20 minutes in the second-half, easily.

“We stuck together and rode through it, and got the rewards.”

The three points, combined with Forest Green Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Woking, meant that City moved to the top in the National League.

Male admitted that the squad were aware and had been checking, but that the focus wouldn’t be shifting with an Emirates FA Cup first round match at Wycombe Wanderers next Saturday.

“I’d lie if I said that we hadn’t look at the table today, that would be a lie.

“At the end of the day it is where we want to be, we want to be at the top and we want people to be chasing us.

“It puts pressure on our shoulders but you would rather be at the top end than at the bottom, where you are chasing.

“When you’re at a club this size, you see the following today, we’ve got to stay switched on until the last game.”

The pressure on City might be reduced for their visit to Wycombe, who are impressing in Sky Bet League One and are the recognised favourites to progress in the FA Cup.

That isn’t the case for Hinshelwood, Male or the players, with the goalkeeper promising that the Minstermen are heading to Adams Park with the target of winning and progressing in the cup.

“You’d say that there is no pressure, but the gaffer still puts responsibility on us.

“We’re going there to win, we’re not going there [thinking] that we’re playing a League One club that are flying, whatever happens, happens.

“We’re not going there to do that, we’re going there to get into the next round and keep going from there.

“We’re not going there to sit back.”

York’s good form was continued in midweek, with a 3-1 win over the former National League leaders Barnet, who dropped to third after the loss.

A first-half challenge on Male against Zak Brunt meant that the Bees midfielder required treatment, with manager Dean Brennan calling out the referee in his post-match interview and claiming that the shot-stopper should have been shown a red card in the contest.

Male disagreed, responding: “No, it was a good tackle. I got the ball and then hit the man, to be fair I spoke to the boy because obviously it was a strong challenge.

“I asked if he was alright and he said yeah, spot on, it was just a good challenge.”