Southport 0, York City 1

The Minstermen's leading marksman has attracted natural suspicion regarding his mental focus since agreeing a pre-contract move to the Edinburgh club during the January transfer window.

Scoring in just two of his last 15 matches had added further fuel to such concerns but at Haig Avenue, where blood pressures rose to levels normally associated with hospital maternity units, Donaldson displayed a clear mind on 56 minutes to clinically claim his 26th goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Nerves from both sets of players and supporters were frayed during a crucial Conference encounter and that anxiety manifested itself in much of play-off chasing City's performance with misplaced passes, hesitation and poor decisions in the opposition's penalty box characterising a tense afternoon.

A host of chances went begging as City crumbled in front of goal before Donaldson converted from 12 yards and, even then, the penalty had only been awarded after the visitors had failed to net from three successive shots.

Craig Farrell had been sent clear by captain Manny Panther for the first opportunity but his attempt was smothered by advancing goalkeeper Terry Smith, who then saved Steve Bowey's follow-up.

The ball broke loose for Bowey to try again and, this time, his net-bound strike was handled on the line by Southport right-back Michael Powell, who received his marching orders after the obligatory round of protests.

Smith, who had been injured during the scramble, also required treatment as Donaldson waited patiently.

The importance of the kick for City and a Southport team, desperate for points to avoid relegation, was not lost on anybody in the 3,206 crowd and few would have swapped places with City's main man.

Already playing under the pressure he has heaped on himself by pledging his future to Hibs, the 23-year-old striker's position was unenviable.

But City fans need not have worried with Donaldson firmly sidefooting into Smith's bottom left-hand corner while the 'keeper dived the opposite way.

The relief was palpable but short-lived as City failed to kill off Southport's ten men and clung on for three points when the home team threw four players forward in the dying stages.

Earlier, Panther, Donaldson and Farrell had all wasted excellent chances within the first 25 minutes.

With silver-haired skipper Chris Holland and portly midfield partner Mark Boyd always unlikely to repel City counter-attacks, Panther broke from a home corner to receive a Martyn Woolford pass before disappointingly driving over the bar.

Woolford then sent Donaldson clear but a terrible touch saw the ball roll out of play.

His striking partner Farrell found himself in a similar position when he ghosted behind a flat back four to collect a Craig James pass that caught Smith in two minds.

The City striker was not decisive, however, attempting a cross for Bowey that was easily cut out when he would have been better advised to go for goal.

Farrell then failed to beat Smith from six yards with a weak effort following Woolford's low drive into the penalty box.

Southport, though, went closest to breaking the first-half deadlock when Carl Baker's corner was allowed to bounce in the six-yard box and Mark Birch's shot thudded against the crossbar.

Smith was not seriously tested until the 41st minute when he pushed a 15-yard Woolford effort over after good work by Donaldson and Farrell.

After the break, Neal Bishop twice volleyed narrowly off target either side of Donaldson's goal while Southport, throwing caution to the wind, threatened with Baker forcing Evans into a near-post save and firing wide from long-range.

Woolford also shot over from 25 yards and prodded wide from much closer after dallying from Boyd.

On 84 minutes, Donaldson also blazed across the face of the goal after being picked out unmarked at the back post by Bowey.

But City were required to survive one final scare on their way to a 13th away win of the season - Panther's misjudged pass and indecision from Evans going unpunished when Baker could not get on the end of a Birch cross.

Match facts

Southport v York City, at Haig Avenue

York City: Evans 6, Purkiss 7, Parslow 8, McGurk 7, James 7, Bishop 7, Panther 6, Woolford 7, Bowey 7, Farrell 6, Donaldson 7.

Subs (not used): Gamble, Lloyd, Greenwood, Convery, Brodie.

Star man: Parslow - hard to pick a fault in a solid individual performance.

Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire

Southport: Terry Smith, Michael Powell, Kevin Lee, Matt Hocking, Mark Birch, Mark Duffy (Liam Blakeman, 79), Mark Boyd, Chris Holland, Carl Baker, Dino Maamria (Sean Paterson, 73), Tony Gray (Jon Newby, 72). Subs not used: Paul Tait, Sean Clancy.

Bookings: Boyd 59, Birch 85, Lee 90.

Sent off: Powell 54.

Referee: Andy Hendley (West Midlands).

Rating: Puzzling interpretation of foul play at times but generally OK.

Attendance: 3,206.

Weather watch: Mild with a slight breeze.

Game breaker: Michael Powell gave City's strikers the helping hand they needed.

Match rating: By no means a classic. Conquering nerves could still play an important part in both team's seasons.

Billy verdict: "They were on a roll so for us to come here and be solid and improve our magnificent away record is very pleasing."

Player watch: Clayton Donaldson

Goal attempts on target: 1
Goal attempts off target: 0
Blocked goal attempts: 1
Passes to own player: 14
Passes to opposition: 9
Crosses to own player: 0
Crosses to opposition: 2
Pass success rate: 56 per cent
Dribbles ball retained: 8
Dribbles ball lost: 13
Dribble success rate: 38.1 per cent
Headers: 16 Tackles: 5
Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 0
Free-kicks won: 4
Free-kicks conceded: 5
Offsides: 3
Bookings: 0

Final summary: Clayton Donaldson was not at his best as is illustrated by his low dribbling and pass completion rates. Surprisingly, he also conceded more fouls than he was awarded. But cometh the hour, cometh the man and Donaldson converted his one on-target shot - the penalty - with ruthless efficiency.