A RARE moment of magic from Tom Blair proved enough to condemn York City to a 1-0 defeat against fellow Vanarama National League strugglers Dorking Wanderers at the LNER Community Stadium.

Neal Ardley’s side were left wishing that it had not been third time lucky for the sides’ twice-rearranged fixture as they fell flat in a disappointing evening under the floodlights.

The City boss called for his side to make the stadium a fortress ahead of three consecutive fixtures in front of their home fans as they look to edge themselves further away from the relegation zone, but their attack was instead crippled by a poor final pass that saw Harrison Male rarely troubled.

Despite firing the first warning shot inside the opening 30 seconds, York never lived up to their early promise on a frustrating evening that saw Dorking score with just their second real effort of the match.

Will Davies’ introduction on the hour brought with it City’s best chance as his close-range effort crashed off the post, but with Dorking sensing their opportunity to move level on points with their opponents, Blair came up with the goods in style six minutes from time to secure a crucial victory.

Ardley handed a home debut to Grimsby Town loanee Danny Amos, but all eyes were on young midfielder Finlay Barnes, given the nod to start for the first time after impressive loan spells with Darlington and Scarborough Athletic during the first half of the season.

Dan Batty returned to partner Alex Woodyard in midfield in his first start upon his return from a lengthy injury layoff, with Paddy McLaughin, Scott Burgess and Will Davies all dropping to the bench.

Barnes looked to have made the perfect start for the Minstermen after finding himself free on the edge of the box less than 30 seconds into proceedings, but Male was down well to his right to save.

And Dorking were again indebted to their goalkeeper from the resultant corner, Will Smith forcing a fingertip save from the former Tadcaster Albion loanee before the visitors were able to clear their lines.

Billy Chadwick was next to try his luck in front of goal after a quarter of an hour, but Male was equal to his effort from the edge of the box.

Dorking began to grow into the match as City were left frustrated by a myriad of wayward final passes, with Barnes unable to sort out his feet after the ball had fallen kindly to him in the box, before George Sykes-Kenworthy plucked a cross from the visitors out of mid-air.

York’s troubles in front of goal continued as Akinyemi chested down Callum Howe’s long-range pass but saw his cross cleared as he attempted to play in the onrushing Amos, whilst Barnes’ through-ball did not quite carry the required weight to reach the supporting Chadwick.

Akinyemi again wriggled clear of his marker 10 minutes before the interval but could only scuff his strike into Male’s grateful hands with the goal at his mercy.

A rare attack saw Blair deliver a venomous cross into the box as Dorking looked to nudge themselves in front on the stroke of half time, but York were left breathing a sigh of relief when the ball rolled across the box and to safety.

Instead, City sensed an opportunity to take the lead themselves in first-half stoppage time after some neat interlinking play between Smith and Ryan Fallowfield, but the latter saw his right-wing cross deflected to safety.

Having heard a few home truths at the interval, York looked to make a similarly encouraging start to the second half, but Barnes could not keep his effort on target after evading a series of would-be tackles on the edge of the box.

Sykes-Kenworthy was equal to Jason Prior’s near-post effort shortly after, and was called into action again two minutes later, denying Haydn Hollis with a point-blank save.

Dorking continued to threaten, with Smith and Adam Crookes halting an attack on the right wing, before City scrambled to clear a long throw that they had let bounce inside the box.

Ardley rolled the dice on the hour to introduce Davies and Lenell John-Lewis to his strike force, a move that looked to have paid off almost instantaneously when the former collected the ball inside the box, before turning a defender and rattling the right-hand post.

John-Lewis was left ruing another chance less than a minute later after heading narrowly over the crossbar, as was Crookes from an attacking free-kick that just evaded him on the stretch.

But their injection of life into the Minstermen proved to be short-lived, with Dorking instead sensing that there may well be a chance to grab a late winner themselves.

The visitors saw a long-range strike blocked inside the box before Charlie Carter was cautioned after catching the onrushing Sykes-Kenworthy as he looked to clear a long ball forward, but they were eventually rewarded for their efforts six minutes from time.

Blair was seemingly given the freedom of the LNER Community Stadium to run forward unchallenged for 35 yards before unleashing a thunderous strike from the edge of the box into the top right corner that crashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the roof of the net.

City came close to an immediate equaliser after some slick play from the restart, but Woodyard saw his header sail over the bar as he connected with a corner.

And the Minstermen saw another chance go begging when Davies was upended outside the box, Chadwick firing the resultant free-kick into the Dorking wall.

But an all-important equaliser would not come for Ardley’s side, Davies’ scuffed effort typifying a disappointing evening in front of goal in the final minute of added time.

Just a third defeat in 15 matches for City as Dorking move level with them three points above the relegation zone. They will be hoping to rectify their woeful home form when they entertain Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday (3pm).

YORK CITY: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield ©, Crookes, Akinyemi (John-Lewis 61), Howe, Barnes, Batty (McLaughlin 73), Chadwick, Amos (Davies 61), Woodyard, Smith.

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Duckworth, Burgess.

YELLOW CARDS: Amos (51)

DORKING WANDERERS: Male, Taylor, Pybus, Craig ©, McManus (Moore 79), Prior (Ottoway 87), Carter, Taylor, Hollis, Blair, Francomb.

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Kennedy, Cook, Gallagher.

GOALS: Blair (84)

YELLOW CARDS: Craig (36), Carter (79)

HALF TIME: 0-0

YORK’S STAR MAN: Dan Batty. A night of little standout for the Minstermen, but Batty looked assured as he stepped up his return from injury alongside Alex Woodyard in midfield.

ATTENDANCE: 4,177 (99)