ADAM HINSHELWOOD claimed his first three points as York City manager with a crucial 1-0 victory over Aldershot Town.

88th minute substitute Lenell John-Lewis netted with his first touch of the ball to put York ahead with minutes left to play, in what can only be described as a reliver for the Minstermen.

The York captain latched onto an emphatic header from Callum Howe, with John-Lewis then powering the ball home from close-range to send the City supporters into jubilation.

An impressive reaction from Tuesday night’s 6-1 defeat to Altrincham sees the Minstermen rise to 21st position in the Vanarama National League, and just one point behind Boreham Wood outside of the relegation zone.

It’s a much-needed first victory for Hinshelwood after a rocky start to life in North Yorkshire, but a first win for City since early February.

After Tuesday night’s hammering from Altrincham, Hinshelwood opted to make a mammoth seven changes to his side, which included a debut for Marvin Armstrong.

Armstrong had signed on Friday afternoon from Barnet for an undisclosed fee following the departure of Mitch Hancox, having previously worked with Hinshelwood at Worthing.

Thierry Latty-Fairweather, Rory Watson, Danny Amos, Dan Batty, Maziar Kouhyar and Billy Chadwick all also came into the eleven, with City lining up in a 4-3-3 formation.

George Sykes-Kenworthy, Paddy McLaughlin, Will Smith, Quevin Castro, Will Davies, John-Lewis and Alex Woodyard were all dropped from the starting squad.

Aldershot arrived to the LNER Community Stadium as the league’s in-form side, securing five wins from their last six matches.

The Shots lined up in a 5-2-1-2 formation which included dangerman Josh Stokes, who has secured a move to Sky Bet Championship side Bristol City after an impressive debut campaign for Tommy Widdrington’s side.

Stokes has returned to Aldershot on a season-long loan, and started alongside fellow attacker Lorent Tolaj, with the pair notching 33 goals between them in the campaign so far.

It wouldn’t be either of the two to really threaten City in the opening stages, as Stuart O’Keefe’s volleyed strike forced Watson into an early save in the opening two minutes.

York responded with an effort on goal of their own, with Chadwick slipping Dipo Akinyemi in behind, but his strike lacked the power to really test Jordi Van Stappershoef.

Latty-Fairweather adapted well to his role at right-back, and did brilliantly to beat Ollie Harfield on the Shots’ byline, before his pull back was agonisingly missed by the crowd of bodies within the six-yard area.

City fans thought they were ahead after Kouhyar put Chadwick in behind, with the York winger curling home, only to be denied by the offside flag.

Alex Hunt retained his position from midweek and was impressive in the opening forty-five, latching onto a cleared corner before powering a strike narrowly over Van Stappershoef’s crossbar.

Watson was called into action again when facing a Dylan Kadji curling effort from the edge of the area, but the City shot-stopper was on hand to palm the strike away.

Hunt and Kouhyar both saw attempts blocked and kept out by Van Stappershoef, before Armstrong nearly netted a debut goal, only to be denied by a strong block from Ollie Harfield.

York were panicking after Ryan Glover latched onto a corner routine and played the ball into the six-yard area, before a half-clearance into the path of Stokes was lashed wide of the target.

But after the misery of midweek, York supporters will have been pleased with the efforts of the opening forty-five.

Aldershot were forced into an early change just five minutes into the second-half, with Josh Barrett replacing Coby Rowe, as the visitors were forced into a change of shape.

Tolaj saw an audacious attempt sliced well wide of the target, before City came within inches of an opener, as Akinyemi’s low cut back was blocked at close-range, following Kouhyar’s onrushing effort.

Hunt found Callum Howe at the back post from a corner, but the centre-back header over, before Akinyemi saw a volleyed strike again blocked by a crowd of Shots bodies.

But the Minstermen came the closer of the two sides with a deep cross from Batty being met by Fallowfield, who had remained high up the pitch from a corner, with the defender’s close-range header being pushed away by Van Stappershoef.

Aldershot had scored a flurry of goals in recent matches, but were denied their best opportunity of the match by a sublime Watson stop, clawing O’Keefe’s strike over the bar from ten-yards out.

But with two minutes left on the clock, Hinshelwood opted to bring John-Lewis on as a late substitute, hoping to spark a chance of a late winner.

And that’s exactly what he got, as Hunt’s corner was brilliantly flicked on by Howe, before John-Lewis expertly powered home at the back post.

A hugely-important three points and a first win in over a month for the Minstermen, who are now just one point adrift of safety.

They will look to continue their push for survival in next Saturday’s trip to Bromley (3pm).

YORK CITY: Watson 7, Latty-Fairweather 6 (Castro, 83), Fallowfield 7, Howe 8, Amos 7, Batty 7, Armstrong 8, Hunt 7 (McLaughlin, 90+3), Kouhyar 7 (John-Lewis, 87), Akinyemi 7, Chadwick 7

Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Davies

Goals: John-Lewis (88)

Yellow cards: Latty-Fairweather (14)

Aldershot Town: Van Stappershoef, Frost, Harries, Rowe (Barrett, 49), Harfield, Glover, O’Keefe, Kadji, Stokes, Daly (Thomas, 68), Tolaj (Ghandour, 81)

Subs not used: Widdrington, Scott, Ghandour, Thomas

Yellow cards: Rowe (41), Stokes (66), O’Keefe (70), Harries (86)

York’s star man: Callum Howe. A dominant performance at the back, a clean sheet and an assist. Shoutout to debutant Marvin Armstrong too, who worked hard in midfield.

Referee: Andrew Miller

Attendance: 4309 (361)

Shots (on target): 5 (6) | 1 (3)

Corners:  11 | 6

Offsides: 2 | 2

Fouls committed: 8 | 11