YORK City scored two stoppage-time goals and an incredible amount of fight to secure a 2-1 win at FC Halifax Town; sending them to the top of the Vanarama National League.

After falling behind in the first-half after a composed finish from Jamie Cooke, York looked poor, with an uncharacteristic showing from Adam Hinshelwood’s side.

But with eight minutes of added time added, City drew level after Malachi Fagan-Walcott opened his account for the club with a volleyed strike at the back post.

And with more York supporters in the Shay than actual Halifax ones, the players rewarded incredible support with an unbelievable late winner.

Dan Batty’s floated cross into Callum Howe was headed back across goal by the City captain, with Ollie Pearce perfectly positioned to steal the bragging rights in the Yorkshire derby.

As a result, York are now top of the National League.

York came into the fixture having not yet lost on the road, with it now being two months since City have fallen to defeat in all competitions.

They were full of confidence following back-to-back victories at the LNER Community Stadium, including a memorable 3-1 win over former National League leaders Barnet.

Halifax on the other hand had struggled to find consistency, with three defeats and two wins in their last five.

A 2-1 defeat at Rochdale was said to be unlucky for the Shaymen, having beaten both Boston United and Tamworth in league matches prior to that loss.

Town were still on the edge of the play-offs, occupying eighth position after 15 matches on 23 points.

Hinshelwood was forced into making three changes prior to kick-off, having confirmed injuries to three of his starters from Tuesday night.

Dipo Akinyemi (back), Callum Harriott (hamstring) and Cameron John (concussion) were all absent from the squad.

Luca Thomas was therefore given his first start in a City shirt, with Ryan Fallowfield and Tyrese Sinclair also returning to the starting eleven.

Adam Crookes was also involved in a first matchday squad of the competitive season following a lengthy injury that was sustained during pre-season, with the left-back filling the John void on the bench.

Halifax made just one change from their defeat at Rochdale, with winger Andrew Oluwabori dropping to the bench.

Adan George was named as his replacement, whilst Will Smith, who made 27 appearances for York last season, started for Halifax.

York were backed by over 2000 supporters on the terracing, with Hinshelwood admitting pre-match that he was hoping to reward them with three points.

They almost went ahead as Ollie Pearce drifted wide and latched onto a poor touch from Jo Cummings, before dragging the ball back into the area for an onrushing Marvin Armstrong.

He hit a first-time strike goalwards, which was dramatically cleared off of the line by a retreating Halifax defender.

With 14 minutes played, City had enjoyed a lot of possession but were struggling to find gaps in the Town defence, who were happy to soak up the pressure.

With the Minstermen in possession, it was the hosts who opened the scoring on the counter-attack.

A ball through to Billy Waters was challenged by Dan Batty, whose tackle bobbled into the path of Cooke.

He controlled well before shifting the ball onto his right foot and beating Male at his near post.

York looked to immediately respond as Pearce managed to scuff an effort through a crowd of bodies, that Sam Johnson gratefully held.

He would have another opportunity as Armstrong won possession back inside the Shaymen’s area, but Pearce could not pull the trigger with Smith producing an important challenge.

City wouldn’t come any closer in the first-half than Armstrong, whose glancing header rattled the post after a floated cross from Sinclair found the midfielder unmarked in the area.

From the resulting corner, Alex Hunt’s initial cross was headed back into his path, allowing him to drive into the area.

He managed to pick out Pearce, whose strike was parried clear by Johnson.

Male was called into action to hold a header from Cummings, before the shot-stopper would rush out to thwart Waters from close-range.

But despite their possession, York would head into half-time behind thanks to Cooke’s opener.

City started the second-half quickly, as a handball by George allowed Batty an opportunity to cross from the free-kick.

His delivery dropped to Fagan-Walcott in the area, who dragged an effort narrowly wide of Johnson’s goal.

Pearce soon attempted a quick throw-in that would have put Thomas through one-one, but Johnson reacted even quicker to cut out the danger.

Frustrations were starting to grow for City, with Halifax enjoying more possession as Jack Evans had a driven shot held by Male, before Hoti was also kept out by shot-stopper.

George was looking dangerous on the left-wing, and again went close after a curling strike was pushed wide by Male.

He was keeping York alive, after sloppy possession allowed Waters to break through one-on-one, only to be thwarted by Male again.

With the Shaymen in complete control, a foul on the edge of the area gifted Hoti the opportunity to shoot, but his dipping effort clipped the wall seeing City escape.

York had weathered the storm, and Hinshelwood responded by making changes with Billy Chadwick, Ricky Aguiar and Mo Fadera entering the frame.

And despite a rather uncharacteristic performance from York, they would salvage a result from the match in an incredible fashion.

After Fadera had a strike deflect wide of the target, City were awarded a late corner in the match.

Batty’s deep delivery dropped onto Fagan-Walcott, who coolly volleyed past Johnson to make it 1-1, with seven minutes of stoppage-time remaining.

And with minutes remaining, York showed exactly why they are considered promotion contenders this season.

Another set-piece delivery from Batty was floated onto the head of Howe, who nodded the ball back across goal.

Pearce was perfectly positioned to brilliantly finish past Johnson, earning the Minstermen an incredible three points and a 2-1 win in their Yorkshire derby.

FC HALIFAX TOWN: JOHNSON, CUMMINGS, SMITH, SENIOR, GALVIN (ADETORO, 54), HIGH, EVANS, HOTI, WATERS (PUGH, 82), GEORGE (EMMERSON, 77), COOKE (OLUWABORI, 67)

SUBS NOT USED: FORD, SUTCLIFFE, JENKINS

GOALS: COOKE (14)

YORK CITY: MALE 8, FALLOWFIELD 6 (AGUIAR 6, 66), HOWE 8, FAGAN-WALCOTT 8, FELIX 6, BATTY 8, HUNT 5, ARMSTRONG 5 (NATHANIEL-GEORGE 7, 53), SINCLAIR 5 (CHADWICK 6, 66), PEARCE 7, THOMAS 5 (FADERA 6, 76)

SUBS NOT USED: WATSON, CROOKES, MCLAUGHLIN

GOALS: FAGAN-WALCOTT (90+1), PEARCE (90+5)

YELLOW CARDS: BATTY (38), NATHANIEL-GEORGE (90+8)

YORK’S STAR MAN: HARRISON MALE. His important saves in the second-half kept York alive, before their late two strikes.

REFEREE: Jamie O’Connor

ATTENDANCE: 3961 (2225)

SHOTS OFF (ON TARGET): 2 (8) | 3 (4)

CORNERS:  3 | 3

OFFSIDES: 2 | 1

FOULS COMMITTED: 10 | 5