York win gives lift to Mills

GARY MILLS believes York’s 3-2 FA Trophy win over Macclesfield yesterday should be treated as the first silverware of next term.

The Minstermen boss, above, saw his side score late on to soften the blow of relegation to the Vanarama National League North.

And he is determined to look forward and rebuild the club.

“I wanted to use this game as the start of the new season,” he said.

“It’s going to be tough next year for us. Teams will raise their game against us but we’ve got to face it head on. It’s been a special day. We’re a proud club and we were that today.”

Jon Parkin, who will remain at Bootham Crescent next season, opened the scoring with a header after eight minutes.

Rhys Browne levelled five minutes later after shooting through the legs of keeper Kyle Letheren. York restored their advantage in the 22nd minute through Vadaine Oliver before Ollie Norburn equalised with a thunderbolt.

But York claimed the Trophy with four minutes left, as Aidan Connolly made sure a shot from Parkin found its way over the line.

Macclesfield boss John Askey, who missed out on a third FA Trophy, said: “I was pleased with how we played, on another day we’d have probably won. We struggled to deal with the balls in the box.”

South Shields joint boss Lee Picton feels his side can follow the example of Fleetwood and Burton Albion, as they beat Cleethorpes 4-0 in the FA Vase final.

Goals from Carl Finnigan, Dillon Morse and a double from David Foley earned the ambitious Tyneside outfit their fourth trophy of the season.

Picton said: “Our chairman Geoff Thompson sees the club doing potentially what the likes of those clubs have done.”