YORK SURVIVE LATE COLLAPSE
HOME comforts are still in short supply for York City despite getting off the mark on their own soil at the third time of asking. The Minstermen fired blanks during their opening two Bootham Crescent contests against Telford (0-1) and Darlington (0-0) and even though they found their shooting boots in a 4-3 triumph over Nuneaton they were forced to endure a nervy finale. Gary Mills’ team led 3-0 and 4-1 thanks to Michael Rankine and Simon Heslop braces, but former York favourite Ashley Chambers proved a thorn in his old club’s side during an end-to-end second half. Having won and converted a penalty for Nuneaton’s first goal, Chambers went on to claim a second before teeing up Jordan Nicholson on 89 minutes for the visitors’ third. York, who have enjoyed straightforward victories on the road against Blyth (2-0) and Bradford Park Avenue (5-0) looked in danger of failing to win a contest they had dominated for long periods. The Minstermen clung on, but Mills admitted: “Hopefully, we have learned a lesson, because a game is never won until it’s over and the final whistle goes.” York had earlier taken the lead within 36 seconds of the first whistle when Sean Newton’s cross from the left bounced up and Rankine guided a header home. Heslop doubled the advantage in spectacular fashion midway through the half, smashing a volley into the roof of the net after a half-cleared corner. Heslop looked to have made the points safe seven minutes into the second half when he volleyed in off Tyrell Belford’s right post from 15 yards after another corner. Nuneaton reduced the deficit on 67 minutes when Chambers went to ground close to the byline under pressure from home keeper Jon Worsnop and netted the penalty off an upright. But referee Stephen Copeland pointed to the spot at the other end moments later when Bradley Gascoigne was adjudged to have held Rankine, who blasted down the middle of the goal from 12 yards. Undeterred, Chambers made it 4-2 on 83 minutes, pouncing after Worsnop had spilled a low cross from the left by Nicholson, who then sidefooted in a third from eight yards. Away boss Tommy Wright had mixed emotions at full-time, reasoning: “It’s pleasing to come to a strong team like York and get three goals but, at the same time, disappointing that we’ve done that and come away with nothing.”