The Minsterbelles take a step closer to survival with vital three points against Bradford City.
A 93rd minute strike from substitute Abby Parkin helped York to the all-important win at the Horsfall Stadium on Easter Sunday.
The visitors’ intentions were made clear from the start, in the fifth minute Jess Holder flashed a dangerous cross right in front of goal with nobody in blue there to finish.
Jess Heald had York’s first shot of the afternoon in the tenth minute, the full back failed to hit the target with her powerful strike.
Holder who was causing problems for the Bradford defence forced the home keeper into a save in the 17th minute, a shot the goalkeeper collected at the second attempt.
In the same minute, with the Minsterbelles in full control it was Heald again trying her luck, her right footed effort hit the side netting on this occasion.
York came agonisingly close to drawing first blood in the 23rd minute. Holder’s cross found Holly Findlay at the back post; Findlay just couldn’t direct her effort on target as the attempt rolled wide of the post.
On the half hour mark Fliss Jones had her first sighter, Findlay cut the ball back for the forward who lifted her shot over from inside the box.
Jones was then denied by the keeper in the 36th minute, an effort from range ended in the goalkeeper’s arms.
With York continuing to dominate, they created their final chance of the half in the 38th minute, Holder again managed to work a shooting opportunity before seeing her shot saved by the keeper.
Whilst the sides went into the break level York had been in control of proceedings without finding that elusive opener.
The Minsterbelles picked up where they left off in the second half. Jones was denied from point blank range by a defender with the forward coming close to breaking the deadlock in the first minute of the second half.
York were left scratching their heads again in the 55th minute, another flurry of chances came and went, firstly Milly Ash drew a save from the keeper, the rebound fell to half-time substitute Rosie Bell who couldn’t quite sort her feet to finish, York kept the move alive and Jones got a toe to the ball directing the cross wide from the centre of the box.
Bell had made a bright start following her introduction replacing Findlay at the break, the midfielder drove forward in the 63rd minute, she shifted the ball onto her right foot and drilled a powerful effort which whistled narrowly over the bar.
Three minutes later Holder outpaced her marker on the right, the forward continued into the box, from a tight angle Holder poked her shot on target but was denied by the keeper who stayed big by her post.
In the 73rd minute the visitors turned to the bench for the second time, Parkin came on in place of Hardcastle.
Parkin was quickly involved in the action. Bell’s cross reached her at the back post, the full back hit a half volley over with York continuing to dominate and create chances.
Alice Hughes struck the post in the 83rd minute, a well-placed header looked to be heading in at the far post but the effort came back off the upright and somehow stayed out. It was beginning to look like it was going to be one of those days for the Minsterbelles.
In the second minute of five minutes stoppage time Jodie Attard was called into action for the very first time in the afternoon, the keeper dived to her left to push away, earning a first clean sheet since joining the club.
York finally broke the deadlock in the 93rd minute, Parkin charged forward leading the attack, the substitute then took aim and picked out the corner with a brilliant strike to deservedly win the game for York at the death.
The Minsterbelles then saw out the final exchanges to pick up a massive three points in West Yorkshire helping the side closer to survival with one more game to go.
York are back in action for the final time this season at the end of the month with a trip to Barnsley on Sunday 30th April, kick off 2pm.
Minsterbelles: Attard, Heald, Smith, Cattle, Ash, Hughes, Hardcastle (Parkin), Findlay (Bell), Brown, Holder, Jones.
Subs not used: Bowman, Harriott, Sellars.