Stuart Maynard says Ollie Pearce was back to his best in Woking win
York City manager Stuart Maynard felt Ollie Pearce was back to his best as the captain kept his cool to see the Minstermen over the line with another big penalty.
Pearce has missed three penalties this season but with 32 league goals now under his belt, he stepped up and converted a 74th-minute spot kick.
"I think in the first half we could have made it more comfortable with our finish," he said.
"Similar with Gateshead (Tuesday's 3-1 defeat), we created big moments and didn't take them but I thought our discipline out of possession was brilliant today.
"It brought them onto us a bit and then we could open them up.
"With the wind it was tough when Stonesy (Josh Stones) and Pearcey both got in one-on-one, they just couldn't quite get the ball away from him.
"We've seen teams at all levels of football, when they've been pushing for a goal, because they know they've got to score and it's tight for so long, start to panic a little bit and maybe go a little bit more direct. There was no sign of that."
There was no doubting Pearce would take the penalty when Jeff King was fouled.
"I thought Pearcey was right back to his best today in everything – his all-round game, his movement, his press and everything," said Maynard.
"I think that's the difference at times between goalscorers that just have that self-belief. It's not that you don't care that you're going to miss it, it's just that you have that belief that you're prepared to step up and take it.
"When we do as well, we back him. You don't want anyone really at the end of the chance than him."
The win keeps York three points behind leaders Rochdale, who came from behind to beat Sutton United. But York are at Rochdale on the final day of the season, and have a fair better goal difference.