York City 1 Bath City 1: Rankine on target for Minstermen

GARY MILLS, York City's new manager, would have been happy to see his side gain a fortunate point in his first game in charge. And it took a superb 86th-minute reflex save by Michael Ingham from Marley Watkins and excellent defending by centre backs David McGurk and Daniel Parslow to earn that draw.

Mills said: "We looked lively in the first half but after the interval the players looked tired and played without confidence (York had lost their previous three games) as we lost our shape. I dread to think what the possession ratio was in the second half. You can't play without the ball.

"There is a lot of work to be done. We have too many players in the squad (25) and we need to get that number down. We didn't deserve to get three points and had to thank our two centre halves for even a point."

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It might have been so different if Jonathan Smith's first-minute shot had found the net instead of being parried by Ryan Robinson and Michael Rankine's fierce low drive had not been saved by Robinson's outstretched foot.

When York did go ahead it came from a dubious 30th-minute penalty when McGurk's shot struck Gethin Jones. The referee ruled deliberate handball and Rankine scored from the spot.

In the second half, York dropped deeper and deeper and Alex Russell's 63rd-minute equaliser led to Bath's total dominance. Two shots whistled inches wide and high and then came Ingham's great save as York were glad to hear the final whistle.

York: Ingham; Courtney, McGurk, Parslow, Meredith; Till (Barrett 73), Smith (Fyfield 85), Lawless, Racchi; Rankine, Gash (Beesley 64). Unused substitutes: Sangari, Constantine.

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Bath: Robinson; Simpson (J Edwards 54), Rollo, Jones, Jombati, Watkins, Canham, Connolley, Russell; Phillips (D Edwards 71), Mohamed (Murray 64). Unused Substitutes: Harris, Mackie.

Referee: R Clark (Morpeth)

Man of the Match: David McGurk.

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