Dagenham & Red 0 York City 1: Worthington pride as York ‘stay up in style’

YORK City manager Nigel Worthington paid tribute to his side’s “12th man” as 1,159 fans saw their team enjoy this final-day win at Dagenham & Redbridge.
Chris SmithChris Smith
Chris Smith

The Minstermen went into the game needing a point to ensure Football League survival but claimed all three thanks to Chris Smith’s second-half goal.

Results elsewhere ultimately meant the final outcome in east London was irrelevant in the battle to beat the drop with Barnet’s 2-0 defeat at Northampton also ensuring Dagenham stayed up at the expense of their rivals from the capital.

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For much of the afternoon, however, nerves were frayed at Victoria Road and Worthington’s team were inspired by a noisy away following to take charge of their own destiny.

The former Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds left-back said: “I believe if you work together as a club, no matter what part of it you are, you can go a long way.

“It’s been difficult for the supporters but they’ve backed us all the way and they have got their just rewards. They really were our 12th man on Saturday and having almost 1,200 there was phenomenal.

“I’m delighted for them and the directors and, hopefully, everyone can relax now, breathe easier and look forward.”

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The victory meant York won four and drew two of their last six games to stave off the threat of a swift return to non-League football a year on from their historic double-winning Wembley campaign.

Skipper Smith has been talismanic during that undefeated run-in and got the game’s only goal on 67 minutes when, following a long ball into the box from keeper Michael Ingham, he turned and fired a low shot into the home net from eight yards.

Dagenham, who needed a win to be certain of their safety, had been the better team up to that point. In the first half, Brian Woodall had hit Ingham’s post with a thunderous free-kick and the same player called York’s former Northern Ireland international into action again from the edge of the box early in the second period before lifting a glorious six-yard chance over the bar.

Following Smith’s effort, Ingham then crowned a fine individual campaign with a brilliant double save in stoppage time, to deny Luke Howell and then Woodall.

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Worthington added: “Saturday was a great day for the club. We have stayed up in style.”

Dagenham: Seabright; Ogogo, Wilkinson, Doe, Ilesanmi; Elito (Reed, 75), Maher, Howell, Bingham; Scott, Woodall. Unused substitutes: Lewington, Strevens, Saunders, Hoyte, Fortune, Sharif.

York City: Ingham; Oyebanjo, McGurk, Smith, O’Connell; Parslow, A Reed, Platt; Blair (Coulson, 78), Walker (J Reed, 87), Chambers. Unused substitutes: Jameson, Fyfield, Challinor, Allan, McLaughlin.

Referee: S Hooper (Wiltshire).

Man of the match: Chris Smith.