Grimsby Town 0 York City 1: Final in sight as Kerr heads Minstermen past the Mariners

Grimsby have the best current record in the country, being unbeaten over 90 minutes in their last 22 matches (they lost a cup-tie to Salisbury in extra-time) and their fine recent 11-match run of 10 wins and a draw has shot them up the Blue Square Bet Conference table to just behind the leaders.

But the Mariners never looked likely to beat the Minstermen, who were on the front foot from the start and had the home defence under pressure.

Manager Gary Mills was delighted. “We were below par against Gateshead, but my players didn’t let that worry them. We were in their penalty area eight times in the first 10 minutes and overall I thought we were superb.

“We didn’t often look like conceding against a very good Grimsby side which has been on a magnificent run. Scott Kerr has never scored for us since joining the club. He has shot with his right foot and left foot, but now I know he has a secret weapon – his head.”

Kerr headed the winner after 83 minutes from Lanre Oyebanjo’s cross from the right. Oyebanjo, who returned in place of Jon Challinor, had a fine game at right-back and Chris Smith was outstanding in the middle of York’s solid defence, but picked up his 10th caution and so misses the next two home league games against Hayes & Yeading and Tamworth.

Michael Ingham made two important saves as York held on under late pressure, and Ashley Chambers missed a good chance to widen the lead.

Grimsby Town: McKeown; Silk, Pearson, l’Anson, Townsend; Coulson (Makofo 80), Church (Wood 63), Disley, Thanoj; Hearn, Duffy. Unused substitutes: Southwell, Freeman, Croudson.

York City: Ingham; Oyebanjo, Smith, Doig, Gibson; Kerr, McLaughlin (Challinor 83), Meredith; Blair (Moke 72), Walker (Blinkhorn 72), Chambers. Unused substitutes: Parslow, Reed.

Referee: S Bratt (Walsall).

Man of the match: Chris Smith.