Hero to zero for Minstermen’s Blair

WHAT a difference a week can make – as York City’s Matty Blair found out at Bootham Crescent where the Minstermen suffered a blow to their promotion hopes.

On March 17 Blair was York’s hero when his fine late header put his side into the FA Trophy final at the expense of Luton Town. But on Saturday he shot wide in the sixth minute; gave the ball away after 64 minutes which gifted Southport the lead and then somehow shot wide in front of a yawning goal with three minutes left which deprived York of a point.

While York were never at their most fluent, they dominated and created enough chances to win, with Southport content to hit on the break.

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Manager Gary Mills said: “You have to give Southport credit. They do what they do very well. They are in the top five for a reason.

“It’s not the end of the world and we will be back in the top five if we win at Bath.”

Jamie Reed had a goal disallowed for offside and other chances went begging before Blair’s error presented Andy Owens with the first goal. Five minutes later a defensive blunder saw Tony Gray make it 2-0.

Reed pulled one back on 84 minutes before Blair missed after Adriano Moke had set him up.

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York City: Ingham; Challinor, C Smith, Parslow, Fyfield (Moke, 56); Oyebanjo, Gibson (McLaughlin, 78), Meredith; Blair, Reed, Chambers (Blinkhorn, 78). Unused substitutes: Brown, Doig.

Southport: McMillan; J Smith, Davis, Grand, Akrigg, Lever; Benjamin, Gray (Carden, 79), Parry; Benjamin, Owens, Ledsham.

Unused substitutes: Ellison, Nemes, Stephenson, Farran.

Referee: D Handley (Bolton).

Man of the match: Chris Smith.

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