Mills has plenty to ponder at York

blue square premier: York City manager Gary Mills will not be hurried into any decisions on players’ futures after his team ended the season with a creditable 1-1 draw at champions Crawley.

The visitors, who included seven players out of contract this summer, finished the season eighth after seeing their late push for a play-off place end after the division’s penultimate fixtures.

Mills has already signalled his intention to mount a title challenge in the next campaign and said: “I have to think carefully and make some big decisions on who will be with me and who I bring in now.

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“We need players who have the mental strength to win the league and I won’t be rushed into any decisions. If that means one or two of the players that are out of contract here get better offers in the meantime then so be it.”

York took a surprise fifth-minute lead at the Broadfield Stadium when home midfielder David Hunt converted Jamal Fyfield’s low left-wing cross past bemused goalkeeper Scott Shearer.

Matt Tubbs was then denied at the other end by a smart stop from Michael Ingham but Michael Rankine could have twice extended City’s lead prior to the interval.

The 6ft 3in striker prodded weakly at Shearer from close range and then fired wide when sent clear by former Leeds United reserve Liam Darville.

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Rankine forced Shearer into a low save early in the second period before Crawley equalised on 67 minutes to prevent York becoming the first side to beat them in the league since mid-October.

Levi Mackin hacked down substitute Craig McAllister and Tubbs stepped up to score his 40th goal of the season from the spot.

Andre Boucaud might have still won the match for York but his 25-yard, stoppage-time effort drifted wide.

Crawley: Shearer, Wilson, Dempster, Wassmer, Howell, Neilson (Cook 66), Simpson, Hunt (Smith, 83), Gibson, Brodie (McAllister 66), Tubbs. Unused substitutes: Kuipers, Napper.

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York City: Ingham, Darville, Smith, Meredith, Carruthers, Kerr, Boucaud, Mackin (Smith 71), Chambers, Rankine (Reed 59), Fyfield (Till 89). Unused substitutes: Barrett, Young.

Referee: N Kinseley (Essex).

Man of the match: Andre Boucaud.

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