Southport 4 York city 0: Mills aiming to beat transfer deadline after York are trounced

YORK CITY manager Gary Mills pulled no punches after seeing his side crushed by lowly part-timers Southport, who inflicted only the third league defeat in 12 matches since he joined the club last October.

It was a disastrous day for York. They were down to 10 men with the game 71 seconds old when central-defensive lynchpin David McGurk was sent off and they were 2-0 behind after only four minutes.

McGurk has been York’s most consistent player in the five-and-a-half years he has been with them and his absence for 89 minutes, plus a rare poor display by centre-back partner Chris Smith, produced yawning gaps which they never looked like filling.

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Mills, who hinted there might be comings and goings before tonight’s transfer deadline, made no excuses after the game. “Our defending was disgraceful for three of the goals. I nave no complaints about the sending off, or the penalty, but if we defend like that we will win nothing. I have been delighted with the squad since I became manager, but not today.”

McGurk was red-carded after his clumsy challenge on Shaun Whalley, Chris Lever scoring from the spot. Weak defending saw unmarked Whalley make it 2-0.

Greg Young’s unnecessary challenge on John-Paul Kissock, who was heading for the corner flag, produced the free-kick from which Kevin Lee headed the third.

A mix-up between Smith, who could have cleared, and Michael Ingham, who could have come out, ended with Ingham spilling Alan Moogan’s shot for Whalley to score the fourth.

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Peter Till’s strong runs were a feature of an overall poor display by York, who have conceded nine in their last two away games.

Southport: McMillan; Lee, Ryan (Williams, 38), Marsh-Evans, Lever; Whalley (Gray, 72). Moogan (Powell, 56), Blakeman, Ledsham, Kissock, McNeil. Unused substitutes: Barratt, Dickinson.

York City: Ingham; Parslow, Smith, McGurk, Carruthers; Boucaud (Hatfield, 46), Mackin, Meredith (Young, 6); Chambers, Rankine (Reed, 55), Till. Unused substitutes: McDermott, Constantine.

Referee: S Duncan (Newcastle).

Man of the match: Peter Till.