York 2 Chesterfield 2: York look to be back where fans feel they should be

In terms of the suggested knighthood, the 50-year-old may have to be patient even after leading York to an unparalleled double last May as promotion from the Conference was clinched along with the FA Trophy in a Wembley double.

But when it comes to assessing whether the Minstermen really are back and looking comfortable at a level where they clearly feel they belong then the answer has to be a resounding ‘yes’.

Five games into the League Two season and York are sitting in the play-off places after Jason Walker’s acrobatic strike rescued a point against Chesterfield deep into stoppage time.

That York had been a pale shadow of the side that had taken three points off Oxford United and knocked highly-fancied Rotherham United out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in the previous seven days mattered little to the fans.

Instead, the bottom line was that for the umpteenth time since Mills took charge at Bootham Crescent a little under two years ago, their never-say-die character came 
to the fore to ensure newly-relegated Chesterfield did not leave with the three points that their industry and play had possibly warranted.

Walker got the all-important equaliser in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time with a stunning volley on the turn.

But it was the manner in which York kept pressing on to the last that bodes well for the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead in this, the club’s first season back in the Football League for eight years.

Mills said: “We gambled, of course we did. If you asked me what system we played from the 90th to the 94th minutes, I would have to say 2-1-7 or something like that.

“You run the risk of losing 3-1 or even 4-1 when you gamble like that but I am not someone who wants to sit back and accept 2-1, and not really gamble to get back into it.

“I am delighted for everyone as it was one of those where I felt the ball just might drop. I was happy to see four minutes go up on the board as I still felt we could get there.

“It is a great point for us at the end of a tough, tough week. I cannot tell you how hot it was out there on the pitch.

“So, for a team that played a hard game (against Oxford) a week earlier and then another hard one (at Rotherham) on Tuesday night, that made it tough.

“We went behind twice so to come back like we did was fantastic.

“I have nothing but praise for my players to come away from this past week with two wins and a draw.”

After a dour opening half hour or so on Saturday in front of York’s biggest gate since April, 2007 when 5,378 watched the match against Oxford, the game sprung into life with three goals inside five minutes just before the interval.

Sam Hird netted the first for Chesterfield with a close-range finish on 36 minutes after Craig Westcarr had seen two efforts blocked.

That fired up York, who were level within three minutes courtesy of Michael Coulson, who, after seeing his curling free-kick beaten away by goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell, made no mistake when played through by some neat passing.

The old adage about a team being at its most vulnerable just after scoring then came to fruition as the York defence was caught napping by a through ball from Sam Togwell that Westcarr latched on to before drilling past Michael Ingham.

York huffed and puffed after the break but the Spireites stood firm until the dramatic late equaliser from Walker that saw the striker volley into the net on the turn after Chris Smith had headed back across goal.

Walker, who netted last season’s Conference Goal of the Year with a similar effort against Grimsby Town, said: “Matty Blair ran straight into me (after I hit the ball goalwards) and I don’t really remember what happened.

“I just heard the crowd cheer and I had to ask the lads in the dressing room whether it hit someone and dribbled in or had gone straight in.

“But they said it flew into the top corner. It probably wasn’t of the same standard as the one at Grimsby. That might be asking a lot.

“I am proud of it, though. I had been setting a few up. But it was nice to score.”

Walker’s strike came as a blow to Tommy Wright, who had been on course for his first win as acting manager as the former Leeds United man looks to succeed the axed John Sheridan on a permanent basis.

Mills, whose York side have been drawn against Coventry City in the second round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, gave his former Leicester team-mate a warm embrace at the final whistle.

He said: “This is a big period for Tommy.

“I have to say I thought we more than matched a side who came down from League One last year. But I wish him well and really hope he gets the results.”

Chesterfield travel to Doncaster, Sheffield United are at Notts County and Bradford head to Hartlepool in their JP Trophy northern section ties.

Saturday’s game was preceded by an impeccably observed minute’s silence in memory of former York striker David Longhurst, who collapsed and died while playing for York against Lincoln City exactly 22 years to the day.

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