York back in play-off picture after tight win

YORK City jumped back into the Blue Square Premier play-off places after a nervy win at bottom-of-the-table Bath.

The Minstermen secured maximum points at Twerton Park thanks to midfielder Paddy McLaughlin’s 11th goal of the season in the 50th minute.

A poor first half saw Matty Blair try his luck with two long-range efforts early on that failed to seriously test home goalkeeper Glyn Garner.

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For Bath, meanwhile, Scott Murray fired over from 15 yards and Jamie Cook headed wide from Adam Connolly’s cross.

Lanre Oyebanjo’s weak edge-of-the-box effort was then comfortably saved by Garner and Chris Smith also headed over.

The last chance of the opening period saw Bath’s Joe Burnell put his header wide from Murray’s corner.

McLaughlin, though, broke the deadlock five minutes into the second period.

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The Northern Ireland Under-21 international fired into the bottom left-hand corner of Garner’s net from 15 yards after Jamie Reed’s through ball.

Reed then went on to force two saves from Garner and Jon Challinor shot over from eight yards.

But one goal proved sufficient after Oyebanjo cleared a late chance for Marley Watkins off the goalline.

Gary Mills’s side are now three points behind fourth-placed Southport, who drew 0-0 at Braintree. Second-placed Wrexham closed the gap on leaders Fleetwood to six points with a 4-2 win at Darlington.

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Bath City: Garner, Simpson, Preece, Burnell, Gallinagh (Watkins, 55), Murray (Hogg, 75), Connolly, Canham, Stonehouse, Russell (Egan, 88), Cook, Stonehouse. Unused substitutes: Rollo, Smith.

York City: Ingham, Challinor, Smith, Doig, Meredith, Oyebanjo, Brown (Parslow, 78), McLaughlin, Blair, Reed (Blinkhorn, 90), Chambers (Moke, 84). Unused substitutes: Parslow, Bopp, Tonne.

Referee: M Bull (Chelmsford).

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