York City 0 Cheltenham 0: Worthington content to have points on the board over York rivals

Not since Mark Sertori scored the only goal in April 2000 have the Minstermen defeated the Gloucestershire side.

That 14-year run would have ended, however, had it not been for a fine goalkeeping display by the visitors’ Scott Brown.

Recalled winger Michael Coulson and John McCombe were both denied by an impressive double save by Brown in the first half.

After the break, the alert Brown pushed Josh Carson’s powerful free-kick over his crossbar.

York’s top scorer Wes Fletcher also squandered two good chances for the Minstermen, who have now failed to net in four of the last five outings.

The visitors’ best opportunities fell to captain Steve Elliott and midfielder Jermaine McGlashan.

Elliott headed wide after on-loan York goalkeeper Nick Pope had misjudged the flight of Matt Richards’s free kick in the gale-force conditions and McGlashan drove across the face of goal from 12 yards midway through the second period.

The 14th-placed Minstermen moved seven points clear of the drop zone, but could still be overtaken by seven teams below them in the League Two standings should those teams all win their games in hand.

But that does not unduly concern York manager Nigel Worthington, who said: “I would rather have the points on the board than games in hand because, if you are playing catch-up every Tuesday and Saturday, it can catch up with you.”

York City: Pope; Oyebanjo, Lowe, McCombe, Davies; Carson (Hayhurst, 72), Penn, Reed, Coulson; Bowman, Fletcher. Unused substitutes: Montrose, Platt, Allan, Ingham, Dickinson, Puri.

Cheltenham: S Brown; Ihiekwe, T Brown, Elliott, Braham-Barrett; Taylor, Lucas (Gornell, 63), McGlashan, Richards; Harrison (Kotwica, 83), Cureton (Deering, 63). Unused substitutes: Roberts, Hanks, Jombati, Brundle.

Referee: D Handley (Bolton).

York man of the match: Lanre Oyebanjo.