York City 2 Gateshead 1: Home run continues for impressive York

The home side, who brought in Michael Rankine and Peter Till in place of Jamie Reed and Will Hatfield compared with a side which won at Hayes & Yeading, began strongly but Rankine mis-kicked from Leon Constantine’s pass in front of goal.

Even so, York were ahead after eight minutes when William Darville’s free-kick saw Till put a short pass across goal for Jonathan Smith to score at close range.

Rankine shot over the bar from Constantine’s centre before Danny Parslow got in a vital tackle to thwart a Gateshead raid.

Gateshead, who had won seven successive matches, had plenty of possession in midfield but seldom troubled Michael Ingham in the York goal.

Ingham made a fine save to deny Adam Rundle in the 50th minute but from the resulting corner Gateshead snatched a deserved equaliser when James Curtis headed in Rundle’s cross.

The home side went ahead again in the 62nd minute, however, Kris Gate bringing down Jonathan Smith and Constantine scoring from the penalty spot.

Gate received a yellow card for a challenge and four minutes later was sent off for a foul on Jonathan Smith.

York missed two good chances to increase the margin of victory just before the end.

York City: Ingham; Darville, Parslow, C Smith, Meredith: Chambers (Reed 86), J Smith, Kerr (Boucaud 70): Till; Rankine (Carruthers 56), Constantine. Unused substitutes: Barrett, Hatfield.

Gateshead: Deasy; Tavernier, Clark, Curtis, Liddle: Rundle, Turnbull, Gate: Nelthorpe (Wake 79), Fisher (Winn 70), Shaw. Unused substitutes: Baxter, Farman, Gillies.

Referee: J Simpson (Lancaster).