York City 2 Morecambe 1: Winfield and Berrett deliver relief for York

Goals from Dave Winfield and James Berrett lifted the Minstermen off the foot of the Football League and out of the relegation zone, even if Jamie Devitt’s 54th-minute reply prompted an anxious finale.

The win also meant Jackie McNarama’s men did not extend their club record-breaking losing streak to a 10th fixture.

A pleased McNamara, who had overseen seven of those defeats since taking the managerial reins last month, said: “It’s a great relief to get a win for the players, management and fans, who helped give us some energy to see us through when Morecambe threw players forward.”

Earlier, York had survived a first-half scare when Danny Galbraith’s stray pass sent Aaron Wildig clear but, after rounding Scott Flinders, his shot was cleared off the line by Winfield.

The home defender then made his presence felt at the other end, heading in at the far post from Berrett’s cross on 38 minutes.

Berrett doubled the advantage seven minutes into the second period when he shot into Barry Roche’s bottom-left corner after Russell Penn’s powerful surge.

Just moments later, though, Devitt sidefooted in from eight yards and stoppage time saw a deflected Wildig effort spin narrowly wide and sub Anton Forrester somehow miss the target from two yards before the Minstermen’s long-suffering fans were able to celebrate.

York: Flinders; O’Connor (Nolan, 65), Winfield, Boyle, Ilesanmi; Penn, Summerfield, Berrett; Galbraith (McEvoy, 77), Oliver, Fewster (Carson, 90). Unused substitutes: Straker, Swan, Ingham, Kitching.

Morecambe: Roche; Beeley, Dugdale, Edwards, McGowan; Kenyon (Ellison, 69), Murphy, Wildig; Devitt, Miller (Forrester, 69), Molyneux (Mullin, 75). Unused substitutes: Goodall, Wilson, Thompson, Parrish.

Referee: C Boyeson (East Yorkshire).

Man of the match: James Berrett.