FIRED-UP boss Gary Mills is determined to deliver York City supporters from the “hell” of recent times.

The Minstermen chief celebrated vociferously with fans in front of the David Longhurst Stand after Sean Newton’s 94th-minute winner secured a 2-1 victory over promotion-hopefuls Barrow.

Three points were still not enough to lift the club off the foot of the National League, but the gap to a position outside the drop zone has been reduced to four, as Mills looks to fend off the threat of back-to-back relegations.

Newton’s late strike came after Amari Morgan-Smith’s 21st-minute opener had been cancelled out by Jordan Williams’ second-half reply and, explaining his reaction at the final whistle, Mills said: “The fans have been through hell – not just this season, but before as well.

“They have stuck with the football club through all of that, so I was pleased for them after this win. I’ve always had an affinity with them and, whereas before I wanted to be the man to take the club up, I now want to be the man who keeps the club up.

“I’m an emotional man and, sometimes, show my feelings too much. My wife always tells me to calm down, but I can’t help it.

“It’s this game of football and how much it means. We’re still bottom, but we’ve got closer to another four clubs and there are probably now eight in the battle to stay out of the bottom four.

“I’m pleased with back-to-back wins and we’ve won four, drawn two and lost one of our last seven, so we’re starting to build momentum, belief and consistency which, in the end, results in winning games of football and has to deliver us to safety.”

Newton’s goal was his first in City colours and third of the season – including one for Wrexham against his current club – leading Mills to suggest that the former England C international should find the net on a more regular basis.

“Newts should get more goals with that left foot,” the City manager reasoned. “He loves scoring, but doesn’t score enough.

“We work hard with him in training and he strikes a lot in the back of the net, so I’m pleased for him, because I think he’s been immense since he came to the club. He’s played in numerous positions and plays well and gives you everything in all of them.”

Mills went on to praise 77th-minute sub Vadaine Oliver, meanwhile, for the part he played in victory after being handed his first Minstermen outing since returning from a half-season loan at Notts County.

“I thought we deserved the win,” Mills added. “We showed we were up for the fight against a tough team to play against and it was so nice to score a last-minute goal, rather than concede one.

“We were unbelievable in the first half. We won a lot of second balls and two or three more chances could have also gone in.

“Then Kyle (Letheren) messed up with their goal and that got them back into it when he hadn’t had a shot to save but, when the ball went out, Vadaine chased after it and, off his own back, took a long throw that I didn’t know he had in him and we got the winner from it.

“We threw another striker on and it worked for us, because Vadaine also nearly got a goal with his header when the keeper made a good save. He gave us something when he came on and I was really pleased with him.”

The Bootham Crescent chief also felt that Morgan-Smith’s second goal for the club in as many games was the minimum reward he deserved for a committed performance.

Striking partner Jon Parkin teed up the opportunity with Mills feeling Morgan-Smith can carry on scoring with the ex-Championship forward a perfect foil for him.

“Amari deserved his goal and probably deserved another for all his immense work and quality,” Mills pointed out. “He never stopped and was a pest for their defenders.

“He’s got two goals in two games and that’s what you’re hoping for from a striker when you bring them in. He knew he would be in for a fight coming to a team at the bottom of the table, but that’s what he wanted and that’s something special.

“Anybody who plays up front with Jon and wants to score goals will score goals, because he’s clever and people can thrive on that. I’m sure Amari thoroughly enjoyed playing alongside him.”

Adriano Moke dropped out of the starting line up with Newton moving back into midfield and, on that switch, Mills pointed out: “We won a lot of second balls on the deck and in the air and I thought the three I started with were the right three, certainly for this game.”