YORK City boss Gary Mills was left cursing the late finishing of strikers Jon Parkin and Michael Rankine as National League North strugglers Gainsborough escaped with a point from Bootham Crescent.

Jonathan Wafula gave Gainsborough the lead midway through the second period, but Josh Law levelled with his first goal in Minstermen colours, only for Parkin and Rankine both to squander excellent opportunities to secure a third successive win at the death.

Former Stoke and Hull striker Parkin volleyed straight at away keeper Henrich Ravas from seven yards out, while Rankine headed wide from a similar distance, with Mills admitting: “It was a frustrating night and, if you don’t take your chances, you don’t win football matches.

“The way they set up it wasn’t a nice spectacle. They got everybody behind the ball and getting just one booking for all the time-wasting that was going on was ridiculous.

“We had a game-plan to play, but had to change that and go more direct to Jon and get people around him. That was working, but then Jon gave the ball away near the halfway line and their lad put in a great cross, which got them the goal they wanted.

“But we bounced back with an equaliser and, then, you won’t get two better chances to win a game and we didn’t take them. I’d love to have chances like that again on Saturday because I know, with the players we’ve got, we’ll stick them away in the next game.”

Despite a smattering of boos from disgruntled sections of the home crowd at the final whistle, City chief Mills was in no mood to criticise his team, adding: “The players have given everything in the last three games and responded from two defeats with seven points from a possible nine, so I’ve told them well done and to smile.

“If we carry on picking that number of points every three games, we’ll have a good chance of getting where we want to be.”

City’s attentions now switch to the FA Cup and a trip to National League North favourites Salford on Saturday in the second qualifying round.

But, despite needing to navigate five ties before getting to the necessary stage, Mills has set his players the target of trying to land a plum draw against a Premier League club in the tournament.

“Our aim in the FA Cup is to get to the third round proper and land a lovely draw for the football club,” the City manager declared.