JON Parkin bagged a brace and Aidan Connolly was also on target as York City won 3-2 at Alfreton Town.

The home side twice levelled through Cieron Keane and Brendon Daniels in a pulsating contest and City debutant Adam Bartlett also saved a Bradley Wood penalty as Alfreton searched for a third equaliser after former Bootham Crescent midfielder Tom Platt had been sent off.

Platt, playing in a back three for the hosts, had earlier managed the first shot of the afternoon, narrowly driving wide from 25 yards.

At the other end, meanwhile, Gary Martin’s near-post effort lacked the power to trouble Alfreton keeper after Adriano Moke had released Sean Newton down the left.

Keane also drove over from distance, before Martin headed wastefully wide from three yards following Parkin’s hooked cross.

But City did forge ahead on 13 minutes when Moke made another positive midfield burst and sent Alex Whittle sprinting down the left.

Whittle’s low centre then picked out Connolly, who scooped a shot in off Elliott’s left-hand upright from 12 yards.

Shortly afterwards, Parkin flashed an edge-of-the-box, half-volley wide and he went on to win a header in the box create a chance for Newton that was pushed away at a good height for Elliott.

A side-footed half-volley from Moke, close to the penalty spot, was also headed off the line by Craig Disley, before the home side levelled on 33 minutes.

Brody Robertson charged to the byline through the right channel and put in a low ball across the face of the visitors’ goal, teeing up an unmarked Keane, who beat Bartlett from ten yards following a deflection off Josh Law.

The Derbyshire outfit then finished the half strongest with Billy Priestley missing the target twice with two headers.

Alfreton carried that momentum in the second period and City Foundation coach Tom Allan might have won the home side a penalty had he gone down under a challenge by Bartlett in front of the away end.

Platt also fired over after Ryan Jenniugs had hit the outside of Bartlett’s near post from a left-wing corner.

Moments later, Allan headed over from a Daniels flag kick, but City forged back in front against the run of play on 52 minutes when Connolly sent in a cross from close to the left touchline and a sliding Parkin prodded the ball past Elliott from five yards.

But, after Bencherif had headed over from Whittle’s centre, Alfreton were level again on 56 minutes.

Daniel Rowe conceded a free kick 35 yards from goal following a foul on Daniels, who dusted himself down to fire in off Bartlett’s bar.

City responded with Parkin lifting a great opportunity over from 15 yards after Moke’s burst through the left channel and the veteran marksman also saw another effort deflected wide.

Parkin made no mistake on 70 minutes, though, after Platt conceded a penalty and received his second yellow card for hauling down Martin, who was chasing down Bartlett’s long punt into the home box.

The former Championship campaigner beat Elliott low to his left.

Alfreton’s ten men were then awarded a spot kick of their own five minutes later when Newton was adjudged to have handled a left-wing corner, but Bartlett dived to his right to deny Wood from 12 yards.

The game continued to swing from end to end, with Newton blasting just over from the edge of the penalty area and Daniels calling Bartlett into action for a final time from 25 yards in stoppage time.