Former Barrow boy Sean Newton delivers the goods for York City

Newton, who spent a month on loan with the Cumbrians in 2009, wheeled away in delight after scoring a thrilling 94th-minute winner for York City in front of an ecstatic David Longhurst Stand.

The victory, following on from a 2-1 FA Trophy triumph at Harlow, also secured City’s first back-to-back wins in 11 months against a Barrow side who started the afternoon with fewer National League defeats than any other side in the division.

Maximum points, meanwhile, gave more credence to manager Gary Mills’ claim that his team can now beat any side in non-League football’s highest echelon.

Such a statement might appear outlandish to observers from afar, given that City remain bottom of the table, but this performance, allied with the 2-2 draw at another promotion-contender Dover and even the unlucky narrow 1-0 defeat to third-placed Tranmere last month, suggest that Mills’ assessment is justified.

Paul Cox’s teams will always provide an aerial test, but the hosts stood tall to counter that threat.

Well-organised and combative, Mills’ men always looked capable too of causing the visitors’ defence problems with Jon Parkin’s powerful grace – an oxymoron that applies to few other forwards in the game – proving the perfect complement to Amari Morgan-Smith’s desire to chase every ball.

Morgan-Smith was rewarded for such endeavour with his second goal in as many outings for the Minstermen on 21 minutes.

A rare Kyle Letheren mistake then saw Jordan Williams level in the second half but, highlighting a resilience that now characterises Mills’ squad, Parkin rattled the frame of the goal and sub Vadaine Oliver forced a fine late save from Jonathan Flatt before Newton drove home in the penultimate minute of added-on time. City signalled their intent from the first minute when Alex Whittle raided down the left and sent in a cross that saw Flatt save from Parkin at the far post.

Shaun Rooney’s edge-of-the-box drive was also gathered by Flatt, while Barrow’s 20-goal top marksman Byron Harrison headed well off target from the visitors’ first chance of the afternoon.

But the Minstermen went ahead courtesy of a goal that might have annoyed, but impressed Cox in equal measure.

Letheren’s big punt down the centre of the pitch was helped on by the head of Parkin and a gambling Morgan-Smith, aided by a favourable bounce on the Bootham Crescent pitch, beat an advancing Flatt to the ball and stabbed it past the on-loan Wolves keeper.

Moments later, Parkin was quick to pounce on a loose ball in the away box, but his shot was deflected off target and the City striker also peeled off to receive a low-struck free kick through the right channel by Simon Lappin – a routine previously witnessed at Dover – only to fire too high after cutting inside on to his left foot.

Barrow mustered an unconvincing response either side of the interval with Richie Bennett’s 15-yard scuffed shot on the turn easily gathered by Letheren, while Harrison drove wide after running on to Paul Turnbull’s through the right channel.

A glancing header from Bennett also failed to extend Letheren, while Parkin’s 25-yard half-volley had Flatt at full stretch at the other end.

But the Bluebirds began to pose questions with Turnbull firing across the face of goal and Williams dragging wide from distance before the latter equalised.

Capitalising on hesitation from Letheren, who seemed to misjudge the pace of a low ball into his penalty box and allowed it to slip from his grasp, Williams swivelled to find an unguarded net from 15 yards.

Parkin went on to thump a ten-yard attempt off the outside of Flatt’s right-hand post after Whittle had reached the byline for City and, after a couple of tame off-target Bennett headers, it was the home side that went for the jugular.

City boss Mills sacrificed Lappin to throw on a third forward in the form of Oliver, whose return on loan from Notts County has hardly been greeted with widespread enthusiasm among the Bootham Crescent faithful, given his poor displays during last term’s relegation dogfight.

But the former Crewe striker would play his part in victory.

First, he was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet in the 89th minute when he rose high to meet Newton’s inswinging free kick from the right only to see Flatt push his downward header around an upright.

Then, Oliver showed urgency to retrieve the ball and catch Barrow’s defence napping with a long throw into the box which, after being contested by a series of City players, broke loose to Newton, who had been left all alone to smash a 15-yard shot past Flatt.

Late winning goals have long been the preserve of City opponents, but Newton’s stoppage-time strike – much like the recent improvement in away results – offered more encouragement that such deep-seated problems can now be consigned to the past.

City

Kyle Letheren; Hamza Bencherif, Yan Klukowski, Dan Parslow; Shaun Rooney (Danny Holmes, 46, Scott Fenwick 90+5), Simon Heslop, Simon Lappin (Vadaine Oliver, 77), Sean Newton, Alex Whittle; Jon Parkin, Amari Morgan-Smith.

Subs not used: Adriano Moke, Johan ter Horst.

Barrow

Jonathan Flatt, Shaun Beeley, Danny Livesey, Moussa Diarra, Nick Anderton, Liam Hughes (Akil Wright, 72), Alex-Ray Harvey, Paul Turnbull, Jordan Williams (Lindon Meikle, 90), Byron Harrison, Richie Bennett. Subs not used: Ross Hannah, Danny Rowe, Myles Anderson.

Barrow star man: Flatt – showed sharp reflexes to deny Parkin and Oliver

Referee: Karl Evans rating: 7/10 – on top of most things

Booked: Diarra 49.

Attendance: 2,430 (231 from Barrow)

Shots on target: City 7, Barrow 3

Shots off target: City 2, Barrow 6

Corners: City 5, Barrow 3

Fouls conceded: City 5, Barrow 16

Offside: City 0, Barrow 3