YORK City boss Gary Mills hailed a “monumental performance” as his team won 3-1 at Macclesfield.

Jon Parkin’s 83rd-minute goal secured victory after home midfielder Danny Whitaker had reduced the deficit with a second-half penalty following early goals from Simon Heslop and Vadaine Oliver.

The result saw the Minstermen reduce the gap to safety to four points, as Torquay, who have played a game more, moved out of the relegation zone following a 1-0 win at Solihull.

A proud Mills enthused: “It was an absolutely magnificent and monumental performance. We played well on Saturday, but didn’t get the rub of the green and to show the character we did in this match after the blow of losing to a late goal at Dagenham shows again we have an incredible bunch of players who will fight to the end.

“Torquay won again, so that made our win even more important and, if we can pick up a win against Braintree on Saturday, that will drag them into it and we’re not far off Guiseley either. Before going to Dagenham and Macclesfield, you’d probably settle for a couple of draws any season, but we’ve ended up a point better off.”

Heslop opened the scoring with a thumping Goal of the Season contender on seven minutes but, having been doubtful for the contest with a tight groin, he was replaced at half-time with Mills adding: “We left it to him whether he was going to play and it was the right thing to do to bring him off at half-time.

“His goal was superb and, hopefully, we can sort him out for Saturday.”

Fellow marksman Oliver also made way midway through the second half due to exhaustion with long-throw specialist Sam Muggleton hailed off the bench to set up Parkin’s late strike.

“Vadaine was throwing up at half-time because he’d worked so hard and nearly didn’t come out for the second half, but we asked him to give us as much as he could, which he did and then it was time to bring our weapon on,” Mills explained.

“That got us the third goal, which is the reason why I brought Sam here. In the situation we’re in, I thought we might be able to use it and what a weapon it is.”