AS the Ebor Festival reached its conclusion back on Knavesmire, York City were never quite at the races following their trip to Southport.

Nevertheless, the Minstermen demonstrated great staying power to secure a point against their unbeaten hosts, even if they hadn’t performed with some of the galloping fluency evident in previous games this season.

Adriano Moke’s 18th-minute injury proved a hindrance in that respect with substitute defender Jassem Sukar pressed into a makeshift midfield role that he struggled to master, before being replaced himself just past the hour mark.

At the time, City trailed to a Gary Roberts effort, sloppily conceded early in the second half.

But, after home striker Jack Sampson was sent off on 79 minutes for allegedly catching Hamza Bencherif with a stray elbow, City found a new resolve and capitalised on their extra man with skipper Sean Newton providing familiar inspiration with an equaliser shortly afterwards.

By then, attacking talisman Jon Parkin was on the pitch as part of the double substitution that saw Sukar sacrificed and Sam Muggleton also enter the fray.

Back from calf trouble, Parkin demonstrated why he is almost an odd-on favourite to start in tomorrow’s home clash with FC United of Manchester, as he called home keeper Iain Turner into a couple of late saves that might have even won the strong-finishing visitors maximum points.

Earlier, a first-half of few clear-cut chances had seen Southport defend unusually deep for a home side, repeatedly dropping nine outfield players behind the ball when Gary Mills’ men were in possession – a sign of respect for a team that have still only lost one match on the road during 2017.

A stretching Bencherif might have done better on four minutes when Newton’s lofted free kick fell to his feet in the six-yard box, but he could only prod tamely at Turner.

After Roberts’ curling cross had been safely gathered by Jon Worsnop, Michael Rankine also bulldozed himself into a shooting position before driving wide from 20 yards.

Sukar, meanwhile, couldn’t muster sufficient power to extend Turner with a far-post volley after he was picked out by Josh Law’s right-wing cross.

At the other end, Ethan Jones’ firm 25-yard drive was confidently collected by Worsnop, before Louis Almond called Turner into action at his near post after exchanging passes with Alex Whittle.

As the half wore on, Whittle also won the ball on the edge of the home box and teed up Newton for a drive that the Sandgrounders’ keeper pushed over.

It was Roberts, though, who broke the deadlock on 52 minutes after City’s backline was breached in the most rudimentary of fashions.

Curtis Jones’ crude long ball from close to the halfway line saw the Merseysiders’ midfielder ghost into the gap between an unsure Simon Heslop and hesitant Worsnop.

When the ball eventually dropped out of the sky, Roberts then lifted an eight-yard effort over the stranded City keeper.

During a real period of uncertainty in the home box, Ethan Jones went on to drill over a diagonal effort, while a mix-up between Worsnop and Bencherif gifted sub Alex Fletcher a free shot on goal that he wastefully ballooned too high.

In between, a Newton opportunity had sailed into the away end after Rankine’s back heel, but City were making few inroads until a bloodied Bencherif complained about Sampson’s aerial challenge halfway up the pitch and referee Martin Woods responded by reaching for his red card. Just seconds earlier, Sampson had guided a good chance wide, but it proved Southport’s final goal attempt, as Gary Mills’ men went on the offensive.

Newton set the tone by flashing a shot off target from 20 yards, while a deflected Heslop attempt won City the corner that would lead to the leveller.

The flag kick, delivered from the left by Amari Morgan-Smith was retrieved by Newton after it had been cleared towards the opposite touchline.

City’s captain then swung in a 82nd-minute cross that dipped over Turner and dropped inside the far post.

From that moment on, there was only one team who looked capable of winning.

Parkin saw a header caught by Turner, who had to be more alert to repel a shot on the turn by the big striker in stoppage time, while Rankine also rose to meet Newton’s high centre but cleared the crossbar.

A share of the spoils still means that the Minstermen, who have not lost for five matches, can equal their longest sequence of unbeaten league matches since Russ Wilcox guided the club to Football League safety in 2015 if they avoid defeat to FC United of Manchester.

City

Jon Worsnop, Josh Law, Dan Parslow, Hamza Bencherif, Alex Whittle, Simon Heslop, Adriano Moke (Jassem Sukar 18, Sam Muggleton 62), Sean Newton, Louis Almond (Jon Parkin, 62), Michael Rankine, Amari Morgan-Smith.

Subs not used: Aidan Connolly, Kaine Felix.

Southport

Iain Turner, Curtis Jones, Adam Dugdale, Dominic Smith, Brad Jackson, Steven Jennings (Jacques Kpohomouh, 84), Steven Schumacher, Gary Roberts (Alex Fletcher, 72), Andy White, Jack Sampson, Ethan Jones (Yves Zama, 76). Subs not used: Rowan Roache, Chris Sang.

Southport star man: Schumacher – never took two touches when one was better option

Referee: Martin Woods rating: 5/10 – glaring oversights at times

Booked: White 69, Dugdale 90

Sent off: Sampson 79

Attendance: 1,177 (341 from City)

Shots on target: Southport 3, City 7

Shots off target: Southport 3, City 4

Corners: Southport 3, City 4

Fouls conceded: Southport 14, City 12

Offside: Southport 2, City 8