MANAGER Jackie McNamara hailed York City’s super-subs after watching his team snatch a 1-1 draw at Carlisle.

The Minstermen fell behind to an early Jason Kennedy strike but Luke Summerfield levelled on 88 minutes after second-half replacement Danny Galbraith hit the post with a spectacular effort.

Kenny McEvoy and Bradley Fewster also impressed McNamara following their introductions just past the hour mark with the City boss saying: “Our subs made a real difference and had a big impact.

“We managed to get in behind them for the first time and, if it had gone on a bit longer, we might have got three points. Kenny and Brad brought us a bit of pace and Danny did really well setting up Vadaine for a good chance before hitting the post for our goal.”

McNamara also suggested that Summerfield’s equaliser was the reward for City’s nearly-man Galbraith.

“Danny did well although, as I’ve told him, he’s been a little unlucky because he’s the nearly man at the moment,” the City chief explained. “He nearly scored for Luke’s goal and nearly scored twice at Yeovil, but his attitude is fantastic and he will have a big part to play for us during the rest of the season.”

The result earned City their first point of 2016 and McNamara declared himself pleased with a share of the spoils, reasoning: “I was delighted with a draw the way the game went.

“They had a couple of chances to go 2-0 up and, fortunately, that didn’t happen. They might have got tired after their game in midweek and it got a bit stretched but Luke’s goal was a good finish with his left foot.

“He kept his composure well to put it across goal and I felt, if the game had gone on longer, we might have taken all three points.”

The City manager went on to challenge nine-goal, top-scorer Vadaine Oliver, who has failed to net in his last five outings, to demonstrate that he has the heart for a relegation dogfight.

“Ball retention was the difference between the two teams in the first half,” McNamara pointed out. “Everything stuck to their centre forward, but it was coming back off ours and that led to their first goal.

“Their front two caused us a lot of problems. Vadaine got angry after something happened near the touchline late on and he started running about with determination but we need to see that fight from him from the first whistle because, when he does that, he’s a massive player for us.

“You can’t feel sorry for yourself. You’ve got to give people tough games.

“It was a difficult afternoon for our centre-halves and should have been for theirs.”

Skipper Russell Penn, meanwhile, was substituted just past the hour mark after surviving loud home appeals for a second yellow card following a late challenge in the middle of the park.

But McNamara insisted referee Andy Haines was right not to give Penn his marching orders, claiming: “I don’t think it was a second yellow.

“The referee felt it was just a foul and I agree that it shouldn’t have been anything more.”

Matty Dixon, meanwhile, made his full professional debut and McNamara was happy with the 21-year-old midfielder’s performance, along with that of fellow youngsters Luke Hendrie and Kyle Cameron.

“I thought Matty Dixon was excellent for his debut and passed the ball well on a difficult afternoon,” the City boss added. “Kyle Cameron came through it well and I felt Luke Hendrie did exceptionally well for us. He was assured and handled certain incidents really well.”

McNamara started the afternoon by employing a midfield diamond with Summerfield at its apex and Penn filling an inside-right role but, having changed system following the substitutions, the Minstermen chief admitted: “It wasn’t as effective as I’d have liked.”