Matt Tubbs stoppage-time penalty sees ten-man York City go down to cruel 2-1 defeat at Forest Green

The 32-year-old forward scored for a fifth different club against the Minstermen, who had earlier taken a first-half lead through Richard Brodie.

Mark Cooper’s side hit back just before the break and the visitors suffered another blow when skipper Simon Heslop was shown a dubious 73rd-minute red card for two bookable offences.

Further agony then followed when Daniel Nti was adjudged to have given away a spot kick by controversial referee Steve Rushton that Tubbs converted.

City bossed the opening exchanges with former Forest Green midfielder Yan Klukowski missing an excellent eighth-minute chance to net, shooting wide from close in after Shaun Rooney had headed down Aidan Connolly’s right-wing corner to the far post.

A rapid counter attack, started by Jack Higgins’ interception from a corner, then saw a charging Alex Whittle release Connolly down the left and his cross was headed wide by Jake Wright.

Brodie went on to give the Minstermen a deserved 20th-minute lead when he took one touch to control Connolly’s left-wing cross and swivelled before smashing an eight-yard volley into the roof of the away net.

The City striker also saw a confident 20-yard shot on the turn pushed around his right-hand post by Sam Russell, while Klukowski drove through the left channel before shooting wide.

Forest Green’s frustrated fans had to wait until the 34th minute for their first goal attempt of the game with Aarran Racine’s downward header bouncing over the bar from Mohamed Chemlal’s corner.

But Rovers drew level after their next attack when Rooney failed to prevent Ben Jefford putting the ball into City’s box from the left and Alex Whittle appeared to get the final touch on his cross, although the goal was credited to Rhys Murphy.

The 40th-minute equaliser sparked a dramatic improvement in the hosts’ play with Keanu Marsh-Brown blazing over from eight yards.

Tubbs also lifted another opportunity too high from a similar distance and forced debutant Luke Simpson into a near-post save.

The former Watford reserve subsequently pulled off a superb stop to push away Murphy’s header from the resulting Chemlal corner in a frantic finish to the first half.

After the break, Tubbs’ ten-yard shot lacked the necessary power to trouble Simpson and Liam Noble drove over from 20 yards.

Matt Dixon, meanwhile, saw a decent, curling edge-of-the-box attempt pushed behind by Russell but, at the other end, Drissa Traore displayed nimble footwork to tip-toe past Rooney on the byline before blasting a deflected shot into the sidenetting.

The Minstermen suffered a significant blow moments later when Heslop received a second yellow card after tussling for possession with Chemlal on the right touchline.

It was a harsh decision by referee Steve Rushton with neither of Heslop’s offences representing dangerous play or in particularly threatening positions.

Tubbs went on to see a ten-yard shot deflected over by Higgins and shot narrowly wide on 82 minutes before City sub Nti headed off target from Dixon’s right-wing free kick.

A brilliant Russell save then denied Klukowski, following Dixon’s low right-wing cross, before Nti was adjudged to have tugged Racine and Tubbs showed immaculate composure to beat Simpson with a deftly-lofted, Zidane-style spot kick.