UNWANTED by York City, Reece Thompson is back among the goals.

The former Frickley Athletic striker was released by Jackie McNamara in September and was immediately snapped up by National League rivals North Ferriby United.

His club are the lowest scorers in the league but he has netted four of their 13 goals including a trio of match-winning strikes.

Now 23, his time at Bootham Crescent was not a particularly happy one.

He arrived on trial from Frickley and was awarded a two year deal by former manager Russ Wilcox after scoring in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United.

Three goals in his first seven appearances offered hope of a bright future but he was subsequently sidelined with a 'long-term illness' for four months and the club suffered relegation from the Football League.

His only first team appearance this season came as a substitute against Woking in August but, at North Ferriby, he is a regular starter.

Speaking to the Press ahead of this week's 'double header' between the clubs, Thompson insisted there was no bitterness surrounding his departure from Bootham Crescent.

"Things happen in life and unfortunately things happened for me at the wrong time," he said. "But I had come back for pre-season with my head right and focused on football.

"As a footballer you want to play week-in, week-out but the manager made it clear to me that I would not be in his starting eleven. He said if I could find another club, he would not stand in my way.

"I did not want to leave because York City is a great club - but the manager and the chairman dealt with me in a very fair way which I appreciated."

Thompson admits that he is 'shocked' by York's struggles this season but feels they will soon pull away from the relegation zone.

"York is a big club and it should be in the Football League not bottom of the National League," he said. "But a new manager has come in now and I think they will start picking up points. They are too good to be down there all season."

Asked whether he might celebrate should he score against his former club in the next two games, however, Thompson laughed.

"I have not thought about that! Obviously I would love to score because my priority is keeping Ferriby in the National League - but I would probably not celebrate out of respect for the York fans.

"Mind you," he added. "If I got a winner in the 94th minute it might be a different story."