YORK City were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw against relegation rivals Maidstone after missing a clutch of first-half chances.

Jon Parkin gave the Minstermen an early lead at Bootham Crescent but the hosts could not take advantage of their dominance during the opening period and the half-time introduction of Alex Flisher for the visitors changed the complexion of the match as Reece Prestedge levelled within two minutes of the restart.

For the second successive weekend, City opened the scoring in the third minute as Parkin finished off a fine passing move.

The 35-year-old veteran, recalled to the starting line-up after suspension, slid in at the near post to net from four yards after Amari Morgan-Smith had sent Sean Newton tearing down the left wing.

City survived a scare seconds later, though, when Jack Paxman released Joe Pigott through the left channel and, after his shot was parried by Kyle Letheren, Stuart Lewis headed over an inviting net.

But the rest of the half was one-way traffic without that dominace being reflected on the scoresheet.

Skipper Simon Heslop had two decent edge-of-the-box attempts in quick succession – the first flashing just over and the second calling keeper Lee Worgan into action.

An unchallenged Parkin also volleyed wide at the far post from Alex Whittle’s left-wing cross before he left a Heslop centre for Morgan-Smith, who wastefully curled off target from ten yards.

Parkin went on to thunder a Marco Van Basten-like volley against the frame of Worgan’s goal and Simon Lappin sent a rising 25-yard strike down the throat of the busy away keeper before the break.

But, after an early second-half Oliver shot was kept out at his near post by Worgan, following a strong run down the right by Heslop, Maidstone broke up the other end to level the scores on 47 minutes with Prestedge drilling a well-struck low shot to an unsighted and immobile Letheren’s left from 25 yards.

At the other end, Lappin curled wide from a free kick, but City were dealt another blow when the former Norwich midfielder limped out of the action on 55 minutes after landing awkwardly in the home box, meaning Lanre Oyebanjo was introduced for his first outing since October. The Minstermen were caught napping on 70 minutes when Flisher’s long throw was allowed to bounce in their six-yard box and Kevin Lokko’s far-post header was pushed behind by Letheren.

Lokko then headed over from the resulting corner.

For City, Heslop saw an edge-of-the-box effort deflected wide off Tom Mills, while Parkin’s 25-yard shot was too weak to trouble Worgan.

On 83 minutes, Oliver blasted wildly wide of Worgan’s near post from ten yards and the Stones keeper also charged out of his goal to smother at the City striker’s feet.

Away sub Bobby-Joe Taylor went on to fire into the sidenetting at the end of a positive run and City survived a flurry of late corners before the final whistle.