JAMES Gray ended a 22-game goal drought by grabbing a dramatic 90th-minute winner in York City’s 3-2 triumph over Southport.

The former Torquay striker was making his first City appearance since January after being farmed out on loan to Tamworth and only got his chance as a substitute because of injuries to fellow forwards Jon Parkin, Alex Kemspter and Louis Almond.

But he turned in a late Aidan Connolly cross to score his first City goal after the home team had thrown away a 2-0 lead.

Kempster, leading the line at the start of the game in the absence of the injured Parkin, opened the scoring early on and Connolly’s sixth goal of the season on the stroke of half-time doubled the advantage.

But City did not manage another single shot until Gray’s late winner with Jason Gilchrist and Elliot Osborne replying before the thrilling finale.

Kemspter had a great chance to open the scoring in the fifth minute but, after taking down Josh Law’s long ball into the penalty box, his shot trickled wide having beaten former City keeper Jon Worsnop.

But, four minutes later, the former Whitley Bay striker netted for the second time in Minstermen colours, with his six-yard downward header squeezing in between Worsnop’s legs after Connolly’s cross from the right.

Southport’s first threat of the night came on 19 minutes when Dion Charles wriggled past Law and Alex Pattison too easily on the edge of the box before drilling just wide from 15 yards.

Charles also teed up the visitors’ next two chances as Ross Hannah headed wide at the near post from his corner and Clive Smith rose highest at the far stick to nod inches wide from a left-wing delivery.

In between, Kempster had hobbled out of the action for the hosts following a strong challenge by Steve Howson close to the halfway line.

After Connolly saw a speculative long-range attempt bounce wide, he then extended the lead during the first minute of added-on time before the interval.

Following a patient passing move, persistent play by Almond saw him reach the right byline before firing in a low centre that was steered into the roof of the net by Connolly.

Five minutes after the restart, National League North’s leading marksman Gilchrist volleyed over from four yards with the goal at his mercy after Jordan Richards’ right-wing cross sailed over Jonny Burn’s head.

City then lost their second attacker of the night to injury when Almond pulled up chasing a ball down the right touchline, leading to Gray being hailed off the bench.

Midway through the half, Sandgrounders skipper David Lynch shot over after charging to the edge of the home 18-yard area.

There was then more concern for Martin Gray’s men when Pattison limped out of the action on 70 minutes.

Hannah went on to glance an Osborne cross well wide for the visitors and Gilchrist’s radar was again wayward with a half-hearted 25-yard strike.

After Ferguson took a wild kick at a clearance and made contact with Richards, Gilchrist also saw his subsequent 78th-minute penalty saved low to his left by Bartlett, only for the former Burnley reserve to follow up and reduce the deficit.

On 87 minutes, Osborne was then given the freedom 25 yards from the home goal to turn and hit a decent strike into Bartlett’s bottom-left corner.

Chins could have easily fallen to the floor, but the home team summoned one last effort and Gray turned in Connolly’s firm and low delivery from the left.