ADAM HINSHELWOOD heaped credit onto his players after York City secured a much-needed 1-0 victory over Aldershot Town.

Lenell John-Lewis’ 89th minute winner gifted York some hope after a low week for the football club, which included a 6-1 defeat to Altrincham on Tuesday evening.

Hinshelwood was pleased with his side’s display in front of the supporters, admitting that he was feeling the emotions of the contest, and was delighted with the response of his players after their midweek hammering.

“We know that it can only be the start for us, but only football can do this to you emotionally,” Hinshelwood laughed.

“On Tuesday I was very, very disappointed, you could hear it in my voice and see it on my face, but it was the complete opposite today.

“I thought that the performance was excellent, from start to finish, I’ve got to give full credit to the players.

“You’re always alluding to how I am going to pick them up, but they went and delivered that and I thought that they were superb.

“If they don’t believe they aren’t a good side after playing against an excellent side in Aldershot, we probably deserved to be leading at half-time, then they are never going to believe.

“I am just so grateful that we have managed to get three points today, because after playing that well and not coming away with all three points, it would have been really tough for the players. I’m so grateful for that.”

Hinshelwood also went on to laud the efforts of John-Lewis, who made the desired impact off of the bench to put City ahead with his very first touch.

Hinshelwood admitted: “I’m not even religious but I was praying to absolutely everyone!

“I was hoping we could get across the line when that corner came in, sometimes as a manager you get some luck from your subs and I said to Lenny to go on and be a hero. He’s done that today.

“I’m just so grateful, they’ve got the intelligence to find him at the far post there and Len is an absolutely pure gentlemen.

“He’s a cool character in the dressing room and I couldn’t be more chuffed for him.

“It’s that emotion, only football can do it to you, but the lads were distraught. We had to come in on Wednesday and we had to show them, we’ve had to work hard on the training pitch.

“Paul (Harmston) the sports science coach hasn’t been happy with how much we’ve ran them in the lead up to a game, but we’ve had to do the work.

“As much as it is a good feeling for me, I am just so chuffed for the players.”