Colin turns the tables

11:03am Saturday 22nd March 2008

BACK-TO-BACK Blue Square Premier victories over play-off contenders Exeter City and Forest Green have reignited York City's own top-five aspirations.

Ahead of this afternoon's away match at Rushden, the Minstermen were still 12 points adrift of fifth-placed club Burton, but a glance at the KitKat Crescent outfit's league record since Colin Walker's first game in charge suggests a successful late surge remains an outside possibility.

Only runaway leaders Aldershot have bettered City's points haul in the period since Walker's 2-1 maiden victory at Weymouth on November 24 going into the Easter holiday programme of fixtures.

Even then, Gary Waddock's champions elect have only managed to collect two more points than City, whose record of just two defeats in that time - against Histon (3-1) and Cambridge (2-0) - is only matched by an Exeter City side conquered 3-2 at KitKat Crescent this month.

Top-five contenders Exeter, Stevenage and Histon are also the only clubs to outscore City during Walker's reign.

The form table marks an impressive turnaround in fortunes following Walker's succession to Billy McEwan with the pattern of any football season normally established by late November.

Only relegation-threatened Northwich can lay claim to a similar improvement in form.

The Vics only won their first match of the season on the day of Walker's managerial debut, but have since gained results more befitting of a mid-table outfit than one heading for Blue Square North.

In contrast, play-off hopefuls Torquay have suffered the most alarming dip in standards, losing a third of their league matches since the end of November and winning less than half.

The Gulls might have denied City a place at Wembley in the FA Trophy semi-finals but, with a league trip to Plainmoor planned for the penultimate weekend of the season, revenge could still prove sweet for Walker's men.

• Club historian Dave Batters will be releasing an updated version of his York City - The Complete Record book, first published in 1990, this autumn.

Names are currently being taken for anybody who wants to appear in the book's Roll of Honour, with application forms available at the club on match days.

All profits from the book will also be donated to the club by publishers Breedon Books.

Parslow on prowl in top player bid

CONSECUTIVE Press man-of-the-match performances have propelled Danny Parslow into the running for March's Player of the Month award.

As our top man in the victories over Torquay and Forest Green, Parslow picked up six points towards the contest.

He also earned the two bonus points on offer against Forest Green after receiving the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website.

That honour belonged to Ben Purkiss against Torquay and he received two more points as our second-highest rated player in that match, with Martyn Woolford (one) recognised for his efforts too.

Strike partners Woolford (two) and Richard Brodie (one) collected the other points in Gloucestershire.

Woolford has now regained the lead in The Press Player of the Year standings from David McGurk.

To be in with a chance of presenting the March Player of the Month award, vote for your man of the match>>

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