BOOTHAM Crescent might only have witnessed three home wins this season but, having shown plenty of fight to see off Accrington on Boxing Day and loads of heart during a Valentine’s Day victory at Tranmere, York City gave their supporters a cracking Good Friday by defeating relegation rivals Cheltenham.

Dave Winfield’s second-half header, during a 1-0 triumph, proved once more that Russ Wilcox’s men are a team for the occasion and there have been few bigger in 2014/15 than this Easter contest.

Prior to kick-off, the bottom-of-the-table Robins were four points behind their hosts with the fight for Football League survival entering its final month.

During a first half in which Cheltenham created the best two opportunities, the visitors did not look the complete no-hopers a record of just one win from their previous 15 matches might have suggested either.

Under their fourth manager of the season – wily campaigner Gary Johnson – ex-City reserve Shaquille McDonald and on-loan Notts County striker Shaun Harrad should have probably tested recalled City keeper Michael Ingham more seriously before the interval.

But, from the restart, City showed great nerve and desire to assert their authority on proceedings with Michael Coulson hitting a post and Stephane Zubar having an effort disallowed and another chance kicked off the line before Winfield made the crucial breakthrough on 73 minutes.

The rejuvenated centre-back’s contribution at the other end of the pitch should not be overlooked either as he helped Ingham keep the 114th clean sheet of his City career – six short of Happy Wanderers’ legend Tommy Forgan’s all-time record with as many games left to play until the end of the season.

Having been challenged to keep Bobby Olejnik out of the side beyond his current one-match ban, Ingham did his chances no harm by denying McDonald and Harrad.

McDonald broke through the left channel during a threatening, 23rd-minute counter attack from Cheltenham but Ingham smothered his low shot.

The 34-year-old net-minder then scrambled away a downward header from Harrad after the ex-Burton frontman had risen highest to meet Craig Barham-Barrett’s left-wing cross to the far post.

Wes Burns also drove over from 30 yards and headed a Matt Richards centre into Ingham’s arms.

At the other end, City’s goal attempts carried more hope than conviction, summed up by an ambitious attempted lob from the half-way line by Luke Summerfield with a seventh-minute free kick.

Jake Hyde, meanwhile, headed wide from a Brad Halliday punt into the penalty area before trying his luck with a pair of shots from the edge of the box – the second being pushed over his crossbar by a cautious Trevor Carson.

A couple of 20-yard efforts from Summerfield were also lifted too high and Shaq Coulthirst curled wide from a similar distance.

City stepped up their attacking threat after the interval, though, with Coulson’s bending 20-yard free kick striking the outside of a well-beaten Carson’s left-hand upright.

Coulthirst and Summerfield both went on to miss the target with further long-range shots and McDonald rushed on to a ten-yard chance that he half-volleyed over following Ingham’s punch from a Richards corner, before half-time substitute Zubar had the ball in the back of the net but was flagged offside.

Not for the first time this season, City executed an intricate free kick routine that saw Coulson find Summerfield on the edge of the box and he, in turn, took one touch to swing the ball on to Winfield’s head at the far post.

He subsequently headed back across the face of goal for Zubar to shin in but he had mistimed his run by a split second.

Zubar was denied again on 72 minutes when he met Summerfield’s right-wing flag kick to the far post with his head only for Richards, who was guarding the opposite upright, to clear off the line.

When Summerfield floated the next corner into exactly the same spot, however, nobody could prevent a determined Winfield from powering a header into the roof of Carson’s net from four yards.

City went on to see out the game with few scares.

Sub Mathieu Manset did head over a Richards free kick and fellow replacement Danny Haynes drilled into the sidenetting from an unfavourable angle but Coulthirst went closest to adding to the scoreline when his tormenting run led to a low 15-yard drive that Carson kept out with an outstretched left arm.

The Minstermen now travel to Oxford on Monday targeting their first run of three consecutive wins this season.
 

City

Michael Ingham – made two important saves during a tight first half and kicked well throughout 

Keith Lowe – swept up everything he needed to and rarely caught out of position 

Dave Winfield – STAR MAN never missed a header and always favourite to meet Summerfield’s corner first for goal 

John McCombe – given a little discomfort by visitors’ pace down left but stuck to task before withdrawal 

Brad Halliday – locked up his flank defensively and always willing to fly forward with enthusiasm 

Russell Penn – competed with grit and carried ball through left channel several times

Kevin Summerfield – very composed in middle of park and his delivery from corners helped win the match 

Michael Coulson – worked hard in wing-back role, winning tackles and unlucky not to score from free-kick

Tom Platt – pushed right up front with Hyde and Coulthirst and got a good boot in here and there

Josh Coulthirst – had less space to work in than at Mansfield but still worried Cheltenham defence

Jake Hyde – kept out of the penalty box for much of the game but battled with spirit

Subs: Stephane Zubar 8 – strong (for McCombe, 46), Shaun Miller 7 – clever (for Platt, 69), Josh O’Hanlon (for Coulthirst, 90). 

Subs not used: Femi Ilesanmi, Lewis Montrose, Marvin McCoy, Jason Mooney.

Cheltenham: Trevor Carson, Lee Vaughan, Troy Brown, Will Packwood, Craig Barham-Barrett, Jordan Wynter, Pablo Mills (Joe Hanks, 69), Matt Richards, Shaquille McDonald (Danny Haynes, 74), Shaun Harrad (Mathieu Manset, 74), Wes Burns. Subs not used: Matt Taylor, Matt Gould, Jack Deaman, Durrell Berry.

Cheltenham star man: Packwood – read game well at back 

Booked: Mills 53, Zubar 78.

Attendance: 4,151 (250 from Cheltenham).

Referee: Kevin Wright (Peterborough) rating: 6/10 – puzzling at times. 

Shots on target: City 6, Cheltenham 4 

Shots off target: City 7, Cheltenham 3 

Corners: City 5, Cheltenham 6

Fouls conceded: City 11, Cheltenham 14

Offsides: City 1, Cheltenham 3