RUSSELL PENN’S 35-yard blockbuster secured York City’s Football League status in sensational style at Bootham Crescent.

The City skipper scored only his second goal of the season with an absolute howitzer to guide his team to a 2-1 victory over Morecambe.

Penn struck on 51 minutes after Stephane Zubar’s first-half header had cancelled out Paul Mullin’s early goal for the visitors, who went into the game still harbouring hopes of making the play-offs.

City made one change to their starting line-up with Dave Winfield’s appeal against his suspension for Saturday’s red card against Hartlepool rejected.

On-loan Coventry striker Shaun Miller consequently made his first start for the Minstermen in attack as Shaq Coulthirst was switched to an unfamiliar wing-back role with Zubar restored to defence.

The hosts made a sloppy start to the match regularly giving away possession and, after Michael Ingham had made a routine save from Padraig Amond’s early header, Penn’s stray pass led to the visitors forging in front on ten minutes.

City’s captain lost the ball just inside the Shrimps half and Amond hared down the left flank before picking Aaron Wildig out 15 yards from goal.

His low shot was then turned past Ingham from six yards by an alert Mullin.

Wildig also went on to drive over Ingham’s bar from the edge of the box before the Minstermen managed their first goal attempt on 20 minutes when Miller dragged wide from 25 yards.

Top scorer Jake Hyde’s low drive from a similar distance also missed the target while Laurence Wilson’s long-range strike was deflected wide at the other end.

The home side drew level, however, on 34 minutes when Luke Summerfield floated a left-wing corner to the far post and Zubar headed in from a yard.

Jamie Devitt, meanwhile, fired a wild attempt against the roof of the David Longhurst Stand with the last opportunity of the half.

City, though, made a great start to the second period with Hyde narrowly missing Morecambe keeper Danny Ward’s top left-hand corner with a curling 20-yard effort.

Hyde also saw a header cleared off the line by Shrimps sub Kevin Ellison before Penn’s thunderbolt gave his team the lead.

Taking aim from fully 35 yards out, Penn rifled a powerful shot into a helpless Ward’s top left-hand corner.

Hyde went on to have two more chances – curling one wide and calling Ward into a near-post 20-yard save from the other.

With City firmly in control, Michael Coulson also shot over from the edge of the 18-yard area.

Morecambe’s first shot of the half saw Wildig slice over from 20 yards on 68 minutes.

Amond also flicked a header wide following Devitt’s ball into the box and Ingham was alert to smother at Ellison’s feet during a rare counter-attack as City safeguarded victory in professional fashion.

Match facts

York City
Michael Ingham - 7
Keith Lowe - 8
John McCombe - 8
Stephane Zubar - 8
Brad Halliday - 8
Russell Penn -9
Luke Summerfield -7
Michael Coulson - 7
Shaun Miller - 7
Jake Hyde - 8
Shaq Coulthirst - 8

Subs: Femi Ilesanmi (for Miller 73), Tom Platt (for Summerfield 77), Lewis Montrose (for Coulson 90). Subs not used: Marvin McCoy, Jason Mooney.

Morecambe: Danny Ward, Shaun Beeley, Ryan Edwards (Kevin Ellison 42), Mark Hughes, Andy Parrish, Laurence Wilson, Alex Kenyon, Aaron Wildig, Jamie Devitt, Paul Mullin (Jack Redshaw 46), Padraig Amond.
Subs not used: Andrew Wright, Stewart Drummond, Aaron McGowan, Andreas Arestidou, Nathan Bondswell.

Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland); rating: eight out of ten.

Booked: Hughes 84.

Sent-off: None.

Attendance: 2,854 (114 from Morecambe).

Shots on target: City 5 Morecambe 3.

Shots off target: City 7 Morecambe 6.

Corners: City 6, Morecambe 4.

Fouls conceded: City 9, Morecambe 7.

Offsides: City 0, Morecambe 0.