YORK City goalkeeper Michael Ingham reckons he may get thrown upfield more often after almost helping his side snatch a late equaliser during Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Exeter.

After twice being told to stay between the sticks by manager Gary Mills at the weekend, Ingham got his head to a stoppage-time corner, which almost saw skipper Chris Smith convert at the far post.

Ingham insists the prime reason for his forays into the opposition penalty box is to unsettle the opposition for the benefit of his team-mates but, 385 games into his career, he also confessed he would not mind a goal next to his name before he hangs up his gloves.

The 32-year-old Irishman said: “I’ve gone up for three corners this season and I think I’ve got on the end of all three. I always go up and try to get the lads running in behind me because, for some reason, defenders never want a goalkeeper to score.

“They are always attracted to me and I try to cause a bit of havoc to get the other team’s defenders away from our lads, but the ball seems to be like a magnet to me this season. The manager stopped me going up a few times (against Exeter) but said ‘Go on then’ for the last corner.

“I got a flick to it but, unfortunately, Smudge just could not reach the ball to tap it in.

“Hopefully though, by the end of my career, I will get on the end of one and score.”

At the other end of the pitch, however, Ingham was unhappy with the two goals the team conceded at the weekend.

Alex Rodman beat him with a spectacular own goal for the first and mistakes by Scott Kerr and Jamal Fyfield contributed to the second that squirmed in under the former Northern Ireland international’s body.

The City shot-stopper admitted: “We were probably responsible for our own downfall because of the two goals we gave away.

“The first one was a great finish and possibly the best own goal I have ever conceded.

“For the second, we were just a wee bit sloppy, gave the ball away too easily and allowed their lad to get the cross in to somebody who was unmarked at the far post.

“Otherwise, I thought we played well but it’s probably been the story of our season that we haven’t got the points that our performances have deserved.”