ANTHONY Straker’s second-half penalty saw York City edge past Redcar Athletic into the semi-finals of the North Riding Cup.

Ex-Southend winger Straker’s 66th-minute spot kick settled matters after teenage striker Ben Hirst had been tripped by home left-back Lee Blackburn.

But the Wearside League hosts, who play seven levels below City and included Sunday morning parks players in their ranks, almost forced penalties during stoppage time when Kieran Staires had the ball in the net but was denied by an offside flag.

The Minstermen named seven players with first-team appearances under their belt this season as Straker and Hirst were joined on the pitch by Jason Mooney, Dave Winfield, Lindon Meikle, Lewis Montrose and Tom Platt.

All of them completed 90 minutes with Winfield enjoying his first outing since suffering a thigh injury back in September.

Youth-team scholar Ben Godfrey caught the eye, meanwhile, with an energetic and enthusiastic performance on an icy cold evening.

Straker curled an early 20-yard chance off target for City, before Meikle sidefooted wide at the far post following Godfrey’s left-wing cross.

After Meikle had dragged an edge-of-the-box opportunity disappointingly wide, Godfrey was inches away from netting with a well-struck, 25-yard strike.

Winfield was then denied by home keeper Matthew Berry after meeting Straker’s corner and Hirst fired an angled attempt over.

Redcar’s best chance of the half saw Staires volley wide from a flag kick.

After the break, Meikle burst through the right channel but shot straight at Berry and Platt went on to clear the crossbar.

Just past the hour, City survived a scare when Michael Woodhouse’s left-wing cross bounced off the top of Mooney’s crossbar and lively left-winger Joe Ferguson, brought on as a half-time substitute, also drove across the face of goal.

But the visitors forged ahead when Hirst broke through the right channel and had his ankles clipped by Blackburn.

Straker calmly converted from 12 yards, finding Berry’s bottom right-hand corner as the Redcar keeper dived in the opposite direction.

But the home side finished the game with spirit, as Ferguson drilled an angled effort into the sidenetting and Adam Preston’s header lacked the power to beat Mooney.

Woodhouse’s deep cross from the left in the 92nd minute then sailed over the heads of City’s defenders and landed at the feet of Staires, who finished neatly only to see his effort disallowed.