DAVE Winfield’s second-half header earned York City a vital 1-0 home win over relegation rivals Cheltenham.

The centre back’s 73rd-minute goal saw Russ Wilcox’s men move seven points clear of the bottom-of-the-table Robins in the fight for Football League survival.

Earlier, Luke Summerfield’s ambitious lob from a free kick, taken close to the centre spot, proved the first shot of the game on seven minutes with Robins keeper Trevor Carson back-pedalling to take a comfortable catch.

Moments later, Jake Hyde could not steer a header on target after Brad Halliday’s lofted ball into the box.

At the other end, Wes Burns’ 30-yard effort whistled over Michael Ingham’s bar and, after Hyde and Summerfield had both also aimed too high for City, the recalled home keeper was forced into his first save of the afternoon on 23 minutes, smothering Shaquille McDonald’s low shot after his former Bootham Crescent team-mate had burst through the left channel.

But the best chance of the half fell to Shaun Harrad on 27 minutes.

The ex-Burton forward rose highest to meet Craig Braham-Barrett’s left-wing cross to the far post but, from four yards out, his downward header lacked the power to beat Ingham, who pushed the ball away to safety.

For City, Hyde’s 20-yard chip was then palmed over the crossbar by Carson and Shaq Coulthirst curled wide from a similar distance.

Summerfield also sidefooted over from 20 yards following a positive raid down the right by Halliday in first-half stoppage time after Burns had headed weakly at Ingham for the visitors.

The Minstermen made a purposeful start to the second period with Michael Coulson’s curling 20-yard free kick striking the outside of a well-beaten Carson’s left-hand upright.

Coulthirst and Summerfield also cleared the crossbar from distance before McDonald’s ten-yard half-volley was too high at the other end after Ingham punched out Matt Richards’ corner.

City, though, began to assert their authority midway through the half and substitute Stephane Zubar had the ball in the net on 68 minutes but was flagged offside following an intricate free kick routine involving Coulson, Summerfield and Winfield.

Zubar’s header from a Summerfield corner was then cleared off the line by Richards before the hosts forged in front from the same source on 73 minutes.

Ex-Cheltenham midfielder Summerfield flighted his right-wing delivery into almost the same spot and Winfield powered his four-yard header into the roof of the net at the far post.

On 79 minutes, Cheltenham sub Mathieu Manset headed over from Richards’ right-wing free kick.

But, with the clock ticking down, Coulthirst’s 15-yard shot, following his mazy dribble, was well saved by Carson and, despite Danny Haynes drilling a late effort into the sidenetting, City held out for maximum points. York: 3-4-1-2 Ingham; Lowe, Winfield, McCombe (Zubar, 46); Halliday, Summerfield, Penn, Coulson; Platt (Miller, 69); Hyde, Coulthirst (O’Hanlon, 90). Subs not used: Mooney, McCoy, Ilesanmi, Montrose.

Cheltenham: 4-4-2 Carson, Vaughan, Mills (Hanks, 69), Brown, Packwood, Braham-Barrett, Richards, Wynter, Mills (Hanks, 69), Burns, McDonald (Haynes, 74), Harrad (Manset, 74). Subs not used: Taylor, Gould, Deaman, Berry.

Attendance: 4,151 (250 from Cheltenham)