York City safeguard play-off berth (From York Press)

York City safeguard play-off berth

10:10am Saturday 28th January 2012 in News By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

YORK City manager Gary Mills wants three points at Darlington this afternoon to avoid the possibility of his side dropping to eighth before their next league encounter.

The fourth-placed Minstermen will switch attentions back to the FA Trophy following today’s match with a third round home tie against Ebbsfleet next on the agenda in seven days’ time.

That means anything other than a victory at Darlington would see City run the risk of dropping four positions before they return to Blue Square Bet Premier duty at in-form Grimsby in a fortnight.

Kidderminster, Gateshead, Southport and Mansfield could all take advantage of the Minstermen’s break by climbing above their North Yorkshire rivals in the table.

Mills is also keen for his side to come out of a run of three successive away league fixtures with a healthy haul of points.

He said: “We are in the middle of three away games in the league against Kidderminster, Darlington and Grimsby so it’s an important time to pick points up for us. I want to play Stockport in our next league game at home on February 18, having picked up a lot of points on our travels and got through to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy.

“We know a few teams will be playing when we’re not next Saturday and a week on Tuesday so that makes it more important to get three points at Darlington.”