ANDY Bishop will take York City's next penalty after striking the winning spot-kick in Saturday's 1-0 home victory over Morecambe.

Normal 12-yard specialist Darren Dunning had hit a post with a first half penalty in the Conference clash and Bishop will now assume the responsibility after a pact between the two players.

The 22-year-old striker has been waiting for his chance to take a penalty since arriving from Walsall on a free transfer in the summer and, after netting his sixth goal of the season on 87 minutes against Morecambe, he said: "Me and Daz are always fighting over penalties - even in training - but he's always taken them.

"We agreed however that if he missed one I would take the next one and, vice-versa, so if I miss one somebody else will take over but there was no way I was going to give the ball up after I had gone over."

Morecambe manager Jim Harvey was critical of the officials' decision to award City a second penalty after Bishop tangled with goalkeeper Adam Sollitt.

But City's leading marksman insisted referee Jonathon Moss was right to point to the spot, saying: "I got in front of him to try and shield the ball and he got on top of my back so there was no way I could stay up.

"He fell on me and knocked me to the ground so it had to be a penalty. I'm not the sort of person who dives."

Bishop blasted the crucial spot-kick into Sollitt's top left-hand corner and insisted that he never had any doubt over his chances of success.

He said: "I always feel confident. I knew where I wanted to put it in my mind and just did it."

Bishop's match-winning strike was the perfect riposte to caretaker boss Viv Busby's decision to play him in the reserves' 3-1 North Riding Cup defeat against Middlesbrough last Monday night and the 6ft forward added: "It was a bit gutting that I was told to play in the reserves but I just think I needed a kick up the backside really to get myself going again.

"I had been going through a dip in form and Viv's the manager. Whatever he says you obviously have to do."

Busby, too, agreed with Moss' decision to award City a second penalty but felt that the first for a challenge on Jon Maloney was harsh on Morecambe.

City's acting manager also praised Bishop for winning the spot-kick and despatching it well.

Busby said: "If you want to worry defenders you have to get in behind them. Andy did that.

"I don't think he was going anywhere but the 'keeper shoved him over and it was a definite penalty. At half-time we asked in the dressing-room who wanted to take the next one and Andy put his hand up.

"You have got to want to take penalties and a lot of players don't. It takes confidence to smash it in like that. You have to make sure you don't hit it over the bar but he's scored and, if he wants to take the next one, he probably will do."

Updated: 10:17 Monday, January 24, 2005