York City's first home win of 2001 was a case of better late than never for defender Barry Jones.

Last night's 1-0 victory over Southend United was City's first on home soil since December 2 last year.

And with other teams involved in the relegation dogfight starting to pick up points, Jones admits City couldn't have picked a better time to hit form.

"After the Exeter game we were desperate for points so it was important that we started a decent run, especially at this time of the season," he said.

"It is a good job we did because at the end of the day all the other teams around us seem to be winning.

"What we have got to do now is keep concentrating on our own game and try to pick points up.

"We have got to keep this run going now until the end of the season because if we do slip up and other teams keep winning they can overtake us.

"It is important for us to go to Mansfield on Saturday and get three points."

Jones, whose return to the starting line-up has coincided with City's four-match unbeaten run, admitted City should have won last night's match more comfortably.

"It was disappointing it was only 1-0 at half-time. I thought we could have had the game won quite easily in the first half and been 4-0 up.

"We didn't but we stuck at it and kept a clean sheet which was really nice."

Jones was especially pleased for City's match winner Lee Nogan, who scored his first goal for the club since joining almost a month ago.

"He worked really hard and didn't give their centre-halves a moment on the ball," said the ex-Liverpool defender.

"That is important because if we know that they are closing them down we can keep pushing up and play in their half."

York City 1 Southend United 0

City: Alan Fettis 7, Richard Cooper 7, Barry Jones 6, Matt Hocking 7, Mark Bower 8, Marc Thompson 7, Lee Bullock 6, Steve Agnew 6, Nick Richardson 7, Lee Nogan 8, David McNiven 7 (Colin Alcide 77mins)

Subs, not used: Russ Howarth, Gary Hobson Leigh Wood, Alex Mathie

Goals: Nogan 13min

Bookings: None

Sent-off: None

City man of the match: Mark Bower. Didn't put a foot wrong all night and is firmly back to his best form of last season.

Southend: Darryl Flahavan, Martyn Booty, Damon Searle, Phil Whelan, Carl Hutchings, Stuart Thurgood, Leon Johnson, David Lee, Michael Black (Russell Williamson 74mins), Mark Rawle, Martin Carruthers (Ben Abbey 60mins)

Subs, not used: Chris Porter, Dave McSweeney, Rob Newman

Goals: None

Bookings: Rawle 72mins (foul), 80mins (foul)

Sent-off: Rawle 80mins (two bookable offences)

Attendance: 2,144

Referee: Trevor Parkes (Birmingham)

Half-time: City 1 Southend 0

Shots on target: City 7 Southend 3

Corners: City 7 Southend 3

Fouls committed: City 9 Southend 10

City's next match: on Saturday, March 10, against Mansfield, at Field Mill, in the Nationwide Division Three, kick-off 3pm.