York City star striker Rodney Rowe today pledged to put his conviction for assault behind him and concentrate all his energies on scoring goals.

The 22-year-old leading goalscorer spoke out after his £150 court fine yesterday for shoving a young woman into a wheelie bin.

Rowe, who admitted common assault at Selby Magistrates' Court, attacked the teenager outside a pizza restaurant in King Street, York, at 1.30am on December 11, last year.

Keith Usher, of York City Football Club, said today the details of Rowe's case would be considered before deciding whether any disciplinary action would be taken by the club.

York City manager Alan Little, however, believed the matter was finished.

Little said: "That's it as far as I am concerned. Rodney can now concentrate on his football, that's all we need worry about."

Today, the top striker denied that his recent poor performance on the field was due to the pending court action, and said it was all behind him now. "It's over now, that's it," he said. "I want to get back on the pitch and work hard, for York City and for myself. I want to concentrate on the football and knock in some goals."

But Angela Bacon, the girl Rowe attacked, said she would find it very difficult to forget what he did to her.

Angela, 19, a shop assistant from York, suffered swelling and bruising when Rowe, who signed for York City for £80,000 last year, grabbed her, picked her up and dumped her into a nearby bin.

She had been out visiting pubs and a nightclub with a friend, Katy Oliver, when they met a group of young men, including Rowe, outside the pizza takeaway. Rowe assaulted her after Angela accused him of acting arrogantly, the court heard.

Angela said: "We were made out to look like two girls who, when we saw a footballer, just couldn't help going to speak to him."But he came up to us, and grabbed me. I don't like football so I didn't even know who he was. I just want to put it all behind me now."

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