HIT-MAN Clayton Donaldson has missed out on a share of a York City goal-scoring record.

The 21-year-old striker has not been credited with City's first goal in Saturday's 2-1 home victory over Canvey Island even though he was adamant that he had got the faintest of touches on Mark Convery's 78th-minute free-kick that gave the Minstermen the lead.

But manager Billy McEwan has since studied the video evidence and confirmed that the final and decisive contact was made by Canvey substitute Stuart Bimson's head.

Donaldson would have equalled the club record of scoring in seven successive matches if he had been given the goal and also kept level with Woking's Justin Richards at the top of the Conference scoring charts.

Meanwhile, McEwan is keen to strengthen his squad after Mark Hotte fractured his shoulder on Saturday and on-loan striker Jermaine Palmer returned to Grimsby following the match.

Stand-in skipper Emmanuel Panther is also receiving treatment on damaged ankle ligaments but the extent of damage is not yet known.

Hotte will see a specialist today and McEwan said: "It's the curse of the captain's armband. It seems that whoever wears it gets injured.

"We were looking to strengthen in defence, midfield and attack anyway so we have targeted players but are also considering new ones."

Vice-captain Nathan Peat came through unscathed after his first-team return as a 70th-minute substitute against Canvey following a calf injury and played for the reserves yesterday in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Barnsley.

Make sure you get tomorrow's Evening Press to discover the former York schoolboy international celebrating his 90th birthday.

Updated: 11:05 Tuesday, October 18, 2005