SIMON Heslop’s spectacular late strike earned York City a 2-1 win at Southport during Sam Collins’ first match as the club’s new full-time manager.

The away side had earlier fallen behind to an eighth-minute Dion Charles but Jordan Burrow’s fifth goal of the season levelled matters just before the break and Heslop went ont to clinch maximum points.

Victory meant Collins has now won five, drawn three and lost one of his nine matches at the helm, following his caretaker reign.

City had, though, got off to another frustratingly poor start, conceding a penalty on seven minutes when Adam Bartlett rushed out to meet David Morgan, who was chasing a ball through the right channel.

Morgan went on to lift the ball over Bartlett and, although the ball was bouncing out of play, Bartlett’s momentum carried him into the home midfielder.

Home top scorer Charles then swept the spot kick into Bartlett’s bottom-right corner to claim his fourth goal of the season.

Charles went on to drag a poor 15-yard shot wide, before Heslop shot past the near post with City’s first chance of the afternoon on 18 minutes after David Ferguson had made inroads down the left flank.

But Southport continued to boss proceedings with Charles put clear by Jack Sampson and dinking a shot over the outrushing Bartlett, only to see his attempt bounce wide.

Bradley Bauress also scuffed off target after being left alone in the box eight yards from goal, while David Lynch saw a long-range effort spin just wide after deflecting off Hamza Bencherif.

Right-back Jordan Richards also missed the target from distance, before Bauress was given the freedom of City’s left channel to run on to Charles’ through ball, but Bartlett charged out to block his shot.

Sam Collins responded by switching from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2, sacrificing Ferguson and putting Tom Allan on the field for the first time during his tenure.

It proved a good decision, halting the hosts’ dominance, as City levelled on 42 minutes when Jake Wright did well to meet a right-wing Alex Harris cross and direct it on goal.

Daniel Hanford parried his effort, as well as a follow-up attempt from the same player, before Burrow blasted the second rebound in from eight yards.

On the stroke of half-time, Wright went on to head over from a Nathan Dyer cross.

A cagey start to the second period saw a 15-yard Charles drive safely gathered by Bartlett and Sampson head well off target.

Just past the hour, Charles also shot high and wide from 20 yards after shrugging off attentions of Josh Law and Russ Penn.

The Sandgrounders’ striker then dashed past Allan and Bencherif after a Morgan through ball but scooped over from 12 yards.

Morgan went on to close with a spectacular long-range half-volley that flashed just off target, but City forged in front with their first shot of the half on 84 minutes when, following Macaulay Langstaff’s square ball, Heslop thundered in the winning 20-yard strike in off the bar.