YORK City have suffered back-to-back home defeats for the first time at National League North level.

Having ended their dismal run of eight consecutive away losses with a 3-2 win at Alfreton Town over the weekend, the Minstermen were hoping to rack up their first consecutive league wins for 13 months as fellow strugglers Hereford visited Bootham Crescent.

But, in the 87-year-old stadium’s last scheduled night match, City were beaten by the Bulls, with two goals in four second-half minutes from Danny Greenslade and James Waite wiping out Alex Kempster’s early opener for Steve Watson’s side.

It was a result that left Watson still searching for his first home point, having also gone down 4-1 to league leaders Chorley in front of the club’s own supporters, many of whom booed the team off at the end of another disappointing contest.

The last time City lost two successive fixtures on their own soil was in April 2017 when reverses against Bromley and Wrexham derailed the club’s National League survival bid under Gary Mills.

This latest setback meant the Minstermen dropped back one place to sixth-bottom in the table instead of climbing three positions, which would have been the reward for victory.

Earlier, the Minstermen got off to a great start by forging in front from the first shot of the match in classic route one fashion on nine minutes.

Keeper Adam Bartlett’s long kick forward was headed on by Jordan Burrow with an anticipating Kempster latching on to the ball to charge clear on goal.

The former Whitley Bay attacker then showed immaculate composure to slip a low eight-yard shot into an advancing Matt Yates’ bottom-right corner.

Moments later, Burrow headed wide from Tom Bradbury’s left-wing cross, while Elliot Richards drilled the visitors’ only shot of the first half straight at Bartlett from 15 yards after robbing Dan Parslow of possession in his own penalty area.

City swiftly went back up the other end with Wes York’s 12-yard drive deflected away from goal and Alex Harris’ half-volley dipping just over.

But the hosts squandered an excellent opportunity to double their advantage just before the half-hour mark when Burrow rose high and unchallenged to meet Paddy McLaughlin’s inswinging corner from the right, but somehow directed his header wide of the far post from five yards.

Hereford started the second period in more positive fashion with Richards’ cross from the right headed high into the sidenetting by half-time sub Waite.

The latter went on to create space for an edge-of-the-box rising shot that was beaten away by Bartlett, while Tommy O’Sullivan drilled just wide from 25 yards.

City’s first attack of the half saw Yates thwart McLaughlin and David Mirfin just before the hour mark following a low-struck Harris corner.

The West Midlanders continued to pose more question with Richards guiding a header wide from Greenslade’s left-wing cross, but York’s willingness to charge down the right flank did continue to offer an outlet for the Minstermen.

On 74 minutes, the former Gateshead wing-back drove an edge-of-the-box attempt across the face of goal and more positive play saw him tee up an eight-yard chance for Jake Wright that was blocked and deflected over.

Further probing saw York set Wright up again but, after the latter saw another shot repelled, Bradbury’s effort from the rebound was too tame to trouble Yates.

Having survived that promising spell for the home team, however, Hereford went on to level on 77 minutes after David Ferguson was penalised for a foul on Richards.

From the resulting free kick, Greenslade negotiated a way past the City wall and under the body of Bartlett with his low shot.

Shortly afterwards, Bartlett needed to be alert to push away a thumping, long-range Waite strike, but the City keeper suffered another mishap on 80 minutes.

His miscued clearance didn’t clear the halfway line, leading to Tom Owen-Evans charging down the left wing.

His cross subsequently picked out Waite, who turned smartly and beat a crestfallen Bartlett from 12 yards.

Moments later, the Minstermen narrowly avoided further damage when Owen-Evans beat Bartlett to a bouncing ball just inside the home penalty box but guided his header wide.

A deflated City saw Burrow’s 20-yard effort bounce wide with little conviction, while Richards dragged a stoppage-time free kick wide as Herford celebrated only their third away triumph of the campaign.

City ratings

Adam Bartlett 5

Dan Parslow 5

David Mirfin 6

Tom Bradbury 5

Wes York 7

Alex Harris 5

Josh Law 6

Paddy McLaughlin 6

Sean Newton 5

Jordan Burrow 6

Alex Kempster 7

Substitutes: Scott Burgess 5 (for Parslow, 46), Jake Wright 6 (for Kempster, 49), David Ferguson 5 (for McLaughlin, 69).

Subs not used: Ryan Whitley, Kallum Griffiths.

Star man: York – provided attacking impetus down the right flank, occupying two opposition players at most times

Hereford: Matt Yates, Kieran Thomas, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Harvey Smith (James Waite, 46), Josh Gowling, Danny Greenslade, Tommy O'Sullivan, Tom Owen-Evans, George Lloyd (James Roberts, 90+4), Elliot Richards, Jimmy Oates. Subs: Kyle Finn, Theo Wharton, Calvin Dinsley.

Hereford star man: Waite – enthusiasm added a purpose to visitors’ attack

Referee: Aaron Bannister 7/10 – generally sensible with his decisions

Booked: Gowling 54, O’Sullivan 70, Owen-Evans 87

Sent off: None

Shots on target: City 5, Hereford 6

Shots off target: City 6, Hereford 4

Corners: City 6, Hereford 2

Fouls conceded: City 13, Hereford 10

Offside: City 1, Hereford 1