PLAY-OFF contenders Telford might have been forgiven for thinking mid-table York City would be on the beach prior to their vital visit to Bootham Crescent.

But, just as fellow top-seven hopefuls Bradford Park Avenue had discovered five days earlier, the tide seems finally to be turning under determined Minstermen chief Steve Watson.

Having defeated Park Avenue 3-1 on Easter Monday, City did their Yorkshire neighbours a favour by securing a 1-0 final-day triumph over Telford, which meant the Shropshire side missed out on extending their season due to a goal difference of one between the two teams Victory also saw the hosts conclude a campaign with three points for the first time since 2013 when Chris Smith was on target in another 1-0 win that secured Football League survival at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Six managers have been appointed and two relegations suffered since but, judging by the response following this victory, City supporters have placed their faith in Watson’s pre-match assertion that the club will never again finish as low as the 12th-placed position that couldn’t be bettered by Saturday’s win.

His vow to get the Minstermen moving back in the right direction certainly seems to have struck a chord with David Longhurst Stand regulars, who chanted “York Are Going Up” after top-scorer Jordan Burrow grabbed the only goal in this game.

It was maybe belted out a little tongue in cheek, but it did seem to be sung with genuine hope, rather than being laced with heavy sarcasm.

On the evidence of his first four months at the club, Watson appears to a be a good match for City.

Just as encouragingly, his players proved to be more than a match for a second promotion candidate in a week. Telford, perhaps gambling that a point would be enough to claim a play-off place with Park Avenue away to title-chasing Chorley, appeared unsure whether to stick or twist and, in the first half, ultimately plumped for a safety-first approach, employing three centre backs.

Watson’s men, though, were in no mood for passive compliance, seizing the initiative after 25-goal striker Daniel Udoh’s edge-of-the-box shot was deflected wide following Kallum Griffiths’ brilliant block from a Stephan Morley effort.

In response, an Alex Harris corner was won in the air by Sean Newton and a six-yard chance for Burrow was deflected away from goal.

A tame Scott Burgess 20-yard effort also skidded through to away keeper Josef Bursik, while teenage City net-minder Ryan Whitley was grateful to see Dom Smith head over his goal after he had failed to reach a Morley corner.

David Ferguson, meanwhile, fired well over from distance, while another unconvincing Burgess attempt missed the target, before ex-City striker Amari Morgan-Smith robbed possession from Adriano Moke but lifted a 25-yard opportunity too high.

But the best effort of the first half was clawed away by Bursik on 41 minutes when he reacted smartly to keep out Burrow’s near-post header from a Ferguson cross.

Harris then called Bursik into action again after cutting inside from the left byline, while the Bucks mustered their first on-target shot of the match just before the break when Udoh’s deflected, looping 20-yard attempt was easily caught by Whitley.

After the interval, Telford sacrificed a defender in favour of a more attacking line-up, but Bursik needed to rush out of his goal to smother at Moke’s feet after he had run on to Burgess’ ball through the left channel and, on 50 minutes, Burrow broke the deadlock from five yards after Paddy McLaughlin bent in a right-wing corner.

Knowing they now needed a goal in all likelihood, Telford started to show a little more adventure, but Ellis Deeney was off target from 25 yards and Udoh also shot over from an unfavourable angle after running at Griffiths.

City were still causing problems at the other end of the pitch with McLaughlin flashing a 15-yard shot past the post after good work by sub Wes York, who went on to test Busik at his near post again.

The 18-year-old, on-loan Stoke keeper also comfortably gathered another McLaughlin drive before being thrown upfield to contest two stoppage-time corners to no avail.

In between, Gavin Cowan’s men were unconvincing with their attempts to force an equaliser.

Whitley saved after James McQuilkin’s free kick had been helped on by Deeney’s head.

Wing-back Ross White also headed wide, before sub Marcus Dinanga drilled a low strike straight at the City keeper and the final chance then saw Udoh spin past Newton, only to lift a wild shot over from 20 yards.

City ratings

Ryan Whitley 6

Kallum Griffiths 7

Joe Tait 8

Sean Newton 8

David Ferguson 7

Adriano Moke 7

Scott Burgess 7

Paddy McLaughlin 8

Alex Kempster 6

Jordan Burrow 8

Alex Harris 7

Subs: Wes York 7 (for Kempster, 67), Nathan Dyer (for Harris, 90+4). Subs not used: Adam Bartlett, Josh Law, Jasper Moon.

Star man: Tait - composed on the ball, communicative and rarely troubled by Telford forwards on the ground or in the air

Telford: Josef Bursik, Ross White, Theo Streete (Darryl Knights, 46), Shane Sutton, Dominic Smith, Stephan Morley (Ryan Barnett, 72), James McQuilkin, Ellis Deeney, Henry Cowans, Daniel Udoh, Amari Morgan-Smith (Marcus Dinanga, 66). Subs not used: Jonathan Royle, Andre Brown.

Telford star man: Bursik – saved his team from heavier defeat with good reflexes and one-on-one stops

Referee: Nathanael Cox 7/10 – on top of most things and decisive

Booked: Deeney 45, Newton 70, Moke 82

Sent off: None

Attendance: 2,864 (214 from Telford)

Shots on target: City 7, Telford 3

Shots off target: City 4, Telford 7

Corners: City 8, Telford 7

Fouls conceded: City 9, Telford 6

Offside: City 1, Telford 0