STEVE WATSON has said York City must embrace the challenge of being "a big club at this level", and believes there will be more occasions like Saturday to come this season.

In front of a crowd of 4,019, the Minstermen were beaten 1-0 in their top-of-the-table clash at the weekend by National League North leaders King's Lynn Town.

Much like the aftermath of other league defeats for York, the huge celebrations at the end told all about what it meant to the hosts, who went four points clear.

Watson said: "When you see the reaction after the game between the manager and the coaches, you do get the feeling it was huge for them. I wouldn't disrespect them and say they think it's over.

"It happens a lot. Guiseley's reaction to beating us at home was one of mass celebration, so was Curzon.

"We have got to take on board that challenge.

"We are a big club at this level and we have to accept the responsibility and the pressure that comes with that."

Despite the blow, second-placed York are still very much in contention for promotion - and Watson suspects there will be more games of this calibre this season as City continue their push for the National League.

He said: "The lads and I have been saying all week, that's the reason why you come to a club, to compete. That's the reason why the supporters understand how far we've come.

"We were never going to win anything today but it's a game where there's something on at the right end of the league, really challenging for something.

"There's going to be two or three more of those before the end of the season, and if the support is like it was today, we can come out on the other side of this."