"AT this stage of the season, it's about three points."

So said York City manager Steve Watson following a "tight, tough" 1-0 win over Kettering Town at Bootham Crescent.

Both Ben Milnes and the returning Dan Maguire had goals disallowed in the first half before Jordan Burrow netted the winner just after the 60-minute mark.

And at 1-0 down, Kettering still had chances to get back into it, Daniel Nti denied by a goalmouth scramble and Pete Jameson making an excellent save when one-on-one with Aaron O'Connor. At the other end, Paul White was quick off his line to deny Macaulay Langstaff after good target-man play from Burrow.

The Minstermen boss admitted York could have been better on the ball - but praised the crowd for their positive backing throughout.

"We made changes to be positive to turn chances into goals by trying something different today," he said, referring to Alex Kempster and Langstaff's second-half introductions for Steve McNulty and Maguire.

"It proved more difficult than we thought. To (Kettering's) credit, they have turned a corner and they're a tough team to play against - they had only lost one in 11.

"They came here to be hard to beat and to be direct, and their two forwards were a handful.

"We didn't take control of the game probably until midway through the second half.

"And we could have made the game easier in the second half. I thought we'd worn them down a bit and we found the room to play.

"But we were a bit poor with the ball and in decision-making, and we could have put it much less at risk then we did at the end.

"Both keepers made good saves. He made a great save off Macaulay, Pete made a good save when Sean stumbled. There was a bit of a goalmouth scramble and two disallowed goals.

"It was a tight, tough, hard game.

"I said to the lads, we're not painting over any cracks. We would have loved to have played better, dominated more, but we wouldn't have got any more points for it, and at this stage of the season, it's about three points.

"I said that last week's crowd was fantastic at King's Lynn and they were absolutely great today," he added.

"The message we've been trying to get across, and them knowing what we're trying to do, seems to be working.

"At times today where you could have been forgiven for having a pop because there were some bad decisions with the ball - the lads don't do it on purpose but there were some things that would make you pull your hair out.

"But they were great and that's how we will be able to achieve something this season - all together, as a group, as a foul, a collective, a team and all one."

Langstaff came off injured with 10 minutes remaining for Adriano Moke.

"Macaulay's struggling, to be honest with you," Watson said.

"He put his full weight through somebody's studs and it's caught his knee and his foot.

"He'll be in a bit of pain for most of this week."