YORK City again spurned a chance to steal a significant march at the top of the table as they drew 1-1 with visitors Curzon Ashton - but it could have been much worse.

Second-placed King's Lynn Town were once more out of action, as their home game with Southport had been postponed, and this was York's chance to go five points clear at the top of the National League North.

Instead, Steve Watson cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as York's played veered between languid, lackadaisical and lax - and there was a sense of deja vu as Curzon went ahead through George Broadbent.

Fortunately for York, with a minute remaining of injury time, Curzon keeper Cameron Mason slipped outside the area, allowing Jordan Burrow a chance to strike from a tough angle. That he did, and rescued a point for the Minstermen.

Manager Mark Bradshaw made two changes to the side that started Curzon’s 1-0 home defeat to Gateshead during their last outing on February 8.

Olly Thornley was promoted to the starting 11 and Isaac Sinclair was brought in.

Fabio Tavares, who has joined the Nash on loan from Rochdale until the end of the season, began the day on the bench. The 19-year-old has made four appearances for League One Rochdale, scoring once.

There were three changes to the York starting line-up from last week. Kallum Griffiths regained his place at right-sided wing-back, with Paddy McLaughlin making the bench after having been substituted through a knock at Kidderminster.

Jordan Burrow returned to the attack as Kurt Willoughby has returned to parent club Fylde and there was a place for new loan signing Sam Jones, who is at Bootham Crescent until the end of the season.

Dan Maguire started his second consecutive game for the Minstermen while Kieran Green was fit enough to make the bench after also taking a knock at Kidderminster.

Maguire should have opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Sustained pressure and good play teed up Griffiths for a right-wing cross. It was cleared as far as Andy Bond, who passed into the feet of Maguire, marked on the edge of the area. He pulled off the neatest spin to set himself free in the area but he put his poked effort just wide.

Burrow was the next to go close, heading over from Griffiths’ diagonal ball in.

Admittedly chances had been thin on the ground but there was the feeling they would come sooner rather than later. Jones towered behind frontmen Burrow and Maguire, while the back line were confident – occasionally to the crowd’s angst – in playing out from defence.

Curzon, meanwhile, had offered very little, Owen Watkinson the sole consistent thorn in York’s side, though they enjoyed more of the ball – without posing a great threat – as the half approached the midway point.

Bond was shown what seemed a harsh yellow card for diving in on Mike Calveley. Curzon captain Rob Evans’ scything challenge on Jones appeared more befitting a card.

With 10 minutes to go until half-time, those earlier impressions of dominance had all but dissipated. Between the strong wind and the increasingly chewed-up turf, conditions were far from ideal, but there had still been a disillusioning lack of forward-thinking impetus.

The strained nature of the first was almost perfectly summed up in one passage of play. Jones was easily dispossessed by Evans near the York area before the Harrogate loanee won the ball back with a well-timed challenge. The hardworking Bond picked it up and played a weak pass to Burrow, who just about collected it and brought it under control before inexplicably running into George Broadbent and losing possession again.

York started the first half in much the same way as they had the first, and again looked within touching distance of creating that opportunity to crack open the game.

Within minutes, Jones had played a good ball to the back post and it found its way into Burrow’s possession, but – with his back to goal – he was starved of options in the box, City dithered and the ball was cleared.

David Ferguson – who had been busy down the left all game – delivered a trademark ball into the area, where Maguire was inches from it.

And Maguire had a penalty shout just before the hour. Played into the box by a cheeky Griffiths backheel, he was sent tumbling to the ground under pressure from behind.

Burrow curled an effort wide of Mason’s left-hand upright soon after. A slip by Josh Askew allowed Griffiths to get onto the end of Sean Newton’s cross-field ball and he linked up well with Kieran Green – on for the largely ineffective Jones – and Moke, who laid off for Burrow on the edge of the area.

And on 72 minutes, York were made to pay for their inability to find the net. The onrushing Tavares created trouble for a backtracking City defence, who repeatedly failed to clear the danger in the area before the ball fell to Broadbent unmarked eight yards out and he gleefully slammed high into the net.

Newton came close to levelling for York with a free kick from range, which was just tipped away for a corner. Green rose highest from Ferguson’s corner but could not direct his header on target.

The next City corner pinballed around the area before dropping nicely for Green near the edge of the box. His low left-footed volley went wide.

York: Jameson 7, Griffiths 6, Tait 6, McNulty 7 (Kempster 6, 69), Newton 6, Ferguson 7, Bond 7 (York 77), Moke 6, Jones 5 (Green 7, 56), Burrow 7, Maguire 6. Subs not used: King, McLaughlin.

Star man: Andy Bond. Until he came off, he had been the hardest-working player in York colours, certainly in the drab first half.

Yellow cards: Bond

Curzon: Mason, Halls, Askew, Evans, Thornley, Ali, Broadbent, Calveley, Watkinson (Bayode 84), Sinclair (Tavares 57), Baillie. Subs not used: Merrill, Davies, Sloan.

Yellow cards: Baillie

Referee: Paul Brown

Attendance: 2,354 (35 away supporters)