A PAIR of penalties sunk a much-improved York City 2-1 in a highly entertaining National League North encounter at promotion rivals Boston United.

City were most definitely second best in the opening exchanges and Boston deservedly led following an 11th-minute penalty but the Minstermen responded well and equalised through stand-out performer Michael Woods.

The visitors continued to play well into the second half without creating masses of chances and, as the game looked to be heading for even honours, Matty Brown gave away a clumsy spot kick.

Even if they could have done more for the win, in no way did York deserve the defeat, which knocks them down to ninth.

It was a better all-round showing than the weekend's 1-0 win over Chester, from which Steve Watson made two changes to the starting 11. Goalscorer Mark Beck kept his place but strike colleague Kurt Willoughby dropped to the bench.

Mackenzie Heaney came in to the 11 after starting last week on the bench.

The other tweak came at the back, from where Michael Duckworth was missing after suffering a hamstring injury late on on Saturday. Sam Fielding, who missed the Chester game for family reasons, came back in on the right of a back four.

Sean Newton, returning from injury, started the day on the bench - coming on late as a forward - so Akil Wright and Matty Brown made up the centre of defence, with Paddy McLaughlin on the left.

Ex-Minsterman Jordan Burrow started up front for the Pilgrims looking to build on his one league goal for the season.

Former City midfielder Tom Platt started in the centre of the park while Jake Wright, who was loaned to Boston by Steve Watson before joining them permanently, started on the bench. His namesake, the 35-year-old Jake Wright, started in defence.

A goalscorer for Boston in their 3-1 win over City last Friday, midfielder Andi Thanoj was missing after being suspended for betting breaches, as was Boston’s current longest-serving player Jay Rollins.

The scrappy early exchanges most definitely belonged to Boston as York failed to win the second balls and could not get hold of possession. An early crisis was averted at the last second by a diving McLaughlin, who headed clear a Danny Elliott cross after Wright hit a clearance off Hopper.

Boston were soon in front, though. A scramble in the area ended with Clayton Donaldson and a Boston man on the deck, and referee James Bancroft pointed to the spot. Elliott sent Jameson the wrong way.

City had barely been in the contest but were level in the 17th minute. Their first spell of passing play, replete with a sturdy well-timed Woods challenge, ended with a throw in. Donaldson’s throw was headed on at the near post and Woods powered in from close range.

The goal catalysed York, who looked much brighter in the fractious half-hour that followed. Heaney showed some wicked pace to get down the left and deliver in for Beck, whose header was put out for a corner by the elder Wright.

Between contentious refereeing calls and off-the-ball squabbles, action was breathless, and as momentum swung back Boston’s way, City’s back line – well marshalled by Brown – had to show good awareness.

Brown made a couple of good interventions – first to put a dangerous low Scott Duxbury cross out for a corner, then to clear the subsequent set piece – before McLaughlin positioned himself well to shepherd out Boston’s third successive corner.

As the game ticked towards stoppage time, Donaldson was deservedly shown yellow for an aimless sliding challenge into former Harrogate Town speedster Joe Leesley’s calf before Duxbury was cautioned for a not-too-dissimilar challenge on Hopper. Woods picked up a warning for a high boot.

The second half picked up where the first had left off. Within seconds of the restart, Heaney was flying down the left from where he whipped in a cross which pinged off a couple of yellow shirts and out for a corner.

It was a matter of minutes before Boston were up the other end. Elliott laid off for Fraser Preston, who drilled a shot from inside the area and Jameson did well to tip it away.

Brown then positioned himself well to clear Preston’s low ball after the wide man unbalanced stand-in left-back McLaughlin.

City had arguably had the better chances of a second half which exhibited some quality football to go with the entertainment. A deflected Fielding cross looped invitingly for Heaney, whose volley went well wide of the far post from inside the area before Kurt Willoughby brought a good save from Peter Crook with a curling strike from 20 yards.

Willoughby’s effort, though, marked the last York attempt for a good stretch, the only other real chance coming when Heaney whipped a dipping cross too far in front of Beck in the six-yard box.

And after a quarter of an hour of tepid to-and-fro, Boston were awarded another penalty. Former City attacker Wright was played into the area where he dragged back in front of Brown, who clumsily brought him down. Shane Byrne sent Jameson the wrong way from the spot.

Boston: Crook, Tootle, Duxbury, Platt, Garner, Burrow, Elliott (Wright 74), Wright (Ferguson 62), Preston (Preston 90), Leesley, Byrne. Subs not used: Green, Dimaio.

Goals: Elliott (11 pen)

Yellow cards: Duxbury, Byrne, Leesley

York: Jameson 7, Brown 7, McLaughlin 7, Dyson 5 (Newton 88), Woods 7, Donaldson 5 (Willoughby 6, HT), Hopper 6, Heaney 7, Beck 6, Fielding 6, Wright 7. Subs not used: Haase, Campbell, Knowles.

Star man: Michael Woods. Possibly his best game for a good while, he oozed confidence and class in the middle. A shame his goal earned City nothing.

Goals: Woods (17)

Yellow cards: Donaldson, Woods, Fielding

Referee: James Bancroft

Attendance: 2,018

Stats for Boston / York

Shots (on target): 6 (3) / 5 (3)

Corners: 9 / 6

Offside: 4 / 5

Fouls: 8 / 11

Yellow cards: 3 / 3

Penalties: 2 / 0