A LATE Kurt Willoughby wonder goal secured John Askey’s first league victory in charge of York City as the Minstermen won 1-0 at Guiseley.

With two minutes to go in a closely contested encounter which saw big chances for both sides at regular intervals, Willoughby produced the game-winning moment of magic.

After taking a throw in, the forward cut inside onto his favoured right foot and, from considerable distance, produced a stunning dipping strike which curled into the far top corner.

It was a goal worthy of winning any match and is made especially important as it ends York’s three games without a league victory.

Interim manager Askey now has successive wins to his name but expectations should be somewhat tempered by the opposition in Blyth Spartans and Guiseley, who now lie 20th and 21st in the Vanarama National League North respectively.

The bigger tests begin on Tuesday, with a trip to sixth-placed Gateshead, and performances will have to improve.

But, for now, you would be forgiven for wallowing in the glory of that Willoughby strike.

Heading to West Yorkshire on the back of the aforementioned win over Blyth, in the FA Trophy, Askey made just one change to his starting 11.

Bolton Wanderers loanee Adam Senior replaced Sam Fielding at right-back while Mackenzie Heaney recovered from injury to be deemed fit enough for a spot on the bench, taking Josh King’s place among the substitutes.

The home side had the early impetus and though the struggled to test goalkeeper Peter Jameson in the early exchanges, they had York on the back foot.

It took 15 minutes until City registered their first shot on target. In a decent build-up move which featured the half’s stand-out player. Willoughby, Mark Beck had a solid header well saved by Brad Wade.

The Minstermen soon began to find their rhythm and their passing became a lot crisper.

Two great chances soon followed with Beck again heading towards goal, this time seeing it cleared off the line before Wade quickly got down to deny Akil Wright’s fizzing low strike.

Guiseley though fought back and finished the half as the stronger side. They almost punished York when Lewis Hey had a shot blocked by Senior after he rounded Jameson.

The keeper atoned for that error by producing a confident save from Hey, who had turned sharply in the box.

Just before the break, Jordan Thewlis flashed a shot wide of the far post and the interval seemed to better suit City.

With the rain falling at a consistent pace, neither side were able to quickly establish much dominance after the restart.

But somewhat against the run of play, York suddenly had the ball in the back of the net.

Beck toe-pocked to Willoughby in a crowded box and City’s number nine dispatched it clinically, only to see the offside flag raised against him.

Despite that chance, the game fell into a lull. The half-time switch to move Paddy McLaughlin into the most advanced midfield position, playing just behind Beck, did not appear to be paying off as the Harrogate Town loanee struggled to win his aerial battles as City went increasingly direct.

Even the ever-impressive Akil Wright could only produce a complete mis-kick while attempting to cross, the ball rolling dead much to the delight of the home fans.

Just as the Guiseley supporters began to mock the lack of noise coming from City’s supporters, who made up almost half of the entire crowd, the travelling faithful almost had something to cheer about.

A corner arrived deep at the far post for Beck who beat his marker but somehow headed wide across goal. It was a chance looked more difficult to miss.

That opportunity sparked the game into life and after Oliver Brown had an effort saved, Lebrun Mbeka’s thunderbolt crashed off the crossbar.

As the chances came and went, and with Askey reluctant to turn to his bench, the game looked destined to finish level.

Then came Willoughby’s goal. The forward had struggled to replicate his promising display from the first half into the second, with Clayton Donaldson seeing more of the ball on the right and Scott Barrow’s tendency to put in early crosses denying Willoughby possession.

But then came his incredible strike, a curling shot from around 30 yards out which bent well away from the arms of Wade and into the far top corner.

It was some way to end a run of almost four league matches without a goal from open play.

At the other end, Jameson - who had to regroup himself after some jubilant celebrations with the York fans behind his goal - watched a few Guiseley efforts go wide at the death.

Then the celebrations could properly begin.

 

Guiseley: Wade, Cantrill, Nicholson, Ekpolo, Benecherif, Mbeka, Hull, Spencer (Gratton 82’), Thewlis, Hey (Tuton 90’), Brown (Haw 90’).

Subs not used: Hollins, Stones.

Yellow cards: Cantrill, Hull, Spencer

 

York City: Jameson 7, Senior 6, Brown 7, Newton 6, Barrow 7, Wallace 7, Wright 7, McLaughlin 7, Donaldson 5, Willoughby 8, Beck 6.

Subs not used: Campbell, Hancox, Hopper, Heaney, Gilchrist.

Goals: Willoughby (88)

Yellow cards: Wright, Donaldson

York’s star man: Kurt Willoughby. By far York’s stand-out player and capped off a good performance with an exceptional goal.

 

Referee: Dale Baines.

Attendance: 1,376 (591)

 

Shots (on target): 15 (4) | 9 (4)

Corners: 2 | 7

Offsides: 2 | 3

Fouls committed: 11 | 11