YORK City’s frustrating form against Curzon Ashton continued on Tuesday night as the Minstermen were held to a 0-0 draw at the LNER Community Stadium.

City were the better of the two sides but they could not fashion the killer chance against obdurate opposition, and Curzon were certainly the happier with the National League North point.

Still, York remain seventh in the table and are now 11 games unbeaten in all competitions.

After their exploits in London on Saturday as part of an unrelenting fixture schedule, City at times looked tired, lapses in concentration losing them the ball on a few occasions in the first half.

The Minstermen were more vivacious in the second period, pressing well and knocking at the door of the opposition area – particularly in a pulsating climax – but the goal just would not drop.

City were looking to build on the weekend’s outstanding result, having won at on penalties at Dagenham & Redbridge at the weekend after an incredible FA Trophy tie.

Boss John Askey made three changes to the starting line-up from that win, bringing back the cup-tied Lenell John-Lewis to lead the line in favour of Clayton Donaldson, who returned to the bench.

Winger Jack McKay started against his former side, having sat out the two games prior to Curzon’s visit. He replaced Olly Dyson, while Paddy McLaughlin came back in for returning midfielder Michael Woods.

Curzon came into the contest having marked the end of a run of back-to-back 2-1 defeats with a 3-2 win at Bradford Park Avenue.

Unsurprisingly, hat-trick hero from Saturday Alex Curran kept his place in Mark Bradshaw’s side, which saw two changes from the weekend.

Scott Wilson came into the starting 11, having started Saturday on the bench, with Adam Barton coming into the side after missing Bradford entirely.

Curzon advanced quickly on City’s defensive third from kick off, but matters were soon in York’s hands as they brought out their increasingly familiar high press. A touch of tiredness was evident, but they still showed improvement from Saturday.

McKay looked keen to impress against his former employers, and was involved in the early closing-down of Curzon players. He laid off for McLaughlin, who dragged a left-footed effort wide in the 12th minute.

Midfielder McLaughlin was another who seemed particularly keen to leave a mark on the game. He did well to harangue Adam Barton in midfield and dig out an effort from the edge of the area which was deflected wide.

The visitors were primed to pounce on any City mistakes, and Jordan Lussey read and intercepted a loose Scott Barrow pass before Thomas Peers won a bouncing ball in front of a hesitant Maxim Kouogun. City ended both forays forward fairly swiftly.

Curzon carried the menace of a threat with some sharp play in the engaging contest, but actual manifestations of dangerous play belonged to York. Barrow’s 34th-minute effort, which whistled beyond Christopher Renshaw’s left-hand post, was City’s fifth of the game, though none of those had been on target.

Connor Dimaio, on loan at Curzon from Boston United, was prevented from going close for Curzon by Akil Wright, who bravely blocked his effort with his body soon after it left the midfielder’s boot.

York comfortably saw out the final 10 minutes of the half with some controlled possession. The period did not yield any efforts on target, though both Barrow and Willoughby had long-range shots blocked soon after being struck.

With clear-cut chances at a premium, goalless at half-time was largely a fair reflection of proceedings. York had been decent in patches, and fatigued – physically and mentally – in others.

Somewhat refreshed, City started the second half strongly, with McKay putting Renshaw under early pressure while the keeper was making a clearance before Duckworth nabbed the ball off Craig Mahon down the right and put an inviting cross into the area.

His delivery was almost mirrored by Barrow on the left. His cross just cleared the head of the advancing John-Lewis.

In the middle of the park, insistent pressing time and again won City the ball. John-Lewis set the tone when dropping back early in the half to battle for possession and by the hour, Curzon had barely crossed the halfway line.

With 22 minutes to go, Duckworth did well to take control of a bouncing ball over the top, destined for Peers, who had often been Curzon’s forward-most man.

John-Lewis put a decent effort on target from just outside the area – palmed away fairly simply by Renshaw – and, that aside, City failed to test the Curzon keeper as the clocked ticked into the final 10 minutes.

It was hard to see where the goal was coming from, even as City upped their efforts, as Dyson and Hancox had shots from inside the area while McKay was caught offside following a lightning-quick break.

The goal almost arrived with seconds to go as Wright agonisingly headed a cross over the top of Kouogun, who was arriving at the back post and looked well placed to net.

York: Jameson 7, Duckworth 7, Kouogun 6, Brown 7, Barrow 6, Wright 6, McLaughlin 6, Hancox 6, McKay 6, John-Lewis 7, Willoughby 5 (Dyson 6, 78). Subs not used: Campbell, Sanders, Woods, Donaldson.

Star man: Michael Duckworth. On a fairy middling night across the board, the right-back did well to work a couple of half-chances for York.

Yellow cards: Dyson

Curzon: Renshaw, Challoner, Flowers, Curran (Whitham 88), Peers (Hobson 90+1), Dimaio (Adam 63), Wilson, Lussey, Richards, Barton, Mahon. Subs not used: Knowles, Mariette.

Referee: Andy Sykes

Attendance: 2,678 (15 away supporters)

Stats for York | Curzon

Shots (on target): 12 (3) | 2 (0); Corners: 4 | 1; Offsides: 1 | 5; Fouls: 12 | 9; Yellow cards: 1 | 0.