A LAST-MINUTE Jordan Archer header saw York City fall to a 3-3 draw away to Southport.

York were twice behind at their fellow Vanarama National League North play-off rivals but second-half strikes from Jack McKay and Olly Dyson had City ahead with only injury time remaining.

However Archer ensured late heartbreak for the visitors with his equaliser at the death, which combined with earlier goals from Niall Watson and Dylan Vassallo.

The point sees City retain their long unbeaten record, which now stretches to 12 matches, but fail to overtake Southport into sixth position.

No ground has though been lost to the sides below them, with a three-point gap now opened up between themselves and eighth-placed Boston United, who visit the LNER Community Stadium on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

While it may be difficult to remain measured after conceding so late on, should City win in mid-week, and other results go their way, their position within the top seven would be further consolidated.

In regards to individuals, the performance of Dyson, who bagged his side’s third, was most pleasing as he seeks to rediscover his form in front of goal.

He came in on the right flank for Jack McKay from the start, in the only starting 11 change made by interim manager John Askey.

On the bench, there was no place for top goal-scorer Clayton Donaldson, with the returning Remy Longdon returning there.

Southport made the dream start and took the lead after just eight minutes. Mitch Hancox was beaten in midfield and Archer latched onto a cutting pass inside the box, beating goalkeeper Peter Jameson to the loose ball.

The number nine crossed for Niall Watson who was able to easily finish into the unguarded goal.

A scuffed and deflected shot from Lenell John-Lewis aside, that was as much as either side managed in terms of shots on target in the opening quarter.

Evidently, as Askey envisaged pre-match, the wind was playing a major factor, with short passes struggling to stick or find feet whenever City tried to play out from the back.

It was a long punt upfield that brought York’s best chance when Hancox latched onto Kurt Willoughby’s header, with a good helping from the wind, but goalkeeper Cameron Mason was quick to rush and close out the danger.

In fairness to York, they were clearly the better of the two sides after the early opener but lacked a little cutting edge up front.

Dyson worked some room in the box but his shot went straight at the keeper before Paddy McLaughlin went closer when a rifling strike which beat Mason but founds its way into the side netting.

The opening 45 minutes were not the prettiest for the neutral as Southport, true to the prediction of Askey, were often direct and seemed happy to sit on their one-goal lead for much of the half, taking their time with almost every set piece.

In the half’s dying stages, City conjured two more good chances. First, Akil Wright saw his shot from a goal-mouth scramble cleared off the line and, on the follow-up, Scott Barrow’s pile-driver stung the palms of Mason.

York battled to win another scramble in the box late on and this time they finally broke through.

Barrow’s ball into the box dropped to McLaughlin via some deflections and the Northern Irishman needed no second invitation to equalise.

It was no less than City deserved having been on top on the shot count, seen more of the ball and had plenty of threatening territory.

Picking up from where they left off at the break, York resumed the half with clear attacking intent.

Dyson show a shot in the box blocked while a long ball fell kindly to Lenell John-Lewis, who was given space and time by Southport, and rattled an effort against the crossbar.

Willoughby then crossed dangerously and saw Dyson and Hancox have blocked shots inside the penalty area.

Southport remained an attacking threat, particularly from set pieces and crosses into the box.

Jameson produced three quick-fire saves in the box, the latter of which was a point-blank stop from Jack Bainbridge’s close-range header.

From the resulting corner, the home side reasserted their lead, doing so in spectacular fashion.

The set piece fell to Dylan Vassallo 20 yards and he conjured a sweet half-volley on the turn which Jameson got a partial hand to but failed to prevent sneaking into his bottom corner.

Port went close to doubling their lead when the ball was dragged back for Tyler Walton who could only shoot over the bar.

Down the other end, York duly punished their opponents’ wastefulness through an inspired substitute.

Mason came up with two incredible saves from a goalmouth scramble but could not deny McKay thrashing the ball with his first time off the bench.

If any side were to find a winner, it would have been York who tested Mason again through Michael Duckworth’s long-range strike.

With 10 minutes to go, City were finally in front for the first time. Jameson’s long ball landed at Hancox’s feet and he put Dyson in behind.

Despite his recent struggles in front of goal, the number seven showed great composure to chip the ball over the onrushing keeper to spark celebrations from the near 500 City fans behind the goal.

York were however unable to hold onto their slim lead as once again Southport proved too much in the air.

An inch-perfect follow-up cross by Vassallo was nodded in by Archer as a queue of Southport players lined up to claim the leveller.

Neither side seemed settled for a point and pushed on until the finish, although to no avail.

Southport: Mason, Oliver, C. Doyle, Anson (C), J. Doyle, Bainbridge, Walton, Hmami (Mansell 80’), Vassallo, Watson (Woods 73’), Archer.

Subs not used: McMillan, Benjamin, Munro, Mansell.

Goals: Watson (8’), Vassallo (63’), Archer (89’)

York City: Jameson 6, Duckworth 6, Kouogun 6, Brown (C) 7, Barrow 6, Wright 6, Hancox 7, McLaughlin 7, Dyson 7, John-Lewis 7, Willoughby 6 (McKay 69’ 7)

Subs not used: Campbell, Sanders, Woods, Longdon.

Goals: McLaughlin (45’), McKay (70’), Dyson (80’)

Yellow cards: Hancox, Willoughby

York’s star man: Olly Dyson. Bagged York’s third goal with a tidy finish and was a willing runner from start to finish.

Shots (on target): 7 (5) | 21 (13)

Corners: 2 | 5

Fouls committed: 11 | 12

Offsides: 1 | 1

Referee: Richard Aspinall

Attendance: 1,565 (446)