YORK CITY goalkeeper Michael Ingham said he is “beginning to hate the sight” of Wembley after suffering his second defeat in 12 months under the arch.

The Minstermen skipper reckons the squad must target automatic promotion next season – and take the prospect of Wembley out of the equation all together.

After defeat to Stevenage in the FA Trophy final last year, Ingham is a frustrated man at the home of English football after City again went down – this time 3-1 to Oxford United in the Blue Square Premier play-off final.

He said the scoreline flattered the U’s and added a York side which had “proved a lot of people wrong” had to continue to do that when the next campaign begins in August.

The City stopper was grasping vainly at the edge of his box during the move which led to the Matt Green strike which gave Oxford the lead.

But Ingham said that was down to the tricky conditions of a sticky pitch and heavy rain.

“I think the scoreline has flattered them a little bit,” he insisted. “It was never 3-1. We haven’t put away the chances we have created in the second half.

“We created enough chances in the second half to win one or two games, but we have definitely shown that we are a good side and we have got to bounce back next year.

“The lads are gutted because we thought it was a great chance for us to get promoted this year.

“Nobody, from the start of the season until now, gave us a chance and we have proved a lot of people wrong and we have to continue to do that.”

Ingham continued: “I am beginning to hate this place. I have played here twice and conceded five goals.

“We have got to regroup very quickly, come back quicker and get ready for next season.

“It’s a tough place to come. It’s probably a bit difficult because of the occasion and when you suffer defeat.

“As I said, I am beginning to hate the place and I am aiming for automatic promotion next year and not through the play-offs.”

On the two first-half Oxford goals, Ingham said: “It was tricky conditions.

“At the start of the half I came out to the corner of the box and it slid right through me and I thought it was going to happen again.

“But it seemed to stick. I got there and it has been hooked over me. He (Green) still has a lot to do. If he puts the ball anywhere else, me and TY (David McGurk) stop it but it’s a bit of a lucky finish and it’s flown in the top corner.

“The second is just a long ball and, to be fair to him (James Constable), he’s put it right down inside my feet. It’s a good, hard finish.”