LEFT-BACK Jamal Fyfield has saluted the “late goal” habit that has taken York City to Wembley.

Fyfield delivered the cross that saw Matty Blair head in the decisive goal as extra-time beckoned during Saturday’s FA Trophy semi-final, second leg tie at Luton Town.

The former Kidderminster winger’s effort represented the EIGHTH time Gary Mills’ men have found the net in the 90th minute or beyond this season.

And, while Blair’s last-gasp goal might have booked his team’s place in a May 12 final against Newport County at the world-famous stadium, City were only still in the competition prior to travelling to Kenilworth Road due to Jon Challinor grabbing the stoppage-time equaliser against Solihull Moors that forced a first-round replay back in December.

In the Blue Square Bet Premier, meanwhile, goals from 90 minutes onwards have also meant City are five points better off than they would otherwise have been. Without those points they would be level in the standings with ninth-placed Grimsby.

Goals from Fyfield against Mansfield and Grimsby have been responsible for three of those late-earned points and the former Maidenhead defender, who also celebrated his 23rd birthday on Saturday, said: “Everyone gave their all right to the 90th minute at Luton and we showed character again to get another important late goal.

“You would sometimes prefer that games were dead and buried earlier, but you always take a win whenever it comes.

“We would have hoped to start a bit better than we did at Luton, but I think the occasion got to us a little bit and we had to weather the storm slightly.

“The gameplan was to get the ball down and play our normal game.

“We didn’t do that in the first half but were much better in the second when we got on the front foot and in their faces a bit more.”

Fyfield was certainly on his front foot when he delivered the crucial cross for Blair’s goal – an effort worth an estimated £175,000 to the club.

His centre was described as “one of the best you will ever see” by delighted manager Mills but Fyfield remains modest about his role in securing a 2-1 aggregate triumph over the Hatters.

He said: “Ash put a good ball back to me and I just concentrated on putting it in an area where somebody could get on the end of it. Luckily, Blairy was there to put it in the goal.”

With one place at Wembley delivered, Fyfield has now insisted that achievement and prospect will not distract the team from their biggest target – returning there to contest the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final eight days later.

The Minstermen remain well placed to secure a top-five place with ten fixtures left to play and Fyfield is confident that City’s players can make an untroubled switch back to league matters when play-off rivals Southport visit Bootham Crescent on Saturday.

He said: “Only goodness can come from reaching the FA Trophy final and we all want to play in two big matches at the end of season and win them both. The boys were buzzing after Saturday’s game.

“We worked our socks off from the first round to get to Wembley and that’s why everybody was jumping about celebrating at Luton but we have got to be professional from now on because we want to get promoted through the play-offs. Saturday was one hurdle we have cleared and we’ve got to concentrate on the league now. A few of the boys have been to Wembley and lost and nobody wants that to happen again. I’ve never been there as a spectator but I’m hoping to go there twice as a player now.”