YORK City manager Neal Ardley has credited Needham Market after the Minstermen booked their place in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 1-0 victory.

A stoppage-time winner from Tyler Cordner saw York defeat Needham Market in the replay after a goalless draw on Saturday, with City avoiding an unneeded stoppage time and penalties against lower league opposition.

Ardley was full of praise for Needham after a performance to be proud of over 180 minutes, and felt that his side lacked quality despite the final result.

“Before we talk about us, let’s just give Needham Market a lot of credit.” Ardley told BBC Radio York.

“I thought that in both ties they were very good without the ball, they filled the gaps and did the job for them.

“I thought they would run out of steam but they didn’t today, especially after the effort that they put in on Saturday. I thought they were excellent.

“That coupled with the fact that we lacked quality again all over the place, I was dreading going to extra time with the games coming up.

“It couldn’t have been any worse for us, but we kept going, saw our jobs through and blocked any attempts that they did have so it’s another clean sheet.

“We finally popped up with a moment late on, I’m not going to dress it up as anything other than what it is.

“It was a poor performance, but we dug in and got the result but credit to Needham.

“I don’t need to lay into the lads, the lads know we aren’t anywhere near where we should be.

“But they dug in, we’ve come a little way from where we as in the first seven games of the season and there’s a bit of a spirit there.

“They’ve worked incredibly hard but there is spirt all over the pitch.

Ardley also took time to commend the York supporters for making the trip down to Sussex after the narrow victory, and expressed his happiness at being in the hat for the next round.

“Honestly they are so good. I’ve had some really good fans at clubs we have worked at, but these lot are brilliant.

“I’m sure that if we don’t deliver what they want, they will let us know, which any fan is entitled to.

“I spoke to a couple of them on the way in and asked how long it had taken them (to get to Needham Market) and asked them what they are doing!

“England are playing and are on the telly, what are you doing? It’s dedication, and we’ve got to try to shape a team and put a team on the pitch that they deserve, because they certainly deserve what they have had over the last six to eight months.

“We’re working at it, we dug in, we were poor, we’ve won 1-0 and are in the hat.”