YORK City suffered a late blow to their Vanarama National League survival hopes, as Altrincham secured a third victory of the season over the Minstermen.

City find themselves six points clear of the current relegation zone, but face the concern of Gateshead having three games in hand whilst occupying 21st position of the National League.

The away side had quickly established their authority at the LNER Community Stadium in just the seventh minute, as Joe Hugill slotted home his first of the league season for the Robins when latching onto a teasing Josh Lundstram cross.

York did test opposing goalkeeper Oliver Byrne on multiple occasions, but had to wait until there were 15 minutes remaining before substitute Shaq Forde drew the scores level.

Some lovely footwork from the Watford loanee allowed a yard of space for the striker, who lashed a powerful effort into the far corner to gift City some hope of a late turnaround.

But there would be no late heroics for York, who instead suffered a crushing blow as defender James Jones netted his second in three days against the Minstermen when powering home a header.

York were hoping to avoid a third defeat of the season to Altrincham but had no such luck, with the Robins now defeating City by a score line of 2-1 on three occasions this season.

It’s also a second defeat to Altrincham in three days for Michael Morton’s side, after the Robins dumped the Minstermen out of the Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday at the quarter-final stages.

One minor positive for the home side was the recognition showed to Olly Dyson and Alex Whittle prior to kick-off, who have both now made 100 appearances for the club.

Morton opted to make three changes to the side who fell to defeat against Altrincham at the weekend, including winger Maziar Kouhyar, who had missed the weekend tie due to a tooth infection.

Ryan Fallowfield and Olly Dyson were both also instated into the starting line-up, having been rested in the FA Trophy.

It was at the expense of Forde, Gus Mafuta and Paddy McLaughlin.

One surprise prior to kick-off was the lack of involvement for striker Lenell John-Lewis, who had allegedly picked up a knock in training, meaning Michael Duckworth was temporarily handed the captaincy.

Whilst it would turn out to be Altrincham who would steal an early lead, York did have the better of the chances in the opening stages.

Dyson looked to celebrate his recent England C call-up with a long-ranged strike, but instead dragged his effort wide from distance.

Kouhyar is still looking for his first goal since returning from a lengthy abductor injury, and nearly grabbed it when cutting inside of his marker and curling past Byrne in goal, only to be denied by a well-positioned defender to scramble clear off of the line.

And despite the early City pressure, it was Altrincham who grasped the early advantage.

Some intelligent play by former Crewe Alexandra man Lundstram saw the midfielder saunter down the line, before firing a low cross into the lurking Hugill who was able to calmly tuck the ball past Ryan Whitley in the early stages.

Dyson was looking to be influential in the hopes of sparking an immediate response, as his teasing cross caused confusion among the Altrincham defence, before being deflected on target and forcing a reactive stop from Byrne.

From the resulting corner, Mitch Hancox’s cross onto the head of Luke James saw the striker’s header flash across goal, but lack any crucial touch.

Just five minutes later it was James who was crossing the ball in, as he found Dyson in the box, but his header was calmly smothered by Byrne.

Altrincham did have the lead and were looking to add to it themselves, as Elliot Osborne let fly from range and caused panic among the City defence, but thankfully his effort was blazed wide of the target.

Dyson found himself once again involved when latching onto a cross from Kouhyar, but again the midfielder was thwarted by the reactive Byrne.

Heading into the second half, York continued their mounting pressure as another dangerous Kouhyar cross found Maxim Kouogun in the box, but he was somehow unable to direct his header on target from close-range.

Byrne was really proving to be a thorn in the side of Dyson, as the goalkeeper produced another brilliant stop to parry Dyson’s effort from the edge of the box wide.

Regan Linney looked to carve out a chance for the away side as he dragged the ball back to Eddy Jones, but the latter’s strike was drilled just wide of the far post.

Dan Pybus has received some criticism as of late for his set-pieces, and looked to quieten down the negativity when striking a free-kick from the edge of the box, only to see his audacious effort float narrowly over the bar.

But after some substantial City pressure, it would prove to be the substitute who would come to the rescue.

The Watford loanee received possession in the box before smuggling his way past some outstretched Altrincham defenders, and eventually hammered the ball into the far corner to end any hopes of Byrne maintaining the clean sheet he had worked so desperately for.

Unfortunately for York, their equaliser wouldn’t spark the momentum to go on and win the game, and as a result they were punished.

With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Jones added his second goal in three days against the Minstermen, attacking a teasing cross and forcing the ball past the stranded Whitley to regift the Robins their lead.

York would be unable to mount a second comeback in the match, with Altrincham securing the double over the Minstermen in the league season, and leaving no room for revenge after their FA Trophy advancements on Saturday.

York City: Whitley 6, Fallowfield 7, Duckworth 6, Crookes 6, Kouogun 6 (Hurst 84), Hancox 6, Pybus 6, Dyson 8, Kouhyar 7, Duku 6, James 7 (Forde 7, 66)

Subs not used: Ellis, Campbell, McLaughlin

Goals: Forde (74)

Yellow cards: Pybus (81)

Altrincham: Byrne, E. Jones, Ferguson, J. Jones, Baines, Oyedele, Lundstram, Osborne (Perritt, 87), Marriott, Hugill (Sinclair, 76), Linney

Subs not used: Hulme, Cashman, Pringle

Goals: Hugill (7), J. Jones (83)

Yellow cards: J. Jones (43), Ferguson (57)

York’s star man: Olly Dyson. A fantastic performance from the midfielder who is proving he deserves his international call-up. Coming so close to getting on the scoresheet and providing an attacking outlet that Morton wanted from midfield.

Attendance: 3644

Shots (on target): 9 (7) | 4 (3)

Corners: 3 | 0

Offsides: 1 | 1

Fouls committed: 8 | 6