A LATE equaliser from Josh Windass prevented York City from giving their chances of League Two survival a real boost at Accrington Stanley.

The Minstermen took the lead twice as they looked for a victory which would have put further daylight between themselves and the bottom two.

But Windass’ last minute leveller pegged York back by two points to leave Russ Wilcox’s team just a point above the relegation zone with eight matches remaining.

York took the lead just after the hour when Luke Summerfield’s deflected 20-yard effort found its way in.

But Accrington hit back seven minutes later when West Ham loan man Sean Maguire made the most of a loose ball in the box before Jake Hyde raised fresh York hope 14 minutes before the end.

Accrington, though, responded by pressing in the closing stages when Windass stroked in a 20-yard free-kick to seal a point.

Wilcox said: “I’m devastated because I thought we had the game in the bag and it’s so cruel again. I feel like I’m saying the same things after each game. But again, game management.

“We’ve got to do better and keep our shape and discipline and don’t give free-kicks away on the edge of the box. Is it a point gained? No, it’s two lost but the lads are giving everything for this club.”

York: Olejnik; McCombe, Winfield, Lowe, Carson, Summerfield, Penn, Halliday, Coulthurst, Sinclair (Platt 14), Hyde. Subs: McCoy, Ilesanmi, Montrose, Meikle, Godfrey, Ingham.

GATESHEAD’S fading play-off hopes took another hit when they suffered a narrow defeat on the road at Dover Athletic.

Dover’s Connor Essam was the man who settled the encounter with a stunning 54th minute volley which condemned the Heed to a first defeat in four.

Gateshead had nine first team players missing and it took its toll after failing to make a serious impact in the final third at the Crabble Athletic Ground.

Had the Tyneside club managed to claim a victory it would have been the first time this season they had won three matches in a row – and that would have seriously boosted chances of closing the six-point gap to fifth-placed Forest Green.

And defender Craig Baxter told the Gateshead website: “We will have to play Forest Green, Eastleigh and Halifax – two of them at our place, so they are really going to be six pointers.

“We’ve got to go to Halifax on Tuesday and we’ll be looking to bounce back with a win there.

“It’s their game in hand as well as ours so it’s all to play for. The games are coming thick and fast, but we’ll prepare right – we’ll get the proper rest and we’ll be fresh going in to Tuesday.”

Gateshead: Bartlett; Ramshaw (Orrell 64), Gjokaj, Baxter, Gooch, Pattison, Chandler, Rankine (Sainnte-Luce 80), Curtis, Shaw,,, Gillies. Subs (not used): Wilson, Finnigan, Baird.