Pitt stops the rot

Courtney Pitt fired life back into York City’s play-off hopes with a superb winner against fellow challengers Mansfield Town at Field Mill.

The decisive moment came just past the hour when recent signing Paul Harsley swept a pass across to Pitt, who moved the ball onto his right foot and lashed a tremendous finish past Alan Marriott.

Three minutes later the visitors wasted a glorious chance to double their advantage when Pitt was brought down inside the area by Jon Challinor and Marriott turned aside Richard Brodie’s penalty.

Mansfield later had former York loan defender Luke Foster sent-off for bringing down substitute Michael Rankine.

But this was a much improved display from York, with Michael Gash drilling wide early on and Brodie also lifting a shot over.

Home keeper Marriott then saved well at his near post to keep out Brodie and Ben Purkiss drove into the side-netting from a narrow angle.

The Stags were mainly restricted to a couple of Gary Mills free-kicks and the long throws of Andy Nicholas.

Gash headed wide for the visitors after the break before Pitt broke the deadlock on 61 minutes with an unstoppable finish.

However, Brodie’s first penalty miss of the season ensured a tense finish for the travelling fans, whose hopes were raised as Foster was dismissed nine minutes from time.

But there was still time for home substitute Jake Speight to poke a late chance wide before the visitors were allowed to celebrate a first victory in eight games.

Mansfield Town: Marriott, Nicholas, Foster, Brough, Silk, Briscoe, Mills, Challinor, Burgess, Duffy (Perry 65), Sturrock (Speight 65)

subs (unused): Eley, Somner, Nix

York City: Ingham, Purkiss, Sangare (McGurk 77), Graham, Meredith, Harsley, Clarke, Barrett, Pitt (Smith 90), Brodie, Gash (Rankine 77)

subs (unused): Parslow, Pacquette

Goals: Pitt (61)

Ref: S. Martin (Staffordshire)

Att: 2,638