Striker Jon Parkin passed two-hundred senior career goals with his second-half double handing title-favourites Salford City a first defeat since the opening day of the season in the FA Cup second qualifying round.
The Ammies had only previously reached the first round proper of the competition on a single occasion, but took the lead in first-half added time when unmarked skipper Liam Hogan headed beyond goalkeeper Jon Worsnop.
However, veteran marksman Parkin was on hand to sidefoot in Louis Almond’s inviting cross early in the second period – and moments after the home side had been denied by the woodwork.
And with just five minutes of the contest remaining, Amari Morgan-Smith’s shot deflected off goalscorer Parkin and into the back of the net; thus helping the visitors avoid their earliest FA Cup exit in 93 years.
Manager Gary Mills had named an unchanged starting line-up, although striker Michael Rankine missed out on the bench due to high blood pressure. Their numbers were though reinforced by goalkeeper Luke Simpson and youth-team prospects Aaron Haswell and Ryan Edmondson.
Salford notably recalled the influential Hogan and also handed Dom McHale a full debut, while main goalscorers Mike Phenix and Jack Redshaw were relegated amongst their substitutes.
York striker Almond dragged comfortably wide during the initial exchanges before his later effort lacked sufficient force; while Worsnop blocked Josh Askew’s angled shot immediately following penalty claims for a challenge on Parkin, who then lashed over from the edge of the area.
Home keeper Max Crocombe turned away a Sean Newton delivery following good work from Morgan-Smith before Alex Whittle was pulled down by the cautioned McHale. Josh Law’s resultant 28-yard free-kick was though deflected behind off the defensive wall.
Ammies skipper Hogan next struck over from distance but it was continuing to prove a particularly scrappy and low-key encounter. However, Manny Dieseruvwe headed wide for the hosts moments from the break, although Mark Shelton’s injury-time free-kick was suddenly headed back across by the unmarked Hogan for the opening goal.
City’s Almond drove narrowly wide at the start of the second period, while Parkin went down inside the area alongside more penalty shouts. Hamza Bencherif was then cautioned for adjudged deliberate handball. From the resultant free-kick the unchecked Carl Piergianni’s header agonisingly looped onto the crossbar.
But with Kaine Felix standing on the touchline waiting to enter the action, the determined Whittle released Almond and his cross was decisively sidefooted in from six-yards by the delighted Parkin.
Askew immediately blazed over in reply and Bencherif also blocked on the edge of the visitors’ area; while Felix was finally introduced, as were both Redshaw and Phenix for the home side, before Newton drilled only inches across the face of goal.
Salford keeper Crocombe next brilliantly saved low from Morgan-Smith and Bencherif failed to convert on the angle. Pacy substitute Felix also suddenly raced away but hoisted over the crossbar from inside the area. Moments later the stretching Redshaw volleyed a Richie Allen cross onto the woodwork from close-range before also curling another shot wide.
The Minstermen themselves wasted a further opportunity with Parkin striking wide at the second attempt after Newton’s long throw. Worsnop soon blocked from Phenix while Theo Wharton replied directly at Crocombe in a considerably livelier second-half, with both teams clearly wanting to progress at the first attempt.
Skipper Newton next despatched towards the home keeper and Simon Helsop was booked for dissent, before Bencherif required attention for a bloodied nose and keeper Worsnop for an ankle problem.
However, York dramatically went in front with only five minutes remaining when Morgan-Smith’s effort struck team-mate Parkin and completely wrong-footed the helpless Crocombe.
The Ammies almost levelled in added time as Worsnop crucially turned Lois Maynard’s fierce drive onto the crossbar – but the visitors are through ahead of returning to the same venue in just five weeks time.
Salford City: Crocombe, Shelton, Hogan, Burton, Piergianni, Nottingham, Allen (Dudley 83), Maynard, Dieseruvwe (Phenix 61), McHale (Redshaw 61), Askew
subs (unused): Touray, Beesley, Ogunrinde, Aghayere
Goals: Hogan (45)
York City: Worsnop, Law, Parslow, Bencherif, Whittle, Heslop, Wharton, Newton, Almond (Felix 61), Parkin, Morgan-Smith
subs (unused): Smith, Sukar, Muggleton, Simpson, Edmondson, Haswell
Goals: Parkin (54, 85)
Ref: T. Kirk
Att: 1,350 (296 York)
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