Manager Martin Gray considered it a strong second-half performance as York City moved into fourth place with a narrow 1-0 victory against Boston United.
The winning goal arrived when David Ferguson’s 73rd minute cross was diverted into his own net by the sliding Ben Middleton, that following a deeply uninspiring opening period.
The on loan Harrogate Town defender was one of three players later sent-off, with team-mate Andi Thanoj and home midfielder Simon Heslop also receiving their marching orders.
“I thought the first-half was a slow start,” Gray admitted to BBC Radio York. “We didn’t create enough chances as we would have liked to have done. I think the pitch didn’t help both teams.
“We had a few harsh words and had to up the tempo, and I thought the second-half was a very strong performance.
“We didn’t really open up enough [in the first-half],” he continued. “A few set-pieces but we didn’t really threaten an awful lot. Neither did they – they had come with a game plan to slow things down.
“There was a few harsh words said and a few fingers pointed and we got the right reaction.”
Meanwhile, Gray believed the trio of dismissals were fair enough decisions, although there could also have been another: “I think Heslop’s was a sending-off,” he added. “He just overstretches and catches him. If he didn’t already have a yellow, I don’t think he would have walked.
“Their player [Thanoj] got involved and got him in a headlock and squeezed his throat. So naturally he goes. Then the kid [Middleton] two-foots Raul Correia and it’s an easy red for the referee.
“But I still thought the kid [Jake Beesley] should have got done for Adam Bartlett. It was an horrendous challenge in the first 15-20 minutes. Certainly a booking and to come away with nothing, he must be delighted.”
Video Link: York City FC
Audio Link: BBC Radio York
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