YORK CITY failed to give their survival chances a real lift when they lost out to fellow strugglers Oxford United at Bootham Crescent.

Teenage striker James Roberts was the man responsible for hitting the game’s only goal in the 35th minute when he was on hand to turn in from close range.

Roberts tapped in from three yards out after Danny Hylton had flicked on Brian Howard’s corner. York had threatened to take the lead themselves only for Michael Coulson to hit the bar with a free-kick, while Lewis Montrose hit the post.

York boss Russ Wilcox said: “Frustrated, I think that is the key word. It’s just not dropping for us at the moment either.

“We’re just looking for that little bit of luck. But, saying all that, I’m not going to hide away from facts. We are in trouble and we have to start performing here and winning games. The lads are working as hard as they possibly can but I am just looking for a little bit more now.”

York: Cisak, McCoy, Zubar, Lowe, Ilesanmi, Meikle (Straker 45), Pennn, Montrose (Summerfield 69), Coulson, Fletcher (Carson 78), Hyde. Subs: Mooney, McCombe, Halliday, Platt.

GATESHEAD’S push for promotion suffered a set-back when John Rooney hit a second half winner at the Deva Stadium.

Rooney, whose brother Wayne scored for England on his 100th cap against Slovenia shortly after, converted from close range to end ten-man Gateshead defeated and seal the points for Chester.

The Heed had James Curtis sent off for a foul on Josh O’Keefe and there was no way back as Gary Mills’ side slipped down to fourth in the Conference.

Mills told the Gateshead website: “We could have been three or four up at half-time – and that’s no exaggeration. We haven’t taken our chances – we haven’t been ruthless. I think they’ve had one shot on target and they’ve scored.

“It’s incredible that we have come away without any points at all. But that’s football. Ultimately we know that it’s about sticking the ball in the back of the net and keep a clean sheet. We haven’t done either.

“We played very well – there’s no two ways about it. We dictated the game, we dominated the game. I couldn’t really see them scoring.”

Gateshead: Bartlett; Ramshaw (Heardman 66), Curtis, Clark, Anderton, Oster (Finnigan 71), Baxter, Turnbull, Rodman, Pattison, Wright (Shaw 76). Subs (not used): Rankine, Jones.