York City 0 Stevenage Boro 1 DAVE FLETT reports PAUL Hakim scored his first goal since joining Stevenage Boro to earn Mark Stimson s men a crucial three points at play-off rivals York City. The former St Albans forward, who arrived at Broadhall Way at the

York City 0 Stevenage Boro 1

DAVE FLETT reports

PAUL Hakim scored his first goal since joining Stevenage Boro to earn Mark Stimson's men a crucial three points at play-off rivals York City.

The former St Albans forward, who arrived at Broadhall Way at the end of the January transfer window, had failed to net in his first six appearances for Boro.

But he ended that drought - in only his third start - with a 54th minute effort that proved the only goal of the game in Tuesday night's Conference clash.

Hakim could have gone on to claim a hat-trick at KitKat Crescent but Boro were also blessed with a bit of fortune at the other end of the pitch in front of the watching Archbishop of York.

Goalkeeper Alan Julian was kept busy following Hakim's goal and home midfielder Neal Bishop also struck the bar for the Minstermen.

But Boro held on to reignite their play-off push after back-to-back defeats against Dagenham and Altrincham.

The result meant the Boro closed the gap on third-placed York to seven points with three games in hand on the North Yorkshire club and Morecambe were the only other play-off contender to taste victory in a full midweek programme.

Hakim opened the scoring after a succession of inswinging corners from Steve Guppy had troubled the home defence early in the second half.

The former England international eventually gained his reward when York keeper Tom Evans failed to deal with a delivery to his near post and an unmarked Hakim was left to prod the ball across the line from a yard out.

His goal was Boro's first on-target effort of the match after a cagey first half from both teams.

Hakim had the visitors' best chance before the break but shot tamely into the side netting from six yards.

At the other end, Julian saved well from an angled Craig Farrell drive.

After Hakim broke the deadlock, York responded with spirit and Bishop rattled the underside of the bar on 58 minutes.

On-loan Chesterfield defender Janos Kovacs also went close with two headers and substitute Richard Brodie rose unchallenged to force Julian into a fine save.

But Hakim also had two chances to put the game beyond doubt on the break.

After Steve Morison had beaten David McGurk in the air, Hakim burst clear on goal only to drag his shot wastefully wide.

He then fired straight at Evans on 83 minutes after outpacing York left-back Craig James but one goal proved sufficient.