Stevenage Borough 1 York City 0 BORO signed off from the Blue Square Premier with another three points and a new clean sheets record but they were made to work hard for it by Martin Foyle s York City. After resting several players for the victory at Gate

Stevenage Borough 1

York City 0

BORO signed off from the Blue Square Premier with another three points and a new clean sheets record but they were made to work hard for it by Martin Foyle's York City.

After resting several players for the victory at Gateshead on Tuesday night, Boro boss Graham Westley made six changes recalling Chris Day, Chris Beardsley, Joel Byrom, Mark Roberts, Ronnie Henry and Jon Ashton.

Boro started well and took the game to the visitors with Beardsley and Charlie Griffin proving a handful for the York defence. A long ball forward found Beardsley who hooked the ball into the box and although the York defence cleared it, it went only as far as Michael Bostwick but he volleyed comfortably wide.

Byrom has become a prominent part in Boro's title run-in and his clever corner routine with Andy Drury threatened to catch York napping.

Drury played the corner to Byrom and the former Northwich man fed it back to Drury who got to the byline and dinked over a cross that York skipper Danny Parslow headed over his own bar.

Beardsley and Griffin continued to enjoy the upper hand on the Minstermen's defence with Beardsley teeing up Griffin who fired wide and Griffin flicking on a long Day punt forward for Beardsley who beat David McGurk but saw his shot saved low down by Josh Mimms.

Boro made the breakthrough in the 34th minute taking advantage of a defensive mix-up. Former York man Beardsley was again involved bursting down the right and firing in a cross to the far post that Parslow and goalkeeper Mimms both left for each other allowing David Bridges to steal in and head into the empty net.

Boro went in search of another before the break and good tenacity from Griffin saw him win the ball and roll it back to Scott Laird whose cross found Drury at the far post but the right winger headed wide.

To their credit York came out the better of the two sides after the interval with wide man Chris Carruthers looking particularly dangerous.

Sloppy play by Boro gave the Minstermen a half chance but Carruthers fired wide from the left hand side of the box.

Boro looked most dangerous on the break in the second half and it was only a last ditch interception from McGurk that stopped Drury playing in Byrom after Boro had counter attacked.

Westley introduced top goalscorer Yemi Odubade on 55 minutes and he got in on the action immediately when Drury's cross was missed by James Meredith and Beardsley but Odubade's acrobatic volley was well held by Mimms.

York then cranked up the pressure and enjoyed a good spell on top with Neil Barrett heading Paul Harsley's free kick straight at Day and McGurk heading over from a Carruthers' free kick.

Boro stopper Day, looking to set a new record of 25 clean sheets in the league, did fantastically well to keep out a well struck Carruthers' volley with his feet after the left-sided midfielder was left unmarked at the far post.

At the other end Byrom went close with a free kick 11 minutes from time but his effort whistled just over Mimms' bar.

A number of stoppages throughout the second half saw five minutes of added time tacked on and deep into that time York's Michael Rankine felt he should have had a penalty when his volley struck Roberts' hand but referee John Farries ignored the City striker's protests and Boro held on for the win.

All that was left was for the Boro squad and management to receive their medals and for skipper Roberts to collect the Blue Square Premier trophy before lapping up the admiration of the Boro faithful.

Boro (4-4-2): Day 8*; Henry 7, Ashton 7, Roberts 7, Laird 7; Drury 7, Bostwick 7, Bridges 7 (Odubade 55, 7), Byrom 7; Griffin 7 (Sills 63, 7), Beardsley 7 (Wilson 70, 7).

Subs: Bayes, Long.

York (4-3-1-2): Mimms 6; Parslow 6, Graham 7, McGurk 7, Meredith 6; Harsley 6 (Smith 66, 7), Barrett 7 (Gash 66, 5), Mackin 5, Carruthers 7 (Brodie 79); Rankine 5, Lawless 5.

Subs: Pacquette, Clarke.

Referee: J.Farries

Att: 5, 068