GARY MILLS’ homecoming failed to end on a winning note and he is ready to sign new players in a bid to turn York City’s fortunes around.

The double-Wembley winning Minstermen boss’ first game in charge on his return to Bootham Crescent ended in a 1-1 draw with Chester.

Mills might have secured a rare York victory had it not been for Kane Richards hitting an equaliser for the visitors in the last minute to leave him frustrated.

York had taken the lead after a slow start to the game with 23 minutes remaining when Matt Fry headed in Danny Galbraith’s centre. Goalkeeper Kyle Letheren was excellent for the home side but he was beaten late by Richards’ header.

Mills told the York Press said: “We didn’t dominate the game, they did. They hit the woodwork twice and you could see why they’re doing well in the league.

“It’s always disappointing to lose a 90th-minute goal but, to be honest, it wasn’t as if they didn’t deserve it. There’s no doubt we need to strengthen and the chairman is letting me do that.

“People have been brought into the club in the hope that they would be OK, but they’ve not been any better than those that were here before. Now, we have to bring in players who are better.”

York: Letheren; Whittle, Kamdjo, Heslop, Fry, Higgins, Nti, Fenwick (Brodie 69), Clarke (Galbraith 64), Rzonca (Klukowski 78), Oyebanjo. Subs (not used): Flinders, Clappison.

GATESHEAD boss Neil Aspin was pleased to see his threadbare squad return to winning ways courtesy of a 2-0 victory at Maidstone.

The Heed, who couldn’t name a full list of substitutes, were keen to see a positive response after the midweek defeat to Alfreton in the FA Cup.

And they got one at the Gallagher Stadium where Danny Johnson hit two goals to seal the points.

Maidstone had threatened to take the lead early on but, with half-time approaching, Johnson nodded in Manny Smith’s flick-on from close range.

The points were effectively sealed with 20 minutes remaining when Johnson added his second to claim much-needed points in the battle to close the gap on the play-off places again.

Aspin said: “A lot of things were said after the game on Wednesday and I made it clear how disappointed I was with that result and I have to say I’m very pleased with the reaction of the players.

“We’ve got a couple of injuries but we’ve coped really well and put in an outstanding performance and I’d say it was probably our best and most important performance and result so far this season given what has happened this past week.

“To lose after 120 minutes on Wednesday in the FA Cup and making the long journey down here to put in a performance like that and win the game against a tricky Maidstone side is exceptional.”

Gateshead: Hanford; Smith, Smith, York (Styche 79), Hogan, Jones, Brundle, Johnson, Hannant, Jones, Penn. Subs (not used): Johnson, Wrightson, Mafuta.