YORK City boss Gary Mills admitted his team’s tight 4-3 win against Nuneaton was “a lesson learned” after maximum points were almost tossed away during the closing stages.

Michael Rankine and Simon Heslop both netted twice as the Minstermen led 3-0 and 4-1 with a second-half penalty, won and converted by former Bootham Crescent winger Ashley Chambers, looking a mere consolation for the part-time visitors.

But Chambers went on to score again on 83 minutes before teeing up team-mate Jordan Nicholson for a third visitors’ goal, leaving Mills’ team hanging on for the final whistle.

Rankine had earlier got on the scoresheet with just 36 seconds on the clock and Mills felt his side got complacent as the game wore on, pointing out to the York Press: “We got off to a great start, Hessie got a great second goal and, then, it’s very important to get the third, which we did, but we went on to make basic errors.

“We got the three points, but I wouldn’t want to get them like that every week, as I’m sure our fans wouldn’t. We were 3-0 and 4-1 up and I know why we conceded the goals we did.

“Maybe our fans and some of the players thought the game was over, but you have to see out a game of football, because it’s never over until that final whistle goes, so it’s a lesson learned.”

York City: Worsnop, Law, Parslow, Sukar, Whittle; Heslop, Moke (Connolly 63), Newton; Almond (Smith 78), Rankine, Morgan-Smith. Subs (not used): Muggleton, Felix, Wharton.

GATESHEAD bolstered their unbeaten start to the campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Macclesfield on home turf.

The Tynesiders led after just five minutes when Fraser Kerr prodded in Richard Peniket's centre at the far post. It was initially adjudged offside by the linesman, but the referee overruled him.

Scott Wilson nearly equalised for the Silkmen with a 25-yard low shot, but James Montgomery was down sharply to deny him.

At the other end, Kerr was also involved in Gateshead's second just before the half-time whistle, sending in a vicious corner for Jordan Burrow to head in.

After the break, Peniket released Jordan Preston, and the striker slotted calmly past Billy O'Brien for number three.

It was Preston’s first goal since arriving from Guiseley and he said: “It’s very satisfying to start the season picking up points and clean sheets at home.

“The goal’s been coming in the past few games and that’s probably my biggest criticism of myself for not scoring, but it’s great to finally get the goal on a personal note.”

Gateshead: Montgomery; Fyfield, Penn, Vassell, Byrne (York 46), McLaughlin, Kerr, Mellish, Peniket (Johnson 79), Burrow, Preston. Subs (not used): York, Tinkler, Hanford.