YORK City boss Gary Mills believes veteran striker Jon Parkin will have enjoyed a confidence boost from his 200th career goal and the brace that sent his team into the next round of the FA Cup.

Parkin’s two second-half goals cancelled out Liam Hogan’s header just before the break for hosts Salford to secure a 2-1 win in the second qualifying round tie.

The 35-year-old veteran had previously squandered great opportunities to reach the landmark during City’s 1-1 midweek home draw with Gainsborough and Mills reasoned that, despite the former Hull and Stoke striker’s goal-laden past, he will still be relieved to get back on the scoresheet and take his season’s tally to five.

Parkin’s first goal at Moor Lane came when he swept home a right-wing Louis Almond cross with a firm, first-time finish from eight yards.

His second was a little more fortunate as Amari Morgan-Smith’s bobbling shot clipped his left foot and spun past deceived home keeper Max Crocombe.

Mills told the York Press: “We all clapped Jon for getting his 200th goal, because he’s had a tough time trying to put the ball in the net.

“But he took the chance well after a great cross by Louis and, sometimes, it’s all about the quality of the ball in - a bit like their goal.

“Then, even though Amari tried to claim his 201st goal, the second one seemed to go in off Jon’s backside to get us in the next round, so I’m really pleased for him.

“No matter how old you are or what kind of career you’ve had, he’s a human being and he’s missed chances to get us another two or three points on the board.”

York: Worsnop; Law, Bencherif, Parslow, Whittle, Heslop, Wharton, Newton, Almond (Felix 60), Parkin, Morgan-Smith. Sibs (not used): Smith, Sukar, Muggleton, Edmondson, Haswell, Simpson.

GATESHEAD lost ground on the play-off places as Aldershot moved to the top of the National League by claiming a late winner at the International Stadium.

Fabien Robert's late goal handed the Shots a 1-0 victory over the Heed after a tight game on Tyneside.

Aldershot had the first real chance of the game as some good build-up play allowed James Rowe to fire a shot at Dan Hanford, with Danny Johnson trying his luck from distance at the other end.

Rowe had another chance midway through the first half but Hanford did well to save his free-kick and the scores were level at the break.

Gateshead, who are now three points off the top five, had their best chance seven minutes after the break as first Luke Hannant and then Johnson saw shots saved by Jake Cole.

It looked like a game that would need a decisive moment and it came when Hanford's weak attempt to clear a corner fell to Robert and he hooked home with seven minutes to play.

Gateshead boss Neil Aspin said: “Not disappointed with the performance, disappointed with the result. I respect Aldershot, they have some good players. We had the better chances in the first half.

“I thought it was a matter of time and that we would get the breakthrough. I couldn’t have seen them scoring, they had one shot. But that’s football. You have to try to move on to the next game. Invariably it comes down to a mistake and we made the mistake and it cost us.”

Gateshead: Hanford; Williams, Vassell, Hannant, Fyfield, Byrne, O’Donnell, Penn (Preston 84), McLaughlin, Johnson (Langstaff 70), Peniket (Burrow 70). Subs (not used): MacLeod, Maxwell.