EASTBOURNE Borough manager Garry Wilson questioned his side’s end-of-the-season approach after a poor display at relegation-threatened York City.

Victory at KitKat Crescent would have guaranteed a top-half finish for Borough in their maiden Blue Square premier campaign.

But Daniel McBreen’s 34th-minute goal secured a vital three points for the Minstermen and Boro rarely posed a problem at the other end of the pitch.

Wilson said: “The first half was the worst we have performed for a long time. We never got out of the starting blocks.

“I don’t know if that was because it’s the end of the season but that’s not what I wanted. I would like to finish with as many points as we can and we could have gone above Rushden and moved nearer Wrexham so I’m disappointed with our performance. It’s important to finish the season positively and as high as possible.”

York started the game brightly, forcing three corners in the first five minutes and top scorer Richard Brodie should have opened the scoring when he headed over from a yard out after Christian Smith’s flag kick.

On seven minutes, Boro’s best move of the match saw Paul Armstrong release Allan Tait for a free run on goal but a disappointing finish was easily smothered by home keeper Michael Ingham.

The visitors then suffered a setback on 21 minutes when centre-back Marc Pullan limped out of the action, meaning key midfielder Danny Brown was required to drop back into defence.

York took a deserved lead when Levi Mackin’s defence-splitting pass saw Australian striker McBreen spring the Sports’ offside trap before ending a run of 21 league games without a goal by scuffing a low ten-yard shot to Lee Hook’s right.

Brodie also glanced a header wide from Ben Purkiss’ cross on 41 minutes as York entered half-time in the ascendancy.

The second period was a closer with York playing with less freedom and more anxiety.

Martin Foyle’s men might still have doubled their advantage, however, with Hook making a fine reflex save from Brodie and David McGurk also heading against the woodwork from a corner.

Boro, though, had two injury-time chances to snatch a point with the Minstermen down to ten men after Mackin was forced off the pitch because of a bloody nose after Foyle had made all three of his substitutions. The opportunities fell to the hard-working Armstrong in the penalty box but he found Ingham’s arms with both efforts.

York: Michael Ingham, Ben Purkiss, Daniel Parslow, David McGurk, Shaun Pejic, Adam Smith (Simon Brown, 74), Levi Mackin, Christian Smith, Adam Boyes, Daniel McBreen (Stephen Torpey, 80), Richard Brodie (Onome Sodje, 88). Subs not used: Mark Robinson, Mark Greaves.

Eastbourne: Lee Hook 7, Ben Austin 7, Darren Baker 7, Marc Pullan 6 (Matt Smart, 21, 6), Neil Jenkins 6, Jay Lovett 6, Danny Brown 7, Paul Armstrong 8, Matt Crabb 6 (Simon Wormull, 74) Allan Tait 6, Jack Jeffrey 6 (Nathan Crabb, 55, 6). Subs (not used): Pat Harding, Jacob Mingle.