Kettering 0 York City 1: Minstermen remain in top three

Rankine, without a goal in 12 matches, pounced on 15 minutes to settle matters at Rockingham Road after being instructed to display a greater attacking threat.

The former Scunthorpe forward's six-yard effort was his seventh goal of the season and moved York to within a point of top two Oxford and Stevenage.

Foyle said: "I'm really pleased for Michael as he hadn't scored since November and we'd had a little chat in which I asked him to shoot and finish more."

The York marksman was substituted midway through the second half as the game threatened to boil over.

Following a 21-man melee that saw City's Alex Lawless and home midfielder Jordan Hadfield booked, Rankine was withdrawn after shoving two Kettering defenders to the floor, having already been cautioned in the first half.

Foyle added: "I thought the referee was lining somebody up to be sent off. It could have been Ranks and I don't know whether it should have been so we took him off. He's still a young player learning the game."

Earlier, York goalkeeper Michael Ingham made a terrific reflex save to keep out Ian Roper's fourth-minute header.

Aside from Rankine's goal, the Minstermen only created one more chance – a glancing header from Ben Purkiss that bounced wide on 83 minutes.

Kettering: Abbey, Thelwell, Dempster, Roper, Jennings, Wrack (Robinson, 62), Noubissie (Boucaud, 63), Hadfield, Kelly ( Taylor, 78), Dance, Appiah. Unused substitutes: Cooper, Thomas.

York City: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Purkiss, Mackin, Lawless (Barrett, 90), Carruthers (Gash, 87), Rankine (Sangare, 66), Brodie. Unused substitutes: Clarke, Pitt.

Referee: R Wigglesworth (Lancashire).

Man of the match: Michael Ingham.

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