THE Tameside Stadium remains an unhappy hunting ground for York City, who slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Curzon Ashton.

City have now been overtaken at the top of National League North by King's Lynn Town.

An abject first-half display proved York's undoing as Stockport County loanee Connor Dimaio rifled in after Peter Jameson's punch out from a free kick fell short.

The Minstermen livened up considerably at the start of the second period, and went close through Elliott Durrell and Jordan Burrow, but their threat faded as the half progressed.

Mark Bradshaw made two changes to the Curzon Ashton side who registered their first win in 14 last weekend, beating AFC Telford United 2-1. Charlie Jolley and Connor Dimaio came in for Nicky Wroe and Isaac Sinclair.

Scorer of the dramatic 93rd-minute winner, Andy Halls retained his place in the starting line-up alongside five-goal scorer for the season Sean Miller. Salford City loanee Joshua Askew was in the side as well.

There were three changes for York following the FA Cup defeat to Altrincham last weekend. Adriano Moke was left out of the squad for the first time this season while there was a first league start for Elliott Durrell.

Jordan Burrow and Paddy McLaughlin returned to the 11 after starting last week on the bench. Kieran Green dropped to the bench and Nathan Dyer was restored to the substitutes.

York started the contest looking the stronger across the pitch, they threatened to either carve out an opening or bundle their way through with the help of some poor touches from the home defence. Alex Kempster was called offside early after Jordan Burrow had done well to force his way down the line from a Joe Tait clearance and play through for his strike partner.

But once the hosts found their feet, they started to make threatening strides forward.

Miller looked to add to his goal tally in the 11th minute. He found himself in plenty of space 25 yards out but miscued wildly over.

Paddy McLaughlin picked up a yellow card for an uncontrolled challenge on Liam Davies after David Ferguson had put his defence under pressure with an intercepted loose pass.

Curzon were playing like they had a point to make. They were winning the midfield battle and York’s attackers had found themselves very isolated by the midway point of the half, while Miller and captain Evans led by example down the defensive left, putting in some crunching – but legal – tackles.

Mohamud Ali was shown yellow for a less well-timed challenge on Burrow in the middle.

City’s best chance of the first half-hour fell to Durrell. McLaughlin did very well in the corner to beat two men and back to Kallum Griffiths, whose ball in rebounded to Durrell. He dragged his volley – when unmarked – wide of keeper Cameron Mason’s right-hand upright.

Debutant Dimaio put Curzon ahead just after the half-hour. Jameson punched clear a free kick cross and Dimaio did well to shape up over the bouncing ball and drill into the unguarded net.

Curzon, to their credit, did a fantastic job of shutting York down in the centre and with, at times, six at the back, the occasionally dynamic Durrell and Kempster could not wriggle through. The latter’s movement coming back to collect a Tait through-ball – not the first time the combination was used – earned the visitors a corner which was easily punched clear.

It was a disappointing first half for York, who threatened only through Durrell’s volley. Curzon had not set the world alight but they consummately contained City.

The left-footed Harry Spratt replaced Joe Tait – who had been struggling for a good portion of the first half – at the break, shifting Sean Newton out to the right.

This freed up Ferguson down the left a bit more and a familiar run forward ended with a York corner. Durrell’s deflected near-post header cracked the upright. A Ferguson delivery seven minutes into the half found Griffiths, whose header back across goal was blocked by a diving Mason.

The upturn in attitude and potency was dramatic. Attacking the goal in front of the travelling fans, York smelled blood.

Crosses from Spratt and Newton – whose ball in was drifting goalwards – caused varying degrees of consternation in the Curzon box before Jameson had to be alert at the other end to punch a cross away from the approaching Miller.

Mason made a fantastic point-blank save from Burrow, who drifted off his man to meet and volley from Griffiths’ ball in. On the hour, Mason got down well to palm away Burrow’s header to the bottom left corner.

Kempster came inches away from meeting Griffiths low whipped cross, which could only have found the net had the striker made contact.

Yet Curzon could not be written off, Dimaio reminding York so when he drifted through on goal and got a blocked shot away – though chances for both sides were getting fewer and further between, and frustration started to creep in in the stands as Curzon looked happy enough to let the clock run down. Halls was booked for taking a free kick too slowly.

A late flurry of set pieces did not trouble the hosts unduly.

Curzon Ashton: Mason, Halls, Ali, Calveley (Wroe 22), Shaw, Baillie (Sinclair 59), Miller, Evans, Jolley (Saunders 90), Dimaio, Davies. Subs not used: Askew, Merrill.

Goals: Dimaio

Yellow cards: Ali, Halls

York: Jameson 7, Griffiths 6, Tait 6 (Spratt HT, 7), McNulty 6, Newton 6, Ferguson 7, McLaughlin 6 (Langstaff 62), Bond 6, Durrell 7 (Green 62, 6), Kempster 6, Burrow 6. Subs not used: Whitley, Dyer.

Star man: David Ferguson. After being summarily shut down in the first half, he looked York's most creative player in the second.

Yellow cards: McLaughlin, McNulty

Referee: John Matthews

Attendance: