The 16th March 1974 and a top-of-the-table Third Division clash between York City and Bristol Rovers in front of more than eleven thousand fans at Bootham Crescent.

Bristol Rovers were top of the division and with York chasing them hard in second place as the teams kicked off in blustery conditions at a tightly packed stadium.

Both clubs usually boasted a prolific strike-force, and it was the home pair who first threatened when Chris Jones shot wide before Jimmy Seal also headed narrowly over the bar.

Rovers keeper Jim Eadie then kept out the dangerous Jones, while winger Kenny Stephens was a regular menace at the opposite end as he attempted to pick out the lively Bruce Bannister, who was on this occasion lacking his regular partner Alan Warboys. But defences continued to rule as the first-half remained scoreless.

York had an escape early in the second period as right-back John Stone headed off the line from former Huddersfield Town outside-left Colin Dobson. And that looked even more vital when the home side took the lead on 52 minutes.

The magical Ian Holmes set-off on a glorious, thrusting run down the left and beat three opponents before crossing low for Jones to crash into the roof of the net from close-range.   

But the visitors had been the division's outstanding side all season, and responded with Frank Prince having a 25-yard effort well saved by Graeme Crawford. Dave Staniforth then broke clear before being thwarted by a tremendous last-ditch challenge from Phil Burrows. The resolute Stone also blocked from Staniforth and play soon went back up towards the opposite end for the brilliant Holmes to rattle the woodwork.

The game then erupted on 81 minutes when Rovers striker Bannister was sent-off for retaliation after being fouled by the reliable Chris Topping. But even with ten-men the visitors rallied and levelled with just five minutes left when Stephens' wind-assisted shot sneaked inside the far post to the delight of the travelling fans.

However, York weren't finished and right-winger Barry Lyons forced a great save from Eadie before his side dramatically snatched a winner in the fifth-minute of injury-time. After a corner was delivered home midfielder John Woodward was knocked to the ground and a penalty awarded. The visitors were incensed and the already cautioned Stephens was dismissed for arguing.

It was left to the outstanding Holmes to decide the contest with the last kick of the game, and he calmly slotted home from the spot to spark wild celebrations on the terraces from the home faithful.

York City: Crawford, Stone, Burrows, Holmes, Swallow, Topping, Lyons, Calvert, Seal, Jones, Woodward

Goals: Jones (52), Holmes (pen 90)

Bristol Rovers: Eadie, Jacobs, Aitken, Green, Taylor, Prince, Stephens, Stanton, Staniforth, Bannister, Dobson

Goal: Stephens (85)

Ref: J. Whalley (Southport)

Att: 11,066