PROUD sub David Mirfin and over 3,000 delirious fans will long remember this stunning victory.
Two goals in the last three minutes catapulted Peter Jackson's braves to a sixth successive win and their highest League placing of the season.
It was stirring stuff to cap a pulsating derby played at break-neck speed - and Town's magnificent travelling army went wild with delight.
On for the last 12 minutes as a makeshift striker, centre-back Mirfin stole the show after Phil Senior had made an unbelievable save to prevent Lee Bullock giving York a late lead.
Mirfin's magic started after 87 minutes with a tremendous flick to take him beyond his markers and, when keeper Mark Ovendale spilled the resulting shot, Danny Schofield was on hand to tap home his fourth goal of the season.
Bootham Crescent erupted as Schofield looped in front of the faithful, and Jackson was leaping in the air 10 yards on the pitch by the time the scorer was mobbed.
They must have heard the roar in Bradford, but the mayhem was far from over.
Less than a minute later and with York still stung from the cruelty of the blow, Mirfin broke clear again and slid the ball past Ovendale with a precision of which the injured Jon Stead would have been proud.
Town's youngest player would have vaulted the fence in celebration of his first ever League goal had Nat Brown not jumped on him first.
And the scenes of bedlam behind the goal reached fever pitch with the realisation this was going to be a special day - one of those you remember when the promotion party is in full swing.
Mirfin might have had another goal, too, deep into stoppage time, but his attempted chip landed neatly in the arms of the advancing Ovendale.
It mattered not. By then, the points were in the bag and every Town hero could reflect on a job well done.
Once again, Town's high level of fitness told in the gruelling closing stages on a sticky surface, and the workrate was phenomenal throughout.
Up and at `em from the first whistle, some of Town's approach play was excellent and it was a miracle, really, that Schofield's rasping drive in the 50th minute - which brought a magnificent tip-over save from Ovendale - was their first shot on target in the game.
York's central defensive three of manager Chris Brass, big Richard Hope and aggressive Chris Smith could be thanked for that.
They are an uncompromising, solid bunch and this was the first time they had lost a League game when playing together.
Starting the game without 28-goal duo Stead and Andy Booth and with two strikers still to notch for the club in Brown and Jon Newby, Town were out of the blocks quickly and never allowed York to stifle them in the way which brought the Minstermen success at the McAlpine.
The frontmen worked hard while in midfield, Lee Fowler was at his busy best, Jon Worthington ran and tackled with obsession and Schofield produced some lovely skills on the ball.
At the back, while everyone played their part, Nathan Clarke was outstanding and York created only one first-half moment of danger - Richard Cooper arriving late to meet Darren Edmondson's cross but finding Senior alert on the line.
A flare-up after Fowler caught Cooper with a trailing elbow seemed to inspire Town for the second half, and they took control for a good 15 minutes with their fans behind that goal willing them on.
Worthington and Anthony Lloyd went close in the box while skipper Efe Sodje caused problems at a free-kick, but then York mounted a determined rally.
Senior came to Town's rescue in an incredible scramble on 71 minutes, while Darren Dunning should have scored with a header from a perfect Edmondson cross two minutes later, only to plant his effort wastefully over the bar.
Then York thought they had broken the deadlock on 80 minutes when a surging run and cross from Smith resulted in a chance on the turn for Bullock, but Senior was down smartly to his right to palm the ball away.
Bullock, a transfer target for Cardiff, held his head in his hands in disbelief. Perhaps he realised just then that it wasn't going to be York's day.
If he did, his worst fears quickly came to fruition as Town produced their storming finale with Mirfin to the fore.
Jackson had a special hug for the teenager at the final whistle, and the whole team went into a huddle before breaking to go and celebrate with the fans.
No-one left beforehand because this was too good to miss, and the performance suggested there might be a few more hearty celebrations before the season is over.
For now, though, just enjoy!
