ARCHIVE: York City 2 Forest Green Rovers 2 - 29.04.17 [FULL GAME]

York City suffered the heartbreak of relegation for the second season running when, needing a win from their final game, they could only draw at home to National League high-flyers Forest Green Rovers and slipped out of the fifth tier.

City’s leading scorer Jon Parkin twice equalised against his former club after two strikes from Omar Bugiel. But, having looked like they might survive, Guiseley's late equaliser at home to Solihull Moors sent the Minstermen down to English football's sixth tier for the first time, National League North.

Forest Green, already qualified for the play-offs, came to Bootham Crescent in relaxed and mood and made a great start on six minutes when Dan Wishart wriggled his way into the left side of the penalty area before cutting back for Bugiel to drill home right-footed into the far right corner.

York should have been level on 15 minutes when Parkin squared a low ball from the right, only for an off-balance Vadaine Oliver to slide in and horribly screw his shot over the top of an open goal from four yards.

But City did equalise when, from a poor clearance by goalkeeper Sam Russell, Drissa Traore was caught in possession by Simon Heslop, who played in January signing Parkin to coolly bend home his low finish.

The celebrations around the ground had barely subsided when, just 82 seconds later, a great turn from Fabien Robert played in Bugiel for his second goal. It was like a dagger to the heart of every City supporter.

And, although Parkin scored again to level for a second time three minutes into the second half, the 35-year-old's 17th goal of the season, it was not quite enough. As the final whistle blew on the 2-2 draw, the supporters stood in silent disbelief and astonishment as what had been always deemed impossible – relegation to regional football – had become possible.

York City: Loach, Muggleton, Newton, Heslop, Parslow, Holmes, Bencherif, Hall (Fenwick 89), Oliver, Parkin, Morgan-Smith (Connolly 89). Subs not used: Letheren, Klukowski, Moke.

Forest Green Rovers: Russell, Monthe, Ellis, Traore (Tilt 60), Marsh-Brown (Kelly 60), Bennett (Mehew 73), Noble, Wishart, Mullings, Robert, Bugiel. Subs not used: Cooper, Lefebvre.

Attendance: 3,984

Footage from BT Sport