RED-HOT BEAST A STROLL IN THE

YORK CITY climbed back into the play-off positions for the first time since mid-November following a home triumph over Bradford Park Avenue.

Jon Parkin’s 25th goal of the season and an effort from sub Amari Morgan-Smith, who is the Minstermen’s distant second-top marksman on five, secured the points for the hosts, even though Bootham Crescent old boy Adam Boyes grabbed a consolation in stoppage time.

Victory saw York extend their longest run of consecutive wins since April 2014 to a fourth game, while Avenue dropped out of the top seven after losing their first league game on the road since October.

Home sporting director Dave Penney was pleased with another three points, but felt the performance was patchy.

“We were good at times, but I felt we could have been better at other points,” he said. “Winning four games on the trot quickly moves you up the table, though, with the games coming thick and fast now, so we must look to see what Telford did shape, formation and personnel wise and get ready for Tuesday night.”

Former York winger Oli Johnson had seen a looping header bounce off the top of the crossbar and Jamie Spencer forced a low parry from home keeper Adam Bartlett, before Parkin broke the deadlock on 41 minutes.

Running on to Aidan Connolly’s perfectly-weighted ball, Parkin – known as the Beast – beat Avenue’s Stephen Drench with a clinical, side-footed finish from ten yards.

After the break, Spencer again went close with a 25-yard drive, but Martin Gray’s men doubled their advantage when skipper Sean Newton sent in an excellent cross from the left touchline and Morgan-Smith pounced from a matter of inches on 65 minutes.

To their credit, the visitors refused to surrender and Boyes was only denied by an athletic Adam Bartlett save when the York keeper clawed away his closerange header.

On 92 minutes, Boyes did get on the scoresheet when he tapped in Johnson’s cross from the left at the far post following a mistake by defender Hamza Bencherif.

Away boss Mark Bower confessed that master marksman Parkin proved the big difference between the two sides.

“I didn’t think there was anything in the game and thought we were the better side for large spells, but they were just that bit better than us in the box,” Bower said. “You have to take your hat off to somebody like Jon Parkin. He had one chance and ended up with one goal, which is ruthless.” STAR MAN: Aidan Connolly (York City) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★