Report: Confident York City sweep past Braintree at Bootham Crescent
City ran out 3-0 winners against Braintree on Saturday afternoon
For anybody visiting Bootham Crescent for the first time this season, and the bumper attendance of 2825 suggested that may have been the case for a few, you would be hard pressed convincing them that this York side are fighting to stay in the National League.
Confident 3-0 winners against Braintree Town today, the Minstermen closed the gap to safety to two points, the results dragging their opponents firmly into the relegation battle, now just three points ahead.
Though the first half didn't go completely in the direction of Gary Mills' team, Michael Cheek hit the crossbar for Braintree, a thunderous Jon Parkin free kick and floated Asa Hall header saw City head for the dressing room at half time 2-0 up and well on top.
In the second half City were in full control, and added a third through Amari Morgan-Smith's sweeping shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Braintree started the match the more confident of the two teams, narrowly avoiding taking the lead when top scorer Cheek's free kick floated just wide of the top-left corner.
Ten minutes into the match and York had their own opportunity to open the scoring from a free kick when Danny Holmes was brought down 25 yards from goal. Up stepped Parkin, rapidly becoming a talisman in City's bid for survival, to lash the ball just inside the right-hand upright.
But the visitors continued to have the better of the chances, and should have equalised with half an hour gone. Scott Loach, making his home debut, didn't conect cleanly with a cross and his punch fell to Braintree's top scorer Cheek, whose looping header hit the crossbar. Five yards out, Jake Goodman was only able to nod the rebound over the bar.
The home keeper was called into action again in the 39th minute, pawing away a Chez Isaac free kick with a strong hand low to his right.
The Minstermen doubled their lead in the first minute of added time, Hall one of a number of players in red queuing up to meet Amari Morgan-Smith's deep cross from the right byline to bag the first goal of his York career.
City started the second half seeking to manage their two goal advantage, their build up play slower and less direct. Patient work from Alex Whittle and Adriano Moke provided Holmes with a difficult chance on the volley, which he blazed over.
For their part, Braintree were never completely impotent, it took a strong Sean Newton challenge to prevent the marauding Cheek with ten minutes of the second half played, while Loach comfortably gathered an ambitious 35 yard volley from Braintree captain Jack Midson.
Playing on the counter attack, York's main attacking outlets were Vadaine Oliver's tireless runs in behind the visiting defence, the striker inches away from connecting with a Parkin through ball just after 70 minutes.
Five minutes later Parkin did get his assist, laying off for Morgan-Smith to sweep home from the edge of the area past Sam Beasant's outstretched arm. The pass and finish replicated goals fans of the Minstermen have seen on countless occasions since Parkin, Morgan-Smith and Oliver have been combined in attack.
With ten minutes to go Braintree's fight was spent, epitomised by Jake Goodman's lazy effort hooked over the bar from 12 yards with a minute of normal time to play.
There was even time for Parkin to blaze over with his right foot before being substituted to the standing ovaton his performance deserved.
Given the mood of the crowd at the final whistle virtually any of the City players would have got the same acclaim, the Bootham Crescent faithful delighted with what was an excellent performance in all areas of the field, early nerves aside.
With two consecutive wins under their belt, the Minstermen will be in high spirits as they welcome Bromley on Tuesday evening. A win then would take them out of the bottom four meaning survival, which only a few months ago seemed a distant possibility, is now distinctly tangible.
By Peter Rogers, York City reporter