Woking 0, York City 2

But it was York City’s celtic-flavoured back three of David McGurk, Darren Kelly and Danny Parslow that had the last laugh during Saturday’s 2-0 win at Woking.

Following a run of one victory in 12 games, Minstermen chief Colin Walker reverted back to the 3-5-2 line-up that brought him success early in his KitKat Crescent reign and, despite an unsure start at Kingfield, it proved an astute decision.

Kelly looked a little nervous initially but, with McGurk and Parslow both making crucial blocks in the opening stages, the visitors settled and went on to secure a fifth clean sheet of the season.

Should Walker persevere with last season’s favoured formation, wing-backs Ben Purkiss and Mark Robinson might need to attack the bylines and occupy more advanced roles than they did on Saturday, but the victory reinforced the merits of a system that took England to within a whisker of World Cup glory in 1990.

That confidence to raid down the flanks will also, no doubt, return if Walker’s men are given the opportunity to refamiliarise themselves with their 2007/8 tactics.

At the other end of the pitch, Ben Wilkinson and Daniel McBreen provided the second-half goals with both now beginning to fulfil some of the expectations Walker harboured when bringing the pair to the club in July.

Wilkinson, just as at Wrexham five days earlier, illustrated his ability to ghost into a penalty box and hit the target by scoring for the second time is as many games.

Australian McBreen, meanwhile, looks leaner and sharper than he has done at any stage since undergoing a knee operation in the summer and missing large clumps of the club’s pre-season.

The start of Saturday’s game was more San Siro than Surrey with flares from the travelling Jorvik Reds’ fans billowing coloured smoke across the pitch.

It seemed a harmless show of support for their side although, when a steward escorted one of their bare-chested members out of the ground, a petulant display of adolescent aggression saw some of the first half played out to repeated bashing and kicking of the corroguated perimeter fencing.

As a result, condemnation of the group is inevitable although it will be a shame if their over-exuberance means the team loses its impressive visual and vocal backing at away grounds.

Walker’s players were certainly less demonstrative in the first exchanges.

Woking lone striker Liam Marum drilled over from the edge of the box after a strong diagonal run from the left flank on six minutes and Joel Ledgister then sidefooted against the post with the goal at his mercy after an off-balance Kelly had tippled backwards on to his backside.

Hutchinson also headed wide from a Danny Bunce corner on 11 minutes before Craig Farrell’s lofted 15-yard effort sailed wide of Lenny Pidgeley’s right-hand upright following a Wilkinson through ball.

Robinson drove over from 35 yards after 20 minutes but City survived another scare when Kelly failed to cut out a Goma Lambu cross from the right.

The ball fell to Bunce and, although his miscued volley was cleared by Robinson, only a brave challenge by Parslow prevented Marum netting from seven yards.

Farrell had a second chance before the interval but fired wide of the near post having been sent clear by Peter Holmes.

City seized control in the second period with Kelly’s free-kick from inside his own half dropping into the Woking penalty box and on to the head of Farrell, but the City striker failed to beat Pidgeley from ten yards.

Wilkinson also scuffed a good opportunity shortly afterwards but made amends when he broke the deadlock on 66 minutes.

Centre-forward McBreen won a header in his own penalty area and Purkiss sent a long ball into the opposition box which Wilkinson deftly controlled and then lifted over an advancing Pidgeley, whose outstretched fingertips could not prevent the former Hull City midfielder’s effort bouncing over the line.

Six minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage when Simon Rusk picked out a willing run down the left channel by Farrell, whose back-heel was gratefully received by an overlapping McBreen.

The former Scunthorpe striker then brushed aside a Hutchinson challenge before opening up his body and sidefooting expertly into Pidgeley’s bottom left-hand corner from eight yards.

Woking’s afternoon went from bad to worse when, first, Hutchinson was sent off after being shown a second yellow card for deliberate handball following Rusk’s through ball.

Quamina then followed him down the tunnel in the second minute of stoppage-time although a free-kick seemed sufficient punishment for the foul on Parslow which led to his second booking and subsequent dismissal.

Woking 0, York City 2 (Wilkinson 66 McBreen 72)

City: Michael Ingham 7, Ben Purkiss 7, Darren Kelly 7, Danny Parslow 8, David McGurk 7, Mark Robinson 7, Simon Rusk 8, Peter Holmes 7, Ben Wilkinson 7, Craig Farrell 7, Daniel McBreen 8.

Substitutions: Mark Greaves (for Holmes, 80) Adam Boyes (for McBreen, 83).

Subs not used: Mimms, Russell, Shepherd.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Parslow – growing in stature by the game this season.

Woking: Lennie Pidgeley, Patrice Konan, Paul Lorraine (Matt Pattison, 68), Tom Hutchinson, Colin Miles, Danny Bunce, Goma Lambu, Bradley Quamina, Guiseppe Sole (Delano Sam-Yorke, 64), Joel Ledgister, Liam Marum (Charlie Moone 74).

Subs: Manny Williams, Ross Worner.

Shots on target: Woking 3 York 7

Shots off target: Woking 4 York 4

Corners: Woking 4 York 1

Fouls conceded: Woking 26 York 16

Offsides: Woking 2 York 4

Yellow cards: Quamina 17, Rusk 52, Hutchinson 79.

Red cards: Hutchinson 84, Quamina 90.

Referee: K Johnson. Rating: over fussy and dismissal of Quamina was unnecessary.

Attendance: 2,341 (255 away fans).

Block of the match: Parslow throwing his body in front of Marum’s 22nd-minute chance.

Pass of the match: Kelly’s free-kick on to the head of Farrell travelled a good 70 yards.

City player watch: Darren Kelly

Goal attempts on target: 0

Goal attempts off target: 0

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 8

Passes to opposition: 6

Crosses to own player: 1

Crosses to opposition: 0

Pass completion rate: 53.3 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 0

Dribbles ball lost: 0

Dribble completion rate: 0 per cent

Headers: 24

Tackles: 2

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 5

Fouls won: 0

Fouls conceded: 2

Offsides: 0

Yellow cards: 0

Final summary: suffered a jittery start on his return to the first XI. He found his feet, however, and always looks more comfortable in a back three. He made a series of strong headers and also made the pass of the match to Craig Farrell.