York City 3, Ebbsfleet 1

Adam Smith, Richard Brodie and Onome Sodje all netted during a 3-1 victory to match the Minstermen’s most potent, previous performance of 2008/9 when Stevenage were held at home in a six-goal thriller back in September.

City manager Martin Foyle arrived at KitKat Crescent with a track record of improving young strikers and, five games into his new job, appears intent on enhancing that reputation.

On Saturday, Brodie maintained his record of scoring in every match he has played under the former Port Vale boss – a tally swollen to four by his expertly-taken, 67th-minute effort.

And, while 45-year-old Foyle might have struggled to demonstrate Sodje’s acrobatic overhead kick for City’s third goal, it is clear his training ground drills are beginning to reap rewards.

All three goals, for example, stemmed from right-wing crosses, delivered with equal effectiveness by Steven Hogg, Ben Purkiss and Smith.

Two saw centre-back David McGurk attacking the far post, while Brodie’s finish, in between, bore the hallmark of a forward who is adding to his repertoire of scoring methods.

City’s first-half display against Ebbsfleet, however, was as depressing as the second was uplifting.

The visitors, fielding a fluid 4-3-3 formation, bossed the opening 45 minutes, passing the ball around their harassed hosts with an almost practice-match disdain.

Ebbsfleet’s superior movement saw Michael Gash break the deadlock and the Minstermen were booed off at the break for a second successive match.

Foyle’s half-time, double substitution, however, turned the jeers to cheers.

The City boss started the match by keeping faith with the side that earned him his first victory as manager – the 2-0 FA Trophy triumph at Northwich last Tuesday – but the line-up soon seemed more orientated towards achieving away success.

Defensive-minded duo Mark Robinson and Andy McWilliams made few inroads down the left flank while Mark Greaves and Steven Hogg chased shadows for long periods in the middle of the park.

Foyle took action by introducing wingers Smith and Simon Russell to give his side some much-needed attacking support for Brodie and Sodje.

The energetic Simon Rusk was also moved inside from the right flank, ending Ebbsfleet’s domination of possession and allowing Hogg the freedom to express himself on the ball.

Ebbsfleet had earlier wasted little time finding their stride with George Purcell driving wide after eight minutes.

At the other end, Sodje dragged a hopeful 25-yard effort wide and then failed to trouble visiting ’keeper Lance Cronin with a tame header from Brodie’s right-wing cross.

Liam Daish’s men forged ahead, however, on 27 minutes after sloppy City defending from Purcell’s corner.

The Minstermen neglected to mark midfielder Stacy Long on the edge of the penalty box, leaving him free to head back into the danger area after the home side failed to clear Purcell’s flag-kick from the right.

Gash was then afforded enough time to turn and fire a 15-yard effort beyond Michael Ingham and into the Northern Ireland international’s top right-hand corner.

Five minutes later, Ingham punched Luke Moore’s rising shot over his crossbar at the end of another flowing move by the visitors.

An unmarked Danny Parslow missed City’s best chance of the half, heading straight at Ebbsfleet ’keeper Cronin after being picked out in the penalty box by Hogg’s 42nd-minute cross.

Parslow and McGurk then saw Hogg’s curling free-kick narrowly elude them both before Cronin dived to his right to prevent the ball from bouncing into his bottom corner.

Another Hogg free-kick, delivered from an identical position and awarded after Ricky Shakes’ trip on Smith, saw City draw level on the hour-mark.

This time, McGurk got his head to Hogg’s cross and, when the ball dropped in the six-yard box, on-loan Gainsborough Trinity winger Smith pounced to fire past Cronin.

Brodie then scuffed a decent chance after cutting in from the right and headed over from Smith’s cross before bagging his 12th goal of the season in impressive fashion.

Right-back Purkiss picked out Brodie with a pinpoint low cross and the former Newcastle Benfield forward turned smartly to leave visiting defender James Smith on his backside before directing his eight-yard shot beyond Cronin’s outstretched right arm.

Brodie forced Cronin into another near-post save shortly afterwards and also saw a chance blocked after yet another dangerous Purkiss cross from the right.

It was his striking partner Sodje, though, who put the outcome beyond doubt when McGurk headed a Smith centre back into the air and the former Ebbsfleet player displayed terrific timing, athleticism and improvisation to find the roof of Cronin’s net from six yards.

Match facts

York City 3 (Smith 60, Brodie 67, Sodje 77), Ebbsfleet 1 (Gash 26)

City: Michael Ingham 8, Ben Purkiss 8, Danny Parslow 7, David McGurk 8, Mark Robinson 6, Andy McWilliams 7, Mark Greaves 6, Simon Rusk 8, Steven Hogg 8, Onome Sodje 7, Richard Brodie 8.

Substitutions: Adam Smith (for Robinson, HT) 8, Simon Russell (for Greaves, 65) 5

Subs not used: Mimms, McBreen, Boyes.

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: Brodie – proved a handful again with his willing runs and took his goal in stylish fashion.

Ebbsfleet: Lance Cronin, Sacha Opinel, James Smith, Dean Pooley, Stacy Long, Danny Slatter, Karl Murray, Craig Stone (Kezie Ibe, 78), George Purcell, Michael Gash, Luke Moore (Ricky Shakes, 52).

Subs: Peter Hawkins, Mark Ricketts, Rob French.

Yellow cards: Gash 27, Brodie 36, Shakes 60, Opinel 71, Slatter 76.

Shots on target: York 7, Ebbsfleet 3

Shots off target: York 4, Ebbsfleet 3

Corners: York 4, Ebbsfleet 6

Fouls conceded: York 8, Ebbsfleet 14

Offsides: York 5, Ebbsfleet 6

Referee: Paul Curry (Ashington).

Rating: a little fussy at times but showed leniency when he might have sent Brodie off for deliberate handball after the City striker had already been cautioned.

Attendance: 1,997 (81 from Ebbsfleet).

Save of the match: Ingham’s first-half stop that prevented Ebbsfleet going two goals to the good.

Goal of the match: Sodje’s overhead kick will be a strong contender for goal of the season.

City player watch: Ben Purkiss

Goal attempts on target: 0

Goal attempts off target: 0

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 19

Passes to opposition: 12

Crosses to own player: 2

Crosses to opposition: 1

Pass completion rate: 63.6 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 0

Dribbles ball lost: 0

Dribble completion rate: 0 per cent

Headers: 13

Tackles: 3

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 8

Fouls won: 1

Fouls conceded: 1

Offsides: 1

Yellow cards: 0

Final summary: Gave a composed performance, which was typified by the cross he played for Richard Brodie to give City a 2-1 lead. His quality on the ball makes Purkiss a threat in advanced positions but, despite being given offside once, his opportunities to get forward were fairly limited. Purkiss also opted not to dribble past an opponent over 90 minutes, probably as a consequence of fellow full-back Mark Robinson being caught in possession leading to costly repercussions during the Minstermen’s last home match.