York City 1, Burton Albion 3

Long-suffering KitKat Crescent regulars will probably appreciate the break as well.

A 3-1 defeat to Blue Square Premier leaders Burton Albion means the Minstermen have now lost four of their last six fixtures in front of their own fans.

Fear has been earmarked by Foyle as the primary reason for his inherited players’ struggles at home and it is essential by the time City host relegation rivals Lewes on January 17 some passion and purpose has been injected into the team.

If any example is needed of the terminal repercussions relegation presents at this level, then the demise of neighbours Scarborough and Halifax should concentrate minds over the next four months.

And, as the season approaches its final third, City’s players must now demonstrate they can meet the challenge of safeguarding the club’s proud history or swiftly move aside for others who can.

Recent evidence does not present a pressing case for some of the current incumbents of first-team shirts.

Maximum points in yesterday’s match represented Burton’s 11th successive league victory. City, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 11.

Almost 12 months ago, the Minstermen were putting last season’s runaway leaders Aldershot to task during an impressive 2-0 triumph, but a repeat performance never looked likely against Burton.

John McGrath and Michael Simpson once more impressed in the Brewers’ engine room with their uncomplicated and disciplined approach to midfield play providing a heartbeat for their side over the full 90 minutes.

The Minstermen, in contrast, were more reliant on hopeful pot-shots and set-piece muscle for attacking inspiration.

A bustling Daniel McBreen, preferred in the starting line up to Onome Sodje, dragged a promising 15-yard chance wide after just 58 seconds but Shaun Harrad went closer for Burton on 14 minutes, being afforded the freedom to turn on the edge of City’s penalty box before rattling the crossbar with a left-footed effort.

At the other end, Simon Rusk lifted an angled drive over following a McBreen stepover while Harrad forced Michael Ingham into a double-handed save from 20 yards.

Simon Russell then headed wide from ten yards before Burton forged ahead on 34 minutes.

City ’keeper Ingham saved bravely at Greg Pearson’s feet, but Simpson pounced on the loose ball before showing composure to skip past Mark Robinson’s challenge and roll the ball into an inviting net.

The Minstermen’s response was swift with Russell skying over when well placed before Brodie levelled the scores on 39 minutes.

Steven Hogg and McBreen combined to tee up the chance with Brodie prodding the ball forward with his first touch before beating Kevin Poole at his near post with a low, left-footed drive from 15 yards.

Burton started the second period brightly, pegging the Minstermen back in their own half with Marc Goodfellow testing Ingham from the edge of the box. Mark Robinson also made an excellent last-ditch block with Simpson poised to net his second goal from inside the City six-yard box.

The Minstermen appeared to have weathered the storm when Adam Smith, with the minimum of backlifts, rattled the inside of both posts from 30 yards and Brodie forced Poole to claw the ball from under his crossbar after a curling and dipping effort on the hour.

Two minutes later, though, Hogg survived strong penalty appeals after sub Lee Morris escaped his attentions with a powerful burst into the penalty box only for the ball to break for Harrad, who drilled a low shot into Ingham’s bottom right-hand corner.

City almost snatched an equaliser on 68 minutes when Robinson swung a free-kick onto McBreen’s head and McGurk fired against the bar.

But Darren Kelly cleared off the line after Morris had burst past makeshift right-back Danny Parslow and pulled the ball back for Harrad and, seconds later, Burton secured victory in the 83rd minute.

Harrad crossed to Goodfellow from the left and the former Stoke midfielder was given time and space to curl an edge-of-the-box effort beyond Ingham, hitting the inside of the City ’keeper’s right-hand post on its way over the line.

The customary chorus of boos greeted referee Richard West’s final whistle and Foyle, who has been thrust into an unenviable position, may need to wait a little longer before he delivers on his New Year’s resolution to lift the doom and gloom.

Match facts

York City 1 (Brodie 39), Burton Albion 3 (Simpson 34, Harrad 62, Goodfellow 83)

City: Michael Ingham 7, Danny Parslow 6, Darren Kelly 7, David McGurk 7, Mark Robinson 6, Adam Smith 7, Steven Hogg 5, Simon Rusk 5, Simon Russell 5, Richard Brodie 6, Daniel McBreen 6.

Substitutions: Ben Wilkinson (for Hogg, 64) 6, Onome Sodje (for McBreen, 73), Craig Farrell (for Russell, 78).

Subs not used: Mimms, McWilliams.

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: McGurk – held the defence together against the league’s most potent team.

Burton: Kevin Poole, Andy Corbett, Ryan Austin, Jake Buxton, Aaron Webster, Marc Goodfellow, Michael Simpson, Jon Newby (Danny Holmes, 80), Shaun Harrad (Craig Armstrong, 90), Greg Pearson (Lee Morris, 46).

Subs: Tony James, Saul Deeney.

Yellow cards: Hogg 41, Simpson 45, Robinson 76, Parslow 87.

Shots on target: York 5, Burton 12

Shots off target: York 7, Burton 2

Corners: York 2, Burton 6

Fouls conceded: York 19, Burton 15

Offsides: York 1, Burton 3

Referee: Richard West (Beverley).

Rating: fussy at times, but generally uncontroversial.

Attendance: 2,703 (415 from Burton).

Goal of the match: Simpson’s deadlock breaker looked simple, but he showed immaculate composure.

Block of the match: Robinson’s brave intervention that denied Simpson a second goal.

Shot of the match: Goodfellow’s edge-of-the-box effort to secure maximum points.

City player watch: Darren Kelly

Goal attempts on target: 0

Goal attempts off target: 0

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 12

Passes to opposition: 5

Crosses to own player: 0

Crosses to opposition: 0

Pass completion rate: 70.6 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 1

Dribbles ball lost: 0

Dribble completion rate: 100 per cent

Headers: 21

Tackles: 4

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 11

Fouls won: 0

Fouls conceded: 2

Offsides: 0

Yellow cards: 0

Final summary: Darren Kelly enjoyed a solid return to the City side, including an important goalline clearance prior to Burton’s third goal. He was reliable in the air and cleared the ball when required.

Only conceded two fouls in 90 minutes and was unfortunate to be member of a team that conceded three goals.