York City 0, Stevenage 2

A promising first half had seen City contain their high-flying hosts, who are now unbeaten in 24 games since the beginning of December.

But the Minstermen had no answer once Stevenage took control of proceedings early in the second half with goals from strikers Lee Boylan and Steve Morison securing the home side’s fate.

City manager Martin Foyle, keeping faith with the side that started Saturday’s 0-0 home draw with Kidderminster, saw Daniel McBreen create the first chance of the night for Richard Brodie.

But Brodie failed to test Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day with Jon Ashton executing a perfectly-timed recovery tackle.

At the other end, Boylan sent a bicycle-kick over Michael Ingham’s bar while City’s Mark Robinson forced Day into the game’s first save from 30 yards on 13 minutes.

Brodie then attempted a hopeful 30-yard strike that sailed into the visitors’ end before feeding an overlapping Ben Purkiss to provide McBreen with the best opportunity of the half.

The Australian striker rose to meet Purkiss’ right-wing cross but was denied his first league goal since October when Day brilliantly kept out his near-post header.

Andy McWilliams’ inswinging corner then saw Brodie head wide from three yards before Simon Rusk shot the wrong side of Day’s left-hand post following good work by Onome Sodje.

A subdued Stevenage came closest to netting before the break when 26-goal top scorer Morison’s 38th-minute header grazed Ingham’s post following a Ronnie Henry corner.

Ingham was called upon to make his first save less than a minute after the restart, however, when Michael Bostwick fired straight at the former Northern Ireland international from the edge of the box following a poor Shaun Pejic clearance.

Within two minutes, the visitors were in front when Scott Laird’s deep left-wing cross beat Ingham’s jump and the diminuitive Boylan climbed highest at the far post to head home.

Stevenage continued to press and, on 51 minutes, Morison cut in from the right and tested Ingham from 20 yards.

Foyle sent on teenager striker Adam Boyes for McBreen shortly afterwards and City responded by winning their first two corners of the match only for McWilliams to fail to clear the near post on both occasions.

The visitors, though, almost extended their lead on 63 minutes when Bostwick’s long-range half-volley saw Ingham make an eyecatching save.

Seconds later, Brodie thought he had won his team a penalty when he tumbled over Morison but the referee’s assistant signalled the offence had taken place marginally outside the box.

Purkiss then curled the free-kick over after Day had been booked for an off-the-ball altercation with Brodie.

Stevenage, though, scored a decisive second goal on 68 minutes when Purkiss allowed Morison to collect Henry’s searching right-wing cross to the far post and the former Northampton striker beat Ingham with a composed sidefooted finish.

Morison also clipped the top of Ingham’s bar after a strong run into the penalty box.

At the other end, Brodie cut inside Mark Roberts but his low drive was saved at the near post by Day.

Only a fine late save by Ingham, though, prevented the Minstermen from suffering a heavier defeat.

Match facts

York City 0, Stevenage 2 (Boylan 48 Morison 67)

City: Michael Ingham 8, Ben Purkiss 5, Shaun Pejic 5, Daniel Parslow 7, Mark Robinson 6, Levi Mackin 5, Andy McWilliams 5, Simon Rusk 5, Onome Sodje 6, Richard Brodie 5, Daniel McBreen 5.

Substitutions: Adam Boyes (for McBreen, 59) 6, Simon Brown (for McWilliams, 68) 6.

Subs not used: McGurk, Greaves, Russell.

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: Ingham – made decent saves as Stevenage stepped up a gear in the second half.

Stevenage: Chris Day, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Scott Laird, Gary Mills, Darren Murphy (Mark Albrighton, 89), Michael Bostwick, Mitchell Cole (Junior Mendes, 90), Steve Morison, Lee Boylan (Peter Vincenti, 82).

Subs not used: Ashley Bayes, Callum Willock.

Yellow cards: Bostwick 17, Murphy 33, Day 65, Robinson 70.

Shots on target: York 4, Stevenage 7

Shots off target: York 5, Stevenage 5

Corners: York 6, Stevenage 6

Fouls conceded: York 13, Stevenage 10

Offsides: York 3, Stevenage 1

Referee: Jez Simpson (Carnforth).

Attendance: 1,924 (77 from Stevenage).

Player watch: Levi Mackin

Goal attempts on target: 0

Goal attempts off target: 0

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 17

Passes to opposition: 15

Crosses to own player: 0

Crosses to opposition: 1

Pass completion rate: 51.5 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 1

Dribbles ball lost: 2

Dribble completion rate: 33.3 per cent

Headers: 9

Tackles: 5

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 2

Fouls won: 1

Fouls conceded: 0

Offsides: 0

Yellow cards: 0

Final summary: Mackin had one of his least-effective games in a City shirt with almost as many passes going astray as found a team-mate. He was also caught in possession more times than he went past a player but his tackling was well-timed as he conceded no free-kicks. He did not manage a shot on Stevenage’s goal however.