York City 2 Hayes and Yeading 0: Rankine and Constantine earn Minstermen win
In the previous two home games against Altrincham (3-0) and Rushden & Diamonds (2-0), York had played without passion and conviction in goalless first halves before getting on top.
So it was on Saturday when it took a few well chosen words during the interval from manager Martin Foyle – and the arrival of Michael Gash – to shake York out of their lethargy.
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Hide AdGash, who played for England C in the 2-2 draw against Wales, made the difference to the York attack, clearly lacking the cutting edge of last season's 37-goal leading scorer Richard Brodie, a 275,000 signing by Crawley.
York were justifiably booed off at half-time after lumping the ball aimlessly in the air up the middle, but what a change there was in the second half when they played some fast attacking football, cheers replacing jeers.
Danny Parslow, outstanding alongside the equally good David McGurk in the middle of the defence, provided the pass for Michael Rankine (56 minutes) to put York ahead. Leon Constantine (72) added the second with a spectacular overhead shot following a good move between Gash and Duane Courtney.
Foyle said: "We played without confidence in the first half when Hayes were better, but when I brought on Michael Gash it made a big difference."
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Hide AdYork City: Ingham; Courtney, McGurk, Parslow, Meredith; Till, Lawless, Barrett, Racchi (Gash 52); Rankine, Constantine (Smith 81). Unused substitutes: Knight, Young, McDermott.
Hayes & Yeading: Harrison; Ferrell (Mulley 77), Cadmore, Bygrave, Brown; Pritchard, Holmes, Hand, Deen; Yiadom (Malcolm 64), Enver-Marum (Buchanan 87). Unused substitutes: Appiah, Lennie.
Referee: P Hodskinson (Leyland).
Man of the match: Danny Parslow.
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