York City 4 Bristol Rovers 1: Chambers kept waiting for hat-trick decision as axe descends on McGhee

Gary Mills’s side had won only two of their previous 10 home league games, but their victory here was easy enough although they were a touch fortunate that Rovers did not take advantage of first-half mistakes by Chris Smith and Chris Doig.

York’s first goal after 13 minutes came when Ashley Chambers’s shot was deflected over Sam Walker by Gary Kenneth’s headed attempt to clear. The League will decide this week if it was an own goal, which would deny Chambers a hat-trick.

Rovers equalised within a minute, Doig letting in Tom Eades to score with a fierce shot, but York were in front again 50 seconds later, Mattie Blair crossing for Chambers to head home.

It was 3-1 on 19 minutes, Jason Walker volleying home after a flowing move involving Chambers and Paddy McLaughlin. York increased the margin after 33 minutes, McLaughlin sending Chambers through to beat Walker.

As so often happens when a team builds a big lead, the second half was not nearly so incident-packed although both teams had scoring chances.

York manager Mills said: “We were on the front foot from the start and the win will have given us confidence ahead of our match with leaders Gillingham.”

York City: Ingham; Parslow, C Smith, Doig (Allen, 57), Fyfield; Potts, Kerr, McLaughlin 
(J Smith, 42); Blair, Walker, Chambers (Rodman, 65). Unused substitutes: Musselwhite, McGurk, Reed, Bullock.

Bristol Rovers: Walker; Woodards (M Smith, 46), Branston (Richard, 89), Kenneth, Paterson; Clarkson, Parkes, Brogammer, Lund (Clucas, 46); Eaves, Anyinsah. Unused substitutes: Norburn, Harrison, Gough, Riordan.

Referee: P Tierney (Blackburn).

Man of the match: Ashley Chambers.