Stockport County 1 York City 2: Minstermen looking well placed to prove the sponsors right

The league sponsors, Blue Square Bet, have York at short odds-on to gain promotion, a forecast which will be tested in coming weeks when York face tough opposition.

Sill, having beaten Luton and Wrexham, two of their leading rivals, in recent weeks, York will be feeling quietly confident.

They are playing well and on Saturday always looked likely winners, urged on by a large band of travelling supporters, many of whom went home with sunburn problems in the searing heat.

Former York manager John Ward, now with Colchester, was always keen to quote the statistic that 75 per cent of goals came from crosses. All three did in this game.

The Minstermen took a 52nd-minute lead when the hard-working Jason Walker centred from the left and Matty Blair rose beyond the far post to head a spectacular goal.

It was 2-0 after 86 minutes with an equally fine effort.

Chris Smith sent Blair down the right and he cut in before crossing for Walker to run 40 yards, nipping inside the full-back, to score from close in.

Stockport’s consolation goal 10 seconds from the final whistle came from Mike Paton’s header from Danny Whitehead’s centre.

York manager Gary Mills said: “We had to be patient in the very warm conditions against a good footballing team but it was a fantastic three points for us after our midweek disappointment at Gateshead.”

Stockport County: Glennon; Edwards, Brahim-Bounab, Holden; Paton, Nolan, Blackburn (Sheridan, 66), Miles (Whitehead, 60); German, Chadwick (Elliott, 66). Unused substitutes: Ormison, McCann.

York City: Ingham; Challinor, Smith, Fyfield; Meredith, Kerr, Boucaud (Potts, 39), McLaughlin (Parslow, 74); Blair, Walker, Chambers. Unused substitutes: Reed, Hendersone, Moke.

Referee: D Bond (Wigan).

Man of the match: Jason Walker.