YORK City boss Colin Walker singled out patient pair Darren Kelly and Ben Wilkinson for praise after Saturday’s welcome 2-0 win at Woking.

The Minstermen ended a run of six games without a win, since defeating Woking by the same scoreline at KitKat Crescent on September 6, thanks to Wilkinson’s second goal in successive games and a Daniel McBreen strike.

Kelly, meanwhile, helped his side to a clean sheet at the other end, playing in a 3-5-2 formation, during his first start of the season.

Former Hull City midfielder Wilkinson has also been on the bench for a third of City’s games this term and Walker said: “I want to give a big shout for Darren Kelly, who was absolutely top class.

“He’s waited for his chance and taken it very well. Another shout should go out to Ben Wilkinson as well because that’s what he’s good at – getting forward and scoring goals. Hopefully, that will give him the confidence to get more.”

Walker, who has recently been critical of his team’s forward play, hailed the efforts of front two Craig Farrell and McBreen as well, adding: “Their combination play for the second goal was excellent.”

The City boss switched to three centre-backs from the start of a game for the first time this season with captain Mark Greaves and Simon Russell making way for Kelly and Peter Holmes.

About his change in tactics, Wallker said: “We worked all week on that shape because it was a case of horses for courses again. We looked at them and wanted to shore things up a bit and the extra man in midfield did cause them problems.

“They play with one forward and we felt playing a back four would have been a waste of our full-backs so we decided to push them on.

“It took a while for the system to work and we could have been dead and buried in the first 15 minutes but, after that, we bossed the game with our three players in midfield doing exactly what we asked of them.”

Unlike last season when Walker employed a back three, Parslow played in the centre and was flanked by the right-sided Kelly and stand-in skipper David McGurk.

About that decision, the City boss said: “We had reports that their player up front was fast and likes to get down the sides so we decided to play our quickest player in the middle and Danny is having a very consistent season.”

Holmes and McBreen both needed to be substitued in the latter stages at Kingfield while goalkeeper Michael Ingham was unable to take goal-kicks close to the end due to a thigh problem, but Walker expects all three to be fit for Saturday’s home match with Rushden and Diamonds.

He said: “Peter Holmes got a finger in his eye and had blurred vision. Daniel McBreen had tight calves all week but was determined to stay on the pitch.”

After a run of one win in 12 matches, which had seen City slide down the table, Walker called on his players to make Saturday’s win a catalyst for progress in the opposite direction.

He said: “The only message to the players now is kick on from here.

“We’ve got a good game at home next and Saturday should have given them lots of confidence.

“The search for a striker is still on and hopefully we’ll have one in before the next match.”

City will learn who their FA Cup fourth qualifying round opponents are this lunchtime.

Ties will be played on Saturday, October 25. Visit our website thepress.co.uk for news of the draw.