NORTH FERRIBY United provided useful target practice for York City as they stepped up their preparations for the Blue Square Premier season.

The Minstermen were just too classy for their UniBond League hosts – with Andy Ferrell and Neil Barrett scoring super strikes as they cruised to a 6-1 win.

It was expected Martin Foyle’s men would be on top in every department but the manner of the victory, and the style of the goals, will still have pleased the City boss.

Foyle gave some indication of his possible first team intentions for league action – teaming Richard Brodie with Michael Rankine up front, while David McGurk and Daniel Parslow formed a familiar tandem at centre-half.

With Craig Nelthorpe and Adam Smith missing, Andy Ferrell filled in at left-wing and Alex Lawless on the right, while Neil Barrett and Levi Mackin occupied central midfield.

City probed with long balls down the channels early on but, following exhortations from Ferrell, they scored almost as soon as they started to play on the deck.

Brodie was the architect and scorer on 17 minutes – executing an exquisite turn before being planted firmly on his backside in the Ferriby box.

City’s top scorer last season stepped up and sent goalkeeper Steve Wilson the wrong way, stroking the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Soon after both Brodie and Rankine went close.

With City camped in the Ferriby half, it seemed inevitable they would score again and, on 28 minutes, they obliged.

Ferrell’s corner was spun in with power and pace and, although the public address announcer gave the goal to Brodie – who sheepishly raised his hand – his flick-on appeared to come off Ferriby’s Sam Denton.

The Minstermen were lining up to take pot-shots at the Ferriby goal and Lawless drove just wide from 20 yards.

The crowning moment came three minutes from half-time when, after good work from Ben Purkiss and Brodie, Ferrell smashed an inviting cross first time on the volley past Wilson.

Nine minutes after the restart, City had their fourth. After Brodie was hacked down on the touchline, Ferrell lofted the cross to the back post.

McGurk headed it down and, when Ferriby missed the chance to clear, Mackin put the ball in.

Barrett staked his own contender for goal of the night in the 61st minute.

Brodie missed from six yards after Rankine’s miscued shot fell to him but the ball came out to former Ebbsfleet midfielder Barrett, who struck home a sweet shot from around 20 yards.

He then picked up a second, and City’s sixth, heading in Lawless’s 72nd-minute cross.

Ferriby replied with a late retort from Chris Bolder’s point-blank header, but consolation was all it was.

North Ferriby: Steve Wilson, Danny Moore, Kevin Larvin, Liam Chapman, Paul Foot, Ben Morley, Andy Jackson, Chris Bolder, Calum Russell, Simon Bird, Colin Hunter. North Ferriby played rolling subs.

York City: Michael Ingham, Ben Purkiss, David McGurk, Daniel Parslow, James Meredith, Alex Lawless, Neil Barrett, Levi Mackin, Andy Ferrell (Simon Russell, 55), Michael Rankine, Richard Brodie (Torpey, 78).

Subs not used: Dean Lisles, James Fields.

Referee: Carl Boyeson (Hull).