York City 2, Forest Green 1

Following Saturday’s victory over Eastbourne, the Minstermen produced arguably their most entertaining performance of the campaign to see off a skilful Forest Green side 2-1.

Teenager Adam Boyes got on the scoresheet for the first time in a league match to give City the lead on 59 minutes and an own goal by visiting ’keeper Terry Burton, following a Richard Brodie strike that thudded against the crossbar, doubled the home side’s advantage.

Substitute Marcus Palmer replied on 89 minutes for the visitors, but another celebratory pitch invasion greeted the final whistle, with City now needing only one point from their final two games at Weymouth and Lewes to be spared relegation.

What a difference four days makes and of particular satisfaction is that City have engineered their survival with an attacking brand of football that has been rarely in evidence at KitKat Crescent this season.

Manager Martin Foyle fielded the same personnel and 4-4-2 formation that defeated Eastbourne and was rewarded with two excellent displays from his wide men Boyes and Adam Smith.

Forest Green retained possession in a manner typical of a Jim Harvey team with City chasing shadows at times in the first half, but the home side still created the better opportunities.

After three minutes, Richard Brodie raced clear down the left channel following Christian Smith’s through ball but the England ‘C’ international’s angled effort was kept out at his near post by Forest Green ’keeper Terry Burton.

Boyes then combined well with Brodie and created a far post chance for the stretching Adam Smith, who missed the target from five yards.

On 18 minutes, Brodie fired into the away end from 25 yards and, moments later, drilled a free kick into the Forest Green wall before Boyes narrowly cleared the crossbar with a smart shot on the turn.

Blue Square Premier top scorer Andrew Mangan was well shackled by the City defence all evening, but led a swift counter attack on 34 minutes and teed up Adriano Rigoglioso for a low drive that Michael Ingham turned round his near post.

At the other end, Burton was called into action again on 35 minutes when he parried an Adam Smith free-kick.

Nimble footwork by Brodie in the penalty box then led to a shot that Burton kept out with his legs but the City striker somehow contrived to head wide from two yards after Adam Smith had collected the loose ball and crossed to the far post.

Smith also fired inches wide with a fierce low drive from 30 yards as the Minstermen headed into the break unfortunate not to be leading.

The visitors began the second half bossing possession again only for Boyes’ 54th-minute shot to force Burton into a fumbling save.

City broke the deadlock five minutes later when Ben Purkiss dribbled his way into the box from the right touchline before prodding a perfectly-timed pass into Brodie’s path.

His low strike was parried by Burton, but Boyes pounced to fire the ball into an unguarded net from four yards.

City then doubled their lead on 63 minutes when Levi Mackin fed Brodie, who curled a 15 yard shot on the turn against Burton’s crossbar only for the ball to rebound off the back of the Forest Green ’keeper and over the line.

The unlucky Burton performed heroics moments later, however, when he made a remarkable reflex save to keep out Daniel McBreen’s thundering header from an Adam Smith cross.

A deflated Forest Green, meanwhile, managed only their third shot of the match when Marcus Palmer fired weakly wide on 83 minutes.

Boyes then released substitute Onome Sodje, but he sidefooted against the post with an unmarked Brodie screaming for a square pass.

City’s top scorer also drove across the face of goal before Palmer grabbed an 89th-minute consolation for the Gloucester club, turning in the box to beat Ingham from eight yards.

Match facts

York City 2, Forest Green 1

City: Michael Ingham 7, Ben Purkiss 9, David McGurk 8, Danny Parslow 8, Shaun Pejic 8, Adam Smith 9, Levi Mackin 8, Christian Smith 8, Adam Boyes 9, Daniel McBreen 8, Richard Brodie 8.

Substitutions: Onome Sodje (for McBreen, 72) Simon Brown (for A Smith, 90)

Subs not used: Greaves, Robinson, Torpey.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire

City’s star man: Boyes – a mature performance from the teenager capped by his first league goal.

Forest Green: Terry Burton, Darren Jones, Mark Preece, Jonathan Smith, Alex Lawless (James Baldwin, 34), Paul Lloyd, Lee Fowler (Marcus Palmer, 78), Paul Casey (Jon Else, 67) Conal Platt, Adriano Rigoglioso, Andrew Mangan.

Subs (not used): Ryan Robinson, Lee Ayres.

Bookings: None.

Shots on target: York 8, For Green 2

Shots off target: York 9, For Green 2

Corners: York 6, For Green 3

Fouls conceded: York 11, For Green 8

Offsides: York 2, Forest Green 0

Referee: Michael Naylor (South Yorkshire). Rating: over-fussy at times, but not severely tested in a good-natured match.

Attendance: 2,164 (20 away fans).

Pass of the match: Purkiss’ deft through ball for Brodie that led to City’s first goal.

Shot of the match: Brodie’s curling effort against the bar that saw City double their lead.

Save of the match: Burton’s terrific low stop from McBreen’s powerful header.

City player watch: Adam Boyes

Goal attempts on target: 2

Goal attempts off target: 1

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 25

Passes to opposition: 2

Crosses to own player: 1

Crosses to opposition: 0

Pass completion rate: 92.9 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 3

Dribbles ball lost: 3

Dribble completion rate: 50 per cent

Headers: 7

Tackles: 11

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 0

Fouls won: 1

Fouls conceded: 2

Offsides: 1

Yellow cards: 0

Final summary: Adam Boyes enjoyed an excellent game on the left wing for City. His ball retention was exemplary with just two stray passes all night – the first on 71 minutes. He reacted quickly to score his first league goal and his commitment was illustrated by the 11 tackles he made.