YORK City equalled their second-biggest FA Cup victory at Bootham Crescent as North West Counties League minnows Ashton Athletic were brushed aside 5-0.

Only 2007 visitors Rushall Olympic have suffered a heavier Cup loss at the 86-year-old home of the Minstermen when Craig Farrell grabbed a late hat-trick during a 6-0 triumph.

Tamworth, meanwhile, were beaten 5-0 in 1970/71 after club legend Paul Aimson also struck three times but, otherwise, the margin of victory against Ashton has been unsurpassed during nine decades of ties in the world-famous competition at YO30 7AJ.

Undeniably, City’s current historically-low status, with consequent admission into the tournament at the second qualifying round stage, means they are much-greater exposed to the possibility of ties against sides where such comprehensive triumphs are really the minimum requirement.

And, despite the understandable despair at the club’s current mid-table National League North status, there remains a big gulf between treading water in English football’s sixth tier and a position at the bottom of tier nine, where Ashton presently reside.

For that reason, there was a compelling argument that the Rushall result should really have been eclipsed against Ashton’s collection of electricians, car mechanics, plasterers and teachers, but a professional start by temporary chief Sam Collins’ men meant the tie was put to bed at half-time, leading to a more sedate second period.

David Ferguson set the tone with a goal in the second minute, before Jordan Burrow opened his Minstermen account, Joe Tait headed in for the second time this season and former Hibernian attacker Alex Harris marked his debut by making it 4-0 on the stroke of half-time.

After the interval, Harris also hit an upright before sub Wes York completed the scoring just past the hour mark.

Earlier, City had kicked off with real pace and purpose, creating seven chances in the opening ten minutes, as double-figures looked possible against a shell-shocked visiting team that looked in complete disarray and under the threat of being comprehensively overwhelmed.

The first of those opportunities was tapped in by Ferguson at the far post from Burrow’s low left-wing cross after the latter had ran on to Macaulay Langstaff’s through ball.

Langstaff and Josh Law went on to miss the target, while the former’s curling edge-of-the-box effort was also safely gathered by Athletic keeper Martin Pearson.

A stretching Ferguson, meanwhile, could not convert, having attacked the far post again after Kallum Griffiths had done well to retrieve Langstaff’s overhit pass through the right channel.

Either side of an off-target Simon Heslop volley, Burrow also called Pearson into action twice before grabbing his first goal in eight City outings.

The former Gateshead and Halifax striker pounced from close range after Pearson could only push out Heslop’s ten-yard, sidefooted shot.

Sean Newton should have probably then added a third when he steered an eight-yard half-volley over following Langstaff’s cross from the right.

Shortly afterwards, the hosts conceded their first free kick of the afternoon on 20 minutes.

Matty Reid took it and it led to Ashton’s first goal attempt when Luke Holden headed wide.

Long-range efforts at either end from Langstaff and Reid subsequently missed the target, while Marcus Cusani might have done better just after the half-hour mark, but he directed his shot without any real conviction straight at City keeper Adam Bartlett after charging clear through the right channel.

The Minstermen recovered from their sloppiest spell of the first 45 minutes to again dominate for the rest of the half.

Adriano Moke saw a deflected edge-of-the-box effort bounce off the top of the crossbar and over before firing wide from a similar distance, but Collins’ men did add a third goal on 38 minutes when Law’s left-wing corner hung in the air and Tait planted a powerful downward header past Pearson at the far post.

It was then 4-0 before the break when Griffiths’ pass released Burrow for a free run on the away goal.

He steered his one-on-one opportunity against Pearson’s left-hand upright, but Harris was on hand to snaffle up the rebound.

Early in the second period, York and Burrow combined to tee up a 15-yard chance for Harris that he fired against Pearson's right-hand post.

Tait headed wide from a Griffiths corner, meanwhile, before Ashton sub Declan McLoughlin’s 30-yard drive drifted wide at the other end.

A 15-yard shot by Moke also forced Pearson into a flying save after the home midfielder had been played in by York.

The positive McLoughlin went on to see another effort from distance safely gathered by Bartlett, before Dan Parslow was brought on just past the hour mark for his first outing of the season, which meant he took his place in City’s top-ten, all-time appearances’ list.

On 63 minutes, the Minstermen were then 5-0 to the good as Newton sprung the offside trap and his low left-wing cross into the six-yard box was turned into the roof of the net by York.

The latter forced Pearson to spill two of his 15-yard efforts soon afterwards, but the away keeper was not punished on either occasion.

Cusani, meanwhile, went close for the visitors when he curled a free kick narrowly over, but George Hassall's 15-yard shot on the turn was easily collected by Bartlett.

Moments later, Newton curled wide with his right foot from the edge of the box, but Athletic still pressed for a consolation with Hassall’s header from a McLoughlin free kick calling Bartlett into action, while Cusani might have got his name on the scoresheet in the 87th minute, but his shot was saved by Bartlett after he had charged on to Calum Wilson’s through ball.

Newton dragged another chance wide in stoppage time, but it mattered little as the home side also ended their six-month wait for a Saturday victory.

City ratings

Adam Bartlett 7

Josh Law 7

Joe Tait 7

Sean Newton 7

Kallum Griffiths 7

Simon Heslop 7

Adriano Moke 7

Alex Harris 7

David Ferguson 7

Jordan Burrow 7

Macaulay Langstaff 7

Substitutes: Russ Penn 6 (for Heslop, 46), Wes York 7 (for Langstaff, 46), Dan Parslow 7 (for Tait, 61).

Subs not used: Ryan Whitley, Tom Allan, Jake Wright, Jon Parkin.

Star man: Moke - positive lively bursts and made his presence felt more in final third

Ashton Athletic: Martin Pearson, Matty Reid, Aaron Cringle, Luke Holden (Saul Guffogg, 46), Adam Howard, Josh Nicholson, Calum Wilson, Joe Nicholson (Declan McLoughlin, 46), Chris Webster, Marcus Cusani, Chris Bandell (George Hassall, 66). Subs not used: Danny Smith, Kristian Bell, Tim Raines, Jay Foulds.

Ashton star man: McLoughlin – confident on the ball after half-time introduction

Referee: Samuel Barrott: 7/10 – generally sensible

Booked: None

Sent off: None

Attendance: 1,020 (109 from Ashton)

Shots on target: City 15, Ashton Athletic 6

Shots off target: City 10, Ashton Athletic 4

Corners: City 13, Ashton Athletic 0

Fouls conceded: City 9, Ashton Athletic 7

Offside: City 0, Ashton Athletic 1