YORK City manager David Webb was full of praise for attacker Shaq Forde, describing the young forward as a “top player” after a scintillating hattrick against Maidstone United.

City cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Maidstone in the Vanarama National League, after a brilliant Forde hattrick and a freak own goal from debutant Yoan Zouma cancelled out Jack Barham’s opening minute strike.

Webb’s side now have their first victory of 2023 and a first with the manager present on the sidelines, with three points seeing the Minstermen rise as high as 14th in the National League table.

“No I wasn’t pleased at all. We got caught cold, but what I was pleased with was the reaction after that straight away.” Ward enthused.

“To go in at half-time at 3-1 just shows good character from the players. We just got caught cold on that first goal.

“That’s what we were pleased with as well, trying to build that resilience if we do go behind. If we do fall behind, we can go again.

“There were moments in the game where I thought our performances could have been better. Especially being in control and keeping the ball, we did switch it up at the end which gave us more suitability and comfort at the back with a back three, because they had four players pushing against us so we just changed it a little bit just to give us a little bit of relief,”

“But no it was a good performance, but obviously we know we can be better.”

Forde will have snatched the headlines after a mesmerising hattrick, including a powerful finish that caught Daniel Barden off guard for his second goal.

“He’s an outstanding player. It was just his natural reaction, and you’ll find that top players do that. They don’t dilly-dally on the ball and when they get the opportunity to strike, they strike. He’s hit a worldie.”

Today’s hattrick makes Forde York’s youngest ever player to score a hattrick, and the Watford loanee wasn’t too shy in showing his appreciation the supporters: “Wow! That’s an amazing stat, it’s a phenomenal debut. A phenomenal debut.

“We was looking at him and then switching back onto the game, but thinking where is he? We just see him buried in the crowd but we thought we’d let him have his moment! These are special moments for him.”

Forde has been Webb’s only confirmed signing so far, despite Cardiff City winger Ollie Tanner being close to a loan switch from the Welsh capital.

“And that’s part of my job, is recruitment.” Said Webb.

“When you need players you need to look at who is going to add quality to the squad, and give us more attacking threat and more balance. Shaq’s a player I have known since he was about ten-years of age, I knew he could come in and hit the ground running.

“He’s obviously exceeding expectations for us, but you know a great performance, a great hattrick and a good team performance as well.”

Lenell John-Lewis looks to be an unfortunate casualty of this afternoon’s triumph against Maidstone, with the striker being forced off at half-time.

“Lenny (Lenell John-Lewis) felt his groin at half-time, and he couldn’t come out for the second half so we got a good replacement in Manny (Duku) who has come out and done well.” Webb confirmed.

“Shaq went down a couple of times but he’s a strong boy and he came out and we asked him at half-time how he was feeling but he was fine and wanted to continue. Then he unfortunately couldn’t continue so we’ll have to see how he is.”