ADAM HINSHELWOOD was pleased with the improvement in performance as his York City side stormed to the top of the Vanarama National League table.

A comfortable 3-0 victory over AFC Fylde meant that York leapfrogged into first position of the National League, with Gateshead still to play at 5.30pm and able to take their position back.

A red card to Harry Davis threw Fylde into jeopardy before Marvin Armstrong struck the first blow for the Coasters, pouncing on a loose ball from close-range.

Lenell John-Lewis added his fourth of the season when meeting Dipo Akinyemi’s pass and stroking home.

Callum Harriott rounded off the scoring with a well-worked move, that ended with the winger sliding an effort past Ben Winterbottom.

Hinshelwood was impressed with the improvement shown from his players after Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Braintree Town, and explained how the red card to Davis changed the game from his perspective.

“It was a much better performance,” Hinshelwood enthused.

“Obviously the sending off made a bit of a difference, but it can make it tough for you.

“The team drops in, but the improvement today was that we kept our discipline to our shape.

“We were patient, we didn’t try and run the ball down one side of the pitch.

“That was a big improvement to the team, I’m just delighted for them.

“It’s five clean sheets out of nine, a really good return, we’ve set a high standard in those first nine games and now we want to keep it at that standard and improve on it.

“If you cast your mind back to six months ago, it’s a bit different to then!

“I’d much prefer to be where we are now and the fans leaving happy with smiles on their faces.

“We’re pleased with that, but it’s only the start, it’s nine games. We need to maintain our standards and make sure we keep on improving.

“I’ve been in teams where you have played against ten men and it is difficult, it doesn’t necessarily just mean that you’re going to win the game because they got a player sent off.

“They can frustrate you, I thought that our discipline to our shape was excellent and the patience we showed, to score early after half-time really helped us.

“We struggled probably in the first half an hour to get a bit of momentum, it was a bit dangerous for us.

“They slowed it down and fouled, which is a compliment to their team.

“I’m really pleased with how we dealt with that, how we adapted.

“We’ve got to carry on in that vein now, there will be teams that try and do that to stop us and stop our momentum.

“We’ve got to find a way, as each game is going to be a different challenge.

“We’re going to get that when coming up against good opposition week in week out, where there is not much between the two teams.

“They had their chances, but to keep five clean sheets from our first nine games is something that we are extremely proud of.

“That comes from the front, the lads working hard at the front and the defenders defending their box really well.”

Hinshelwood was impressed with the aspect of goals that his City side scored, in particular Harriott’s, which he felt capped off a good move.

The boss also spoke on Harriott’s first goal in York colours after an injury-stricken tenure with the Minstermen so far.

Hinshelwood commended: “The last one was an unbelievably worked goal.

“We were nice and patient, we kept to our beliefs.

“As much as there are groans behind me sometimes to bring on a forward and get it forward, I’m pleased that the players stuck to our beliefs.

“We are creating chances playing how we’re playing, so I’m pleased that the players have done that.

“I certainly am [delighted], I know too well what it’s like to be injured for a long period of time.

“It’s a tough, lonely place, but he’s [Harriott] kept working hard. He probably could have had one in his first start, but again we’ve got to be patient.

“We’ve got some good players in front of him but it will do his confidence the world of good.

“I am delighted for him.”

York are currently top of the league, which could change after Gateshead’s match with Dagenham & Redbridge, but Hinshelwood will refuse to get carried away by the Minstermen’s superb start to the campaign.

The City boss admitted that he will enjoy the win tonight, but focus will then move straight into how his side can become even better ahead of their trip to Aldershot next Saturday (3pm).

“It’s one game at a time, we’ll enjoy tonight because it’s a really good win.

“It’s four on the bounce after the disappointment at Boston, but it’s a credit to the players that they have responded.

“But we’re nine games in, so we won’t get carried away with anything.

“Our challenge is to keep on improving, because there is more improvement to come from us, that’s our challenge and what we’ll focus on.”