EBBSFLEET United boss Harry Watling expects York City to claim the Vanarama National League title after their 4-0 victory at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday.

An Ollie Pearce brace, alongside second-half strikes from Tyrese Sinclair and debutant Luca Thomas, saw the Minstermen keep up their promotion push and heap more misery on their last-placed opponents.

The win was York’s largest since October 2022 and leaves them in fine stead ahead of tomorrow’s table-topping clash with leaders Barnet (7:45pm).

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But whilst Watling felt that the 4-0 scoreline was perhaps harsh on his side – who did have their chances in front of goal – he forecasted City will achieve promotion as a minimum come the end of the season.

“The headline will say 4-0, which is a heavy result, but we didn’t deserve to get beaten 4-0 today,” he told club media.

“We were by no means the better side; I’m not trying to kid anybody. York are a very, very strong team who I expect to go on and win [the league], if not certainly get promoted.

“I think you find out a hell of a lot after last week and this week in terms of character, my players tried until the very end.

“The headline says 4-0, but we missed three one-on-ones at big moments in the game and we had a couple that we were standing behind them, they were blocked and cleared but were going in.

“But we didn’t defend the moments well enough and the first goal was down to their movement, which we tried to prepare for all week. We knew they would make those half-space corridor runs, which they did. We didn’t track one of them and then got ourselves muddled up.

“Other than that, the first half game-plan, the boys followed well. I don’t think we had enough of the ball for what I would like, but you have to respect the level and where you’re coming to.

“The second half, a couple of the goals are down to the fact that my left-back, after having made a change. Todd Kane is thankfully okay, but it was a horrific challenge to his face, but we had to make our last change and our left-back was cramping up and couldn’t run.

“They utilised that left side and got a couple of goals off the back of that.

“It’s a difficult one to take, but I don’t want to stand here and say that I’m disappointed in my players for their effort, endeavour and hard work. It was about levels today.

“They were just ruthless in the box, took their chances, and they’re a really good football team.”