Ollie Pearce stars in York City's 4-0 win against Ebbsfleet

The striker also set up Tyrese Sinclair’s stunner in a Man of the Match performance, whilst debutant Luca Thomas struck a fourth goal in stoppage time as the Minstermen earned their biggest win of the season.

The encounter though proved to be somewhat of a slow burner under the autumnal sunshine.

Chances were at a premium during the opening half, but City could count themselves unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty after Sinclair appeared to have been tripped by Ebbsfleet captain Josh Wright inside the box just after the quarter-hour.

Mark Cousins then pulled off an incredible double save but could not stop Pearce from breaking the deadlock with a smart angled finish four minutes before the break.

Ebbsfleet then twice drew one-on-one saves from the returning Harrison Male before Sinclair delivered what proved to be the killer blow with a stunning volley in the 73rd minute.

It was all City from thereon in, Pearce blasting home from close range before Thomas kept his composure in the sixth minute of stoppage time to put the icing on top of their triumphant home return.

However, despite a ninth clean sheet of the season, manager Adam Hinshelwood admitted there were aspects of his side’s defence that must be fixed up ahead of Tuesday’s visit of pole-sitters Barnet.

MATCH RECAP: York City 4-0 Ebbsfleet United

Hinshelwood made two changes from last weekend’s FA Cup win at Biggleswade FC, with Male returning between the sticks and Ricky Aguiar preferred to Billy Chadwick, who dropped to the bench.

New signing Thomas was named on the bench after joining the club on a youth loan from Leeds United in midweek, but certainly made his impact felt.

Ebbsfleet rang in the changes, notably handing a start to former Crystal Palace left-back Pape Souare, whose signing was announced shortly before kick-off.

On-loan City defender Tyler Cordner did not make their squad for a fifth consecutive match, but both top scorer Dominic Poleon and Halifax Town loanee Aaron Cosgrave were named on the bench – the latter another matchday addition.

Fleet gifted their hosts two cheap goal kicks inside the opening seconds but did fashion the first effort on goal in the third minute, a low strike rolling wide of Male’s left-hand post.

Wes Fongcuk then raced past Joe Felix to win the game’s first corner, but Male was able to gather Anthony Stewart’s tame headed effort with ease.

The Minstermen though grew into the contest and should have taken the lead in the 11th minute when Tyrese Sinclair connected with Felix’s far-post cross, but he could not keep his header under the bar.

He again found space on the left wing just after the quarter-hour, but despite appearing to have been tripped by Wright inside the box, referee James Bancroft instead ruled in the visitors’ favour and brandished the winger the first booking of the match for simulation.

City at times played themselves into trouble around their own box but continued to see joy at the other end of the pitch.

Sinclair was tripped on the left wing, with the resultant free kick sent wide to Felix, but neither Aguiar nor Cameron John could turn home his teasing cross.

The best chance of the half then fell York’s way just after the half-hour, with only an incredible double save from Cousins preventing them from taking the lead.

Aguiar’s low strike was saved at point-blank range before the shot-stopper somehow recovered to get a strong hand to Sinclair’s follow-up.

Cousins again denied Aguiar and Dipo Akinyemi as the hosts continued to push for an opener, and they were rewarded four minutes before the break.

Aguiar’s through ball freed Pearce, who thundered an effort back across goal and into the bottom left corner to hand City a deserved lead.

Ollie Pearce's brace of goals and an assist earned him the Man of the Match. (Image: Tom Poole) Sinclair could have then doubled the Minstermen’s advantage on the stroke of half time after connecting with Felix’s pinpoint cross, but again headed over the bar.

It was a case of what might have been for Ebbsfleet after the break, for they had their chances to equalise.

After Jim Kellermann and Kwame Thomas had combined in a rapid counterattack that left them two-on-one in front of goal, it took only an outstanding close-range save from Male to preserve his side’s clean sheet.

Fleet though left themselves exposed at the other end of the pitch, needing a fine diving save from Cousins to deny Aguiar after he had let fly from the edge of the box.

But not even a quadruple substitution in the 55th minute – including the introduction of top-scorer Poleon - proved much help thereafter.

Todd Kane was withdrawn injured after a 50/50 challenge on the left wing before City delivered the killer blow with just less than 20 minutes left to play.

Pearce’s right-wing cross sat up perfectly for Sinclair to send a sweetly struck volley past Cousins and into the bottom left corner.

Tyrese Sinclair struck the pick of the goals with just under 20 minutes remaining. (Image: Tom Poole) Thomas and Callum Harriott were introduced from the bench in the minutes that followed, with both eager to make an immediate impression.

Male was alert to clear a teasing through ball before Thomas set Pearce racing down the right wing after his persistence in winning the ball back 30 yards from his own goal.

And the Leeds United loanee was involved again as City found a third with five minutes of regulation time remaining.

He drew a smart stop from Cousins, but the rebound fell at the feet of Pearce, who finished emphatically from close range.

Male was then called into late action to deny Poleon one-on-one before York wrapped up the scoring in the sixth minute of injury time.

Thomas timed his run to perfection, latching onto Alex Hunt’s through ball before keeping his composure to fire a left-footed strike low into the bottom corner on a memorable debut.

City pushed for a fifth, with Felix firing into the side netting before Pearce’s effort took a deflection and rolled along the goal-line and agonisingly wide, but they could not find another way through.

YORK CITY: Male, Fallowfield, Howe ©, Sinclair (Harriott 80) Hunt, Akinyemi (Fadera 90), Pearce, Batty (McLaughlin 90+1), Aguiar (Thomas 74), John, Felix.

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Armstrong, Watson, Chadwick.

GOALS: Pearce (41, 85), Sinclair (73), Thomas (90+6)

YELLOW CARDS: Sinclair, Howe, Felix

EBBSFLEET UNITED: Cousins, Wright ©, John, Kellermann (Lawson 55), Fonguck (Bingham 55), Domi, Souare, Tanner (Poleon 55), Kane (Chapman 77), Stewart, Thomas (Cosgrave 55).

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES, Wakely, Berry.

YELLOW CARDS: Wright, Bingham

HALF TIME: 1-0

YORK’S STAR MAN: Ollie Pearce. A brace of goals and an assist for the striker, who put in a tireless performance. A mention too for Harrison Male, whose string of saves at the beginning of the second half paved the way for City to push on.

ATTENDANCE: 5,176 (118)

REFEREE: James Bancroft