Grays Athletic 0, York City 4

Top scorer Richard Brodie scored his first goals since mid-January with a first-half double-strike and he was joined on the scoresheet by midfielders Paul Harsley and Neil Barrett.

The three points further strengthened the visitors’ play-off claims while Grays, without a win in 18 matches, will surely be relegated to the Blue Square South before they visit Bootham Crescent for the return fixture on the penultimate weekend of the season.

City manager Martin Foyle resisted the temptation to make changes to his side following Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Tamworth and named the same starting line-up for a fourth successive game.

In front of a subdued and sparse home crowd, City created the first chances of the night.

Djoumin Sangare sidefooted wide after a fourth-minute corner delivered to the far post by Courtney Pitt, whose 30-yard free-kick forced the evening’s first save from Glyn Garner moments later.

Ex-Portsmouth winger Pitt then evaded two challenges drifting in from the right flank before his low, deflected effort was held by Garner.

Brodie also called Garner into action but, at the other end, the impressive Jamie Guy grazed Michael Ingham’s crossbar from an acute angle.

City then survived a scare when Ingham’s attempted punch from Kenny Davis’s cross saw the ball skew off his fist towards goal.

Fortunately, an alert Sangare raced back to the goal-line to complete a heroic clearance.

Guy continued to threaten, though, flashing a shot on the turn narrowly wide from the edge of the box, only for the Minstermen to break the deadlock on 31 minutes.

A right-wing cross from Brodie was helped on by Pitt and Harsley, who had made a darting diagonal run into the Grays penalty box, fired into Garner’s bottom left-hand corner.

Guy again went close from 25 yards for the visitors before Brodie scored his first goal in a dozen games to settle City’s nerves on 38 minutes.

The England ‘C’ international collected Ben Purkiss’ long ball down the right channel and after, heading for the byline, left John Glowacki on his backside, switched the ball on to his left foot and drilled a low shot into Garner’s bottom right-hand corner.

City added a third on 41 minutes after Duran Reynolds’ challenge on Michael Gash was penalised with a yellow card and a free-kick.

Harsley’s driven delivery then picked out Brodie who, unmarked six yards from goal, sidefooted past an exposed Garner.

The only first-half blemish for the Minstermen, however, saw Sangare limp off injured seconds before the break.

Joseph Bayowa’s overhead kick saw Ingham make his first save of the night after the interval but, shortly afterwards, City added their fourth goal on 57 minutes when Barrett drove powerfully into the roof of the net from 12 yards after Gash had headed the ball down in the penalty box.

City then began to cruise a little with Ingham required to make excellent saves from Daniel Bunce and substitute Alex Osborn to prevent a Grays consolation.

Match facts

Grays Athletic 0, York City 4 (Harsley 31; Brodie 38, 41; Barrett 57)

York City: Michael Ingham 8, Ben Purkiss 7, Djoumin Sangare 8, Luke Graham 8, James Meredith 8, Paul Harsley 8, Jamie Clarke 7, Neil Barrett 8, Courtney Pitt 7, Richard Brodie 8, Michael Gash 7.

Substitutions: David McGurk 7 (for Sangare, 45); Alex Lawless 7 (for Clarke, 64), Michael Rankine (for Brodie, 75).

Not used: Chris Carruthers, Adam Smith.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Harsley – very busy display in City’s midfield, crowned with his first goal for the club.

Grays: Glyn Garner, Kenny Davis, John Glowacki, Duran Reynolds, Daniel Bunce, Richard Graham (Jordan Wilson, 64), Alsseny Cissoko (Thomas Harvey, 82), Harlee Dean, Harry Agombar, Jamie Guy, Joseph Bayowa (Alex Osborn, 70).

Subs not used: Preston Edwards, Marc Clarey.

Yellow cards: Reynolds 41, Guy 53, Agombar 60, Osborn 84.

Shots on target: Grays 4, City 7.

Shots off target: Grays 5, City 4.

Corners: Grays 2, City 6.

Fouls conceded: Grays 18, City 2.

Offsides: Grays 0, City 0.

Referee: James Adcock (Long Eaton).

Attendance: 323 (102 City fans).