YORK City’s relegation from the Football League was confirmed following a 3-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Accrington Stanley.

A Tariqe Fosu goal followed by Josh Windass’ second-half brace sealed City’s fate in a one-sided contest that saw the visitors take 80 minutes to have their first shot at the Accrington goal.

Earlier, Billy Kee signalled Stanley’s intent with two headed opportunities for the hosts.

His first from Adam Buxton’s right-wing free kick cleared the crossbar and the second, after Piero Mingoia’s cross from the same flank, was caught by City keeper Scott Flinders.

A looping Windass effort also drifted over while Josh Carson survived strong Accrington penalty appeals after seemingly handling Mingoia’s cross in the box.

Instead, referee Carl Boyeson awarded a free kick one inch outside.

Buxton curled another free kick over just before the half-hour mark and Seamus Conneely was well off target from the edge of the box before Stanley made their pressure count on 35 minutes following a Flinders error.

The City keeper allowed the ball to slip out of his grasp after Windass had pulled a low cross back from the right byline.

Fosu went on to keep his composure to find the net from eight yards.

Further home chances before the break saw Mingoia hit a 20-yard half-volley out of the ground and Tom Davies also clear the crossbar from closer in.

The Minstermen, meanwhile, failed to muster a single shot – on or off target – during the opening 45 minutes.

Jackie McNamara responded by fielding defender Dave Winfield as a centre forward from the restart after taking off the ineffective Danny Galbraith.

It was Accrington, though, who continued to threaten.

Flinders parried away a Davies header from Mingoia’s cross and Kee missed the target from a corner to the near post.

A 25-yard Mingoia strike also called Flinders into action before Windass curled over from a free kick.

Kee went on to fire too high after Flinders had smothered his first shot following a Carson error. But John Coleman’s team belatedly doubled their advantage on 69 minutes with Windass’ 15th goal of the season.

After City had only cleared a Buxton corner to the edge of the box, the former Harrogate Railway striker fired a firm low volley past Flinders to net in a fourth successive fixture against the Minstermen.

Another Windass attempt from distance was gathered by Flinders moments later while City managed their first shot of the match on 80 minutes when Bradley Fewster cleared the crossbar on the turn from eight yards after home keeper Ross Etheridge had failed to hold on to Lewis Alessandra’s low cross from the right.

Kyle Cameron also glanced a header well wide from Luke Summerfield’s left-wing free kick and the latter forced Etheridge into his only save from 15 yards.

A final opportunity to give City’s long-suffering away supporters something to cheer was then blasted over from James Berrett by 12 yards after he had broke through the right channel.

Instead, Stanley added a third in the second minute of stoppage time when, after Mingoia had made inroads down City’s left again, Windass beat Flinders with a low ten-yard shot following a deflection off Luke Hendrie.