Tamworth 0, York City 3

It is, therefore, a measure of the progress McEwan and his newly-assembled team have made during the six months since last season's corresponding fixture that it was the Minstermen's loyal travelling army of fans chanting "easy" by the end of last night's 3-0 victory at the Lamb Ground.

There was, of course, more than a hint of revenegeful sarcasm behind the visitors' taunts and the first half was, by no means, comfortable.

City did, however, dominate the second period and their despatching of Tamworth was reminscent of the fashion in which fellow part-time opponents Southport (4-1) and Altrincham (5-0) were ruthlessly brushed aside.

Whereas semi-professional outfits so often embarrassed City last season, the Minstermen are now taking full advantage of their full-time status by making their superior fitness levels count.

Clayton Donaldson, in particular, led the home defence a merry dance after being reinstated as the player responsible for the choice of City's pre-match dressing-room music.

The 21-year-old striker was moved from the flanks into a central role alongside Andy Bishop as McEwan changed tactics by replacing Joe O'Neill with winger Bryan Stewart.

Donaldson responded with two predatory goals and his devastating pace almost earned him a hat-trick.

Mark Convery also continues to be a reliable supplier of goals from midfield and added his third of the season to complete the welcome victory.

The first half, however, was the kind of scrappy and niggly affair that uncomplicated Tamworth like to reduce matches to until City broke the deadlock on 28 minutes.

Emmanuel Panther won possession for the visitors and Bishop then lifted the ball towards Donaldson, whose first attempt was blocked by right-back Jimmy Turner but his second - a left-footed effort - found goalkeeper James Dormand's bottom left-hand corner.

Just seconds later, James Francis - the son of former England striker and Sheffield Wednesday manager Trevor - lifted an excellent chance for an equaliser over the bar after Carl Heggs' low cross.

City's nerves were also jangling in first-half stoppage-time when Tristram Whitman saw a shot deflected narrowly wide and Matt Redmile went just as close with a header from the subsequent corner.

But the visitors seized the initiative after the break and Donaldson netted his second of the evening on 57 minutes when he headed in from close range after the ball looped into the air when Dormand could only parry Convery's low shot following good work by Bishop.

Ironically, Jamie Price had been cautioned for time-wasting after delaying the throw-in that would eventually lead to City's second goal.

Moments later, Chris Porter denied Redmile with a flying save from the powerful defender's header and Aaron Brown's follow-up effort was disallowed for offside.

City responded by adding a third goal on 62 minutes when Convery tried his luck from 25 yards and his low drive squirmed past Dormand, striking the inside of his left-hand post before travelling across the goal-line and nestling into the opposite corner of the net.

Donaldson then went in search of his hat-trick, volleying wide after Dormand had saved from Bishop and then seeing the Tamworth 'keeper smother at his feet after his pace had taken him clear of the home defence.

Lambs' player-boss Cooper made a late appearance as a substitute and, much to the delight of the Minstermen faithful, he struggled to acclimatise to the pace of the game and was cautioned for dissent.

He could do worse than concentrate on two of McEwan's watchwords for success - fitness and discipline - as he attempts to lift his team off the bottom of the table.

Match facts

Tamworth 0,

York City 3, (Donaldson 27 57, Convery 63)

City ratings:

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

Porter 8

Price 7

McGurk 8

Dudgeon 8

Merris 7

Convery 8

Panther 7

Dunning 8

Stewart 7 (O'Neill 70 , 7)

Bishop 8 (Palmer 81)

Donaldson 8

Subs (not used): Hotte, Yalcin, Afandiyev,

Star man: Donaldson - pace looked lethal in a central attacking role.

Tamworth: Dormand, Turner, Redmile, Aaron Brown, Stamps, Francis, Smith (Storer,73), Ward (Cooper, 83), Whitman, Mansaram (Taylor, 64), Heggs. Subs: (not used) Gayle.

Yellow cards: Price 56, Turner 86, Stamps 87, Cooper 89.

Referee: Shaun Procter-Green (Gainsborough) rating: several questionable decisions but no major mistakes.

Attendance: 1,005.

Weather watch: Cool evening.

Game breaker: Donaldson's second goal extinguished any hopes Tamworth had of gaining anything from the game.

Match rating: City seized control in the second half and played some attractive football after a scrappy, first opening 45 minutes.

McEwan's verdict: "We could have won by more goals because we had various chances to increase the lead. It was a great way to get back on track."

Player watch: Bryan Stewart

Shots on target: 0

Shots off target: 1

Passes to own player: 8

Passes to opposition: 2

Crosses to own player: 0

Crosses to opposition: 1

Pass success rate: 80 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 0 Dribbles ball lost: 7

Dribble success rate: 0 per cent

Fouls won: 1

Fouls conceded: 2 Headers: 1

Tackles: 4

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 1

Bookings: 0

Final summary: Bryan Stewart made a quiet but competent first start to the season. His distribution was generally reliable although he did not see too much of the ball and did not beat his marker in any of his attempted dribbles.

Updated: 11:31 Wednesday, September 28, 2005