YORK City have equalled their best start to a league campaign at Bootham Crescent in 14 years.

A 4-1 triumph over Woking means the Minstermen have now pocketed seven points from a possible nine in front of their own supporters.

In fact, had it not been for Ricky Shakes’ last-minute Boreham Wood leveller, Jackie McNamara’s side would still be protecting a 100 per cent home record after three league games on their own turf for the first time since 2002/03.

Only Martin Foyle’s 2009/10 team and Billy McEwan’s 2005/06 hopefuls have matched McNamara’s home start in the intervening period and Saturday’s latest success saw City supporters treated to a whirlwind opening 25 minutes when Gozie Ugwu’s early strike was emphatically cancelled out by rapid replies from Richard Brodie, Yan Klukowski, Jake Wright and Aidan Connolly.

Indeed, the former Dundee United chief’s record in North Yorkshire remains respectable with seven wins, five draws and six defeats during his ten-month tenure and 28 goals both scored and conceded.

But, if McNamara is to meet the season’s target of a top-five finish, with chairman Jason McGill’s programme notes suggesting anything less would be a failure, then the Scotsman must improve on his dismal away record.

In 20 road trips as City boss, he has drawn four games and lost 16, while scoring 17 goals and shipping an alarming 49.

As a club, meanwhile, City have now failed to win for 25 fixtures on their travels and will complete a full year without an away triumph should they not take maximum points at Wrexham tomorrow afternoon.

That game promises to be an entertaining contest, if the Minstermen can reproduce the same fast-paced football that tied Woking in knots against a home team who will also be set up to play attractively under former Bootham Crescent chief Gary Mills. The latter would have undoubtedly been satisfied with his old club’s display had he still been manager on Saturday even allowing for Woking’s win-less beginning to the campaign.

City also handed an early initiative to the visitors when, after full-back Jake Caprice had crashed a hopeful 20-yard effort against the roof of the David Longhurst Stand, Clovis Kamdjo dallied on the ball in his own half, allowing Charlie Carter to release Ugwu through the right channel with one pass before the Cardinals’ striker fired an angled ten-yard effort across debutant keeper Kyle Letheren and into the bottom corner on seven minutes.

There were rumbles of discontent among the home crowd at that stage but Brodie turned any jeers into cheers with an immediate response, drilling a terrific right-footed effort inside Michael Poke’s left-hand post from the edge of the box in the ninth minute.

His goal meant Brodie had netted in three successive matches for City – a feat last achieved by Ashley Chambers four years ago during the club’s first month back in the Football League.

Four minutes later, Klukowski was just as clinical, firing a 30-yard bullet into the opposite corner after good approach play from the ever-probing Connolly.

When Brodie’s dangerous, inswinging cross from the right touchline was tipped over his crossbar by Poke, Connolly then swung in the resulting corner and Matt Fry’s downward header was forced over the line from a yard by the predatory Wright on 20 minutes.

The on-loan Sheffield United striker’s hunger to get on the scoresheet was matched by admirable unselfishness five minutes later as, with only Poke to beat after harassing the ponderous Joey Jones into a mistake in his own penalty box, he squared to Connolly for a tap-in.

Woking had been completely overwhelmed as the Minstermen scored from each of their first four goal attempts during a breathtaking 16-minute spell.

Klukowski also went close to a fifth from a free kick after Keiran Murtagh had been cautioned for fouling Connolly, who went on to test Poke himself prior to the interval.

With the Wrexham game in mind, City sensibly dropped the tempo for the second half and, largely, managed the game in a professional manner, although Fabio Saraiva headed over from Nathan Ralph’s cross and Zak Ansah somehow cleared the crossbar following an almighty scramble in the home six-yard box.

Brodie might still have had a second goal after more pressing by Wright teed up a blasted effort that Poke did well to push around an upright.

The hosts’ number nine also headed away a goalbound effort from Jones before being given a 70th-minute rest by an impressed McNamara.

His replacement Scott Fenwick saw a firm 20-yard drive parried away by Poke and fellow sub Reece Thompson had a deflected drive safely gathered.

At the other end, Woking were denied a late consolation when Letheren dived to his left to push Saraiva’s edge-of-the-box drive behind for a corner.

City

Kyle Letheren: 7 – made a fine late save and was well positioned to deal with other shots

Shaun Rooney: 7 – handled most of the threats down his flank, while conservative going forward

Ben Clappison: 7 – dependable display defensively and distributed well from the back

Matt Fry: 8 – might have scored himself had Wright not made sure and put in some timely tackles

Alex Whittle: 7 – less onus on him to attack in new system, but never found wanting at the back

Yan Klukowski: 8 – showed his technical ability if opposition give him chance to get a shot on goal

Clovis Kamdjo: 7 – needs a greater sense of danger in certain positions but stronger after mistake for goal

Matt Dixon: 7 – kept busy and showed a willingness to get involved from the start

STAR MAN Aidan Connolly: 9 – threatened to run riot in a first half where Woking had no answer to his movement

Richard Brodie: 9 – thumping finish and played some intelligent passes and lay-offs

Jake Wright: 9 – constantly closed down the Woking defence and got his rewards with a goal and an assist

Substitutes: Daniel Nti 7 – sensible (for Kamdjo, 62), Scott Fenwick 7 - strong (for Brodie, 70), Reece Thompson 7 – competitive (for Wright, 70).

Subs not used: Jack Higgins, Luke Simpson.

Woking

Michael Poke, Jake Caprice, Joey Jones, Brian Saah, Nathan Ralph, Zak Ansah (Chike Kandi, 72), Fabio Saraiva, Kieran Murtagh, Charlie Carter, Anthony Edgar (Max Kretzschmar, 46), Gozie Ugwu (Charlie Penny, 18). Subs not used: Dennon Lewis, Brandon Hall.

Woking star man: Poke – made a couple of smart saves to save his team from a bigger hiding

Referee: David Richardson rating: 7/10 – a welcome improvement on recent officials

Booked: Murtagh 28, Thompson 88.

Attendance: 1,972 (56 from Woking)

Shots on target: City 9, Woking 5

Shots off target: City 2, Woking 8

Corners: City 5, Woking 5

Fouls conceded: City 11, Woking 7

Offside: City 1, Woking 2