1 Michael Rankine is typically forcing his way into starting XI reckoning

The 32-year-old is no stranger to a selection battle at Bootham Crescent. When he was first recruited by the Minstermen in 2009, it was expected that he might play second fiddle to fellow new signing Michael Gash with the club having paid Ebbsfleet £55,000 to secure the latter’s services.

But Rankine’s whole-hearted performances quickly saw him emerge as the first-choice striking partner for the then prolific Richard Brodie, as he went on to start 40 league matches that campaign. During the following season, Brodie left for Crawley and, after Gary Mills took over from Martin Foyle as manager, Gash was offloaded having been criticised for his fitness levels, leaving Rankine to lead the City line.

In accomplished former Championship campaigner and master marksman Jon Parkin, the competition for the number-nine shirt is arguably sterner during Rankine’s latest stint as a Minsterman, particularly with Mills’ preference for a three-pronged strikeforce. But the ex-Aldershot target-man’s two-goal show against Nuneaton, coupled with the unsettling of Bradford Park Avenue and Darlington’s defences in the first two matches he filled in for the injured Parkin, have seen him once more make a compelling case for regular selection.

While some might have earmarked the Doncaster-born forward for a bit-part role off the bench, similar to that he fulfilled for Guiseley last term, Rankine has made it clear that he still wants to be an integral figure in Mills’ plans. Despite obvious size similarities, Rankine and Parkin have both insisted they could play together and it would be no surprise if, at some stage of the season, the starting claims of both dictate a little tactical tinkering to accommodate the experienced pair.

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2 It remains difficult to wrestle the ball off the big man when a penalty is awarded

After referee Stephen Copeland punished Nuneaton sub Bradley Gascoigne for holding Rankine, the powerhouse City striker’s next reaction was immediate, grabbing the ball and heading for the spot before any of his team-mates had the chance to volunteer for 12-yard duties. At the time, 30-year-old midfielder Simon Heslop had a chance to complete the first hat-trick of his career, but the last man to try and pull “Rank” in such a situation – then regular taker Brodie – was pushed forcibly to one side by the powerhouse forward.

A similar confrontation with Parkin might lead to a different conclusion but, while then manager Foyle reprimanded Rankine for flouting team orders on that occasion, if the latter approaches penalty taking with the same single-minded and decisive manner in which he despatched his firm effort against Nuneaton, Mills will be happy for him to assume responsibility again when on the pitch.

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3 Two-goal Simon Heslop has an eye for the spectacular

Following his net-busting strike at Macclesfield back in March, Heslop highlighted again his ability to beat opposition keepers with pace and accuracy from distance. His first effort was a genuine goal of the season contender but both – full volleys as the ball dropped out of the sky – required excellent technique.

With Adriano Moke now holding the fort in a deeper role as part of Mills’ three-man midfield, Heslop and fellow sharp-shooter - skipper Sean Newton - should continue to have the licence to roam forward and try their luck from distance.

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4 Ashley Chambers will be a threat at National League North level

He might have dropped out of the full-time game at 27, but City’s former double-Wembley winner performed well in a lone central striker role that he might have been uncomfortable in during his days at Bootham Crescent. It was no surprise that Chambers’ movement off the ball was good all afternoon but, perhaps a little unexpectedly, he proved a physical match for a home back-line that was admittedly missing the muscle of a suspended Hamza Bencherif.

Winning a penalty that he then converted, showing predatory instincts to snaffle up a second goal and then setting up Jordan Nicholson for their team’s third goal suggested that Chambers’ career, like many in the Minstermen’s squad, does not need to plateau in the sixth tier.

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5 Despite losing 500 fans City remain one of the biggest-supported teams in non-League football

Following the 0-0 draw with Darlington, there were almost half-a-thousand fewer home supporters for the visit of Nuneaton and, clearly, the status of the opposition might dictate numbers through the turnstiles this term. Nevertheless, a crowd of 2,430 was still the weekend’s second-highest outside the Football League after Woking’s 2,885 gate, which was swollen by a big following from Leyton Orient.