YORK City boss Martin Gray expects tomorrow night’s trip to Ashton United to present his team with their “toughest game” so far this season.

The Minstermen have kicked off the campaign with a couple of defeats to last season’s National League North play-off semi-finalists Chorley (0-1) and Alfreton (1-2), either side of a 1-0 victory over title favourites Stockport.

But Gray believes a night match at newly-promoted Ashton, who have kicked off the campaign unbeaten by taking five points from a possible nine, will provide a stern early test of his own team’s mettle.

Ashton only attracted a crowd of 273 for their opening game of the season – a 0-0 draw against Nuneaton – with their Hurst Cross ground boasting a capacity of 4,500 with just 250 seats.

The Greater Manchester outfit beat Grantham Town, meanwhile, in last term’s Evo-Stik Northern League premier division play-off final after finishing second in the table and Gray also reckons the club have carried that winning momentum into the current campaign.

“Ashton have come flying out of the blocks during the last couple of games,” Gray warned. “They are full of grit and desire on the back of a promotion and this will be our toughest game.

“We can’t afford to make it an open match, because they have scored three in both of their last two matches and they have goals in their team. They’ll be a threat and can’t be underestimated and I’ve worked with one or two of their players at Oldham.

“We’ve got to be disciplined like we were against Stockport for a full 90 minutes and we’ve got no excuses mentality wise, because there’s a lot of experience in our group. Going to these grounds and getting results at them represent the big games come the end of the season.”

Gray has suggested he will make changes from the side that started Saturday’s loss to Alfreton, hinting at problem areas that require action.

“There have been lots of positives in our first three games when we’ve been on our front foot driving at teams, but there are some things that need addressing,” he admitted. “We’d be kidding ourselves if we thought otherwise.”

The City boss added that injured pair Simon Heslop (ribs) and Alex Kempster (knee) could come back into the reckoning, along with certain players who might be welcomed back in from the cold.

“Dan Parslow and Josh Law were regular starters last season and haven’t made the bench yet, which shows how strong our squad is,” Gray reasoned. “But they have a great opportunity to be involved at Ashton and it’s important they feel loved and wanted like everybody else.”

Having combined for the Minstermen’s consolation goal at the weekend, Jon Parkin and marksman Macaulay Langstaff are both in contention too for their first starts of the season.

“They have given me good problems,” Gray declared. “Jon was a real handful against Alfreton and Macaulay got one goal from one chance, while stretching them down the sides as well.

“He’s come up from the lower leagues and I like that hunger in players. He’s determined to do well for York City and I think he can go on to play at a higher level.

“I’ve been delighted with all the strikers, but they’ve got to contribute goals too and we’ve only had one from them in three matches.”

Gray went on to confess that one of Burrow or Parkin would always be likely to fill one of his striking spots, explaining: “I think you need a focal point and there aren’t many games where you come up against a small back four although, if I had to play Jake Wright and Macaulay up there due to injuries and suspensions, I wouldn’t hesitate because they would be a nuisance for any team.”

City are not yet planning to offer trialist James Berrett a contract, with Gray pointing out: “He’s missed the whole of pre-season, so we’re just doing a lot of work with him and we’ll take it from there.”