DIEGO De Girolamo provided the tricks and treats for York City a day after Halloween but there were also plenty of scares and frights before Russ Wilcox celebrated his first victory since taking over from Nigel Worthington as manager.

Italian under-20 international De Girolamo haunted Cheltenham’s three-man defence throughout a dominant first half that saw him ghost past players, who were left spellbound by his ball wizardry and intelligent movement.

The on-loan Sheffield United forward, now with three goals in four City outings, gave the visitors a belated 43rd-minute lead having earlier rattled a home post and gone close to netting on two other occasions.

De Girolamo teed up a further chance for Michael Coulson, who is forging a mesmeric understanding with the 19-year-old prodigy, while debutant Deon Burton went close twice too.

But, after the break, the Minstermen could not get out of their own half for long spells – a pattern familiar, no doubt, to all the loyal 267 supporters that made the trek to Gloucestershire.

Cheltenham and their manager Mark Yates deserve credit for the transformation from one half to the next, following key personnel and tactical changes, but wasteful finishing from Terry Gornell, along with heroics from on-loan City keeper Alex Cisak, ensured Wilcox’s team survived four minutes of stoppage time to exorcise the demons of last-gasp equalisers against Morecambe, Northampton and Tranmere this term.

Earlier, Coulson and ex-Jamaica international Burton both volleyed difficult chances too high from balls dropping over their shoulders – the first from the edge of the box following a Femi Ilesanmi throw-in and the second from six yards out after Lewis Montrose’s left-wing cross to the near post.

De Girolamo also curled wide from 20 yards following a positive burst forward by skipper Russell Penn and Burton headed over from five yards following John McCombe’s right-wing delivery.

More De Girolamo trickery saw him raid through the left channel before teeing up a 12-yard chance for Coulson, whose low shot drifted narrowly wide of Trevor Carson’s left-hand upright.

The talented teenager then swept a shot past the same post from an almost identical position following a purposeful left-wing charge by Ilesanmi.

After robbing home midfielder Matt Richards of possession in his own half, De Girolamo next went on to rattle the other post from 20 yards before getting his just reward as half-time beckoned.

Two short passes between Montrose and Coulson opened up the home defence, freeing De Girolamo through the left channel and he shot low through Carson’s legs from ten yards.

An outclassed Cheltenham had only managed two goal attempts during the opening 45 minutes – both hopeful long-range efforts from John Marquis and Joe Hanks that were deflected way off target.

Robins substitutes Raffaele De Vita, Eusebio Bancessi and Byron Harrison all helped turn the tide, however, after the break.

Bancessi tried his luck with two early shots and, after Montrose had tumbled in the penalty box at the other end with referee Gavin Ward unmoved, Richards also prodded wide from 15 yards.

City went on to survive a 63rd-minute scramble when Gornell shot straight at McCombe in front of an inviting net after Cisak had been lured out of his goal, and Harrison went on to drag a second effort wide.

De Vita also cleared the crossbar narrowly twice from the edge of the box before delivering a pinpoint right-wing cross on to the head of an unmarked Gornell only for the ex-Rochdale striker to direct his golden eight-yard opportunity wide of Cisak’s left-hand post.

A brilliant reflex save from Cisak, down near his ankles, then denied Harrison following his swift shot on the turn ten yards from goal.

The same player’s rising attempt from a similar distance produced another smart stop from the on-loan Burnley net-minder on 87 minutes.

Given this season’s setbacks, City supporters greeted the raising of the fourth official’s board and its signalling of a minimum of four added-on minutes with trepidation.

But Ryan Brunt fired a rare opportunity into the stands from 20 yards for the visitors and, moments later, the Minstermen were celebrating only their second triumph of the campaign and a welcome victory over their Gloucestershire opponents, who had only been beaten once in a dozen previous league meetings between the two clubs.

The progress made under Wilcox can be measured, meanwhile, by a haul of five points from a possible 12 during his first four matches in charge – already as good a tally as those garnered in any other quartet of fixtures this season.

Match stats

Cheltenham 0, York City 1 (De Girolamo 43)

York City

Alex Cisak: 8 – made two smarts saves late on to safeguard victory and positive with his punches out of the six-yard box.

Marvin McCoy: 7 – given problems by half-time sub Bancessi but stuck to his task and fought valiantly.

Keith Lowe: 8 – kept calm under second-half onslaught, making some key clearances and interceptions.

John McCombe: 8 – stood tall at the back and took few risks when put under pressure.

Femi Ilesanmi: 8 – battled hard in attempts to keep Cheltenham quiet down his wing and offered attacking support when appropriate.

Lindon Meikle: 7 – most of City’s first-half threat emanated from the opposite flank and found it hard to be an outlet after the break.

Lewis Montrose: 7 – never shirked a challenge but kept his discipline and played important part in goal.

Russell Penn: 8 – belied illness to inspire his team with typical drive and determination prior to leaving pitch on 76 minutes.

Michael Coulson: 8 – worked in tandem with De Girolamo to give Cheltenham the first-half run around.

Deon Burton: 7 – got himself into two good, first-half goalscoring positions and did well to last 88 minutes.

Diego De Girolamo: STAR MAN 9 – a real menace to the home team during a first half full of skill and intelligent running.

Subs: Jake Hyde 6 – isolated (for De Girolamo, 66), Luke Summerfield (for Penn, 76). Not used: Michael Ingham, Dan Parslow, Tom Platt, Anthony Straker, Ryan Brunt.

Cheltenham

Trevor Carson, Troy Brown, Jack Deaman (Eusebio Bancessi, 46), Steve Elliott, Lee Vaughan, Joe Hanks (Raffaele De Vita, 39), Jason Taylor, Matt Richards, Craig Braham-Barrett, John Marquis (Byron Harrison, 59), Terry Gornell. Subs not used: Andy Haworth, Matthew Gould, Paul Black, Omari Sterling-James.

Star man: Vaughan – attacked down the right better than he defended.

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Rating: made a few glaring errors and little over officious - 5/10.

Booked: Hanks 10, Marquis 19.

Attendance: 2,469 (267 from City).

Shots on target: Cheltenham 3, City 3.

Shots off target: Cheltenham 10, City 9.

Corners: Cheltenham 5, City 3.

Fouls conceded: Cheltenham 11, City 7.

Offsides: Cheltenham 1, City 1.