YORK City cruised to a third victory of pre-season against recently-relegated Tadcaster Albion.

Goals from Adam Crookes, Dan Pybus and a brace from Zanda Siziba saw Michael Morton returning to his old stomping grounds in style, with York claiming their third victory of pre-season.

City now remain unbeaten in their pre-season build-up, with victories over Garforth Town and Doncaster Rovers, whilst also holding both Sky Bet Championship sides Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough to draws at the LNER Community Stadium.

It’s also the first of four matches in seven days in a busy schedule for the Minstermen, with matches approaching against Selby Town on Monday, Farsley Celtic on Tuesday and the final friendly of the season against Sky Bet League Two side Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

Tadcaster on the other hand are preparing for their first season back in the Northern Counties Eastern League premier division after suffering relegation last campaign, and have steadily built a new squad under manager Mick O’Connell.

The former Harrogate Railway boss made the switch to the Brewers in the off-season, and after inheriting a squad with just one player remaining, has built a new-look Tadcaster for the upcoming season.

O’Connell was full of praise for York manager Morton prior to kick-off, believing that the City gaffer could be of interest to teams higher in the pyramid in the next year, and that he was one of the leading managers in the Vanarama National League.

The quality showed, as the Minstermen cruised to a third victory with signs of encouragement on show, especially after an instrumental performance from Siziba on the wing.

Morton named 10 changes from the side that kicked-off against Doncaster, with only Paddy McLaughlin retaining his position, whilst Thierry Latty-Fairweather was absent after receiving a controversial red card in the 1-0 victory over Doncaster.

Tadcaster on the other hand named a starting eleven of players already signed onto the club, alongside six trialists on the bench, as the Brewers prepare to kick-off their competitive season next weekend against Thackley.

The conditions were a struggle early on as the So-Trak Stadium enjoyed a flurry of rainfall, but it didn’t stop York from playing their usual Morton-style football.

Olly Dyson spread the ball wide to Siziba before the winger found McLaughlin on the edge of the box, but the experienced midfielder’s final effort was blazed over the bar.

It didn’t take long for York to find the breakthrough, and a first goal of the 2023/24 season for Crookes.

Siziba was again heavily involved with some tricky footwork, surging into the box before squaring into the path of Crookes who cooly tucked the ball home at the far post.

It was nearly two for City as Maziar Kouhyar curled a low cross into the path of club captain Lenell John-Lewis, but the forward’s effort was stopped by the impressive Joe Wilton, who has had an encouraging pre-season for the Brewers.

Wilton was again tested as Siziba attempted a long-ranged effort, but the parried effort was met by John-Lewis, who was ruled for offside.

Tadcaster weren’t willing to roll over as a corner found Josh Hardcastle in space, but his header skidded wide of the target.

York did capitalise on the missed effort, as Siziba added his first of the afternoon after receiving possession on the edge of the box before unleashing a fantastic effort past Wilton.

Siziba’s impact was clear as the winger continued to terrorise the Tadcaster back-line, before his teasing cross towards the back post missed the required touch from John-Lewis.

Still looking for his first goal of pre-season, John-Lewis would have a frustrating afternoon with a number of disallowed goals at Tadcaster, but the forward nearly opened his account with a close-ranged effort that sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

City continued to prevail as Pybus saw a strike fly narrowly wide of the target from the distance, before Dyson and Crookes both saw strikes well-stopped by Wilton between the Brewers sticks.

Heading into the second half, Tadcaster had the first opportunity to halve the deficit as Dan Thirkell looked for his second goal of pre-season, but his towering header at the far post was met by Maison Campbell from close-range.

Wilton was substituted off at half-time for a trialist goalkeeper for Tadcaster, and he would be just as busy after making impressive stops to deny Kouhyar and John-Lewis.

Following a disallowed goal by John-Lewis, York were quick to add their third and a deserved second of the afternoon for Siziba, and in some style.

A mazy run from the winger saw Siziba nutmeg his marker before breaking into the box, and unleashing an unstoppable strike into the far bottom corner to the enjoyment of the City supporters behind the goal.

After disallowed goals for both Tadcaster and John-Lewis again, Dyson once again tested the trialist goalkeeper with another long-ranged strike, but was again denied.

The icing was added to the cake as Pybus settled the scoreline with another fantastic solo effort, surging past a handful of defenders before curling a tremendous effort into the far corner to put the Minstermen up by four.

It wasn’t John-Lewis’ day as Kouhyar found the towering forward, but his effort was against acrobatically stopped by the trialist goalkeeper.

Scott Burgess would have one final effort of the match to add to an already convincing scoreline for the Minstermen, but was stopped again by the trialist goalkeeper, as the referee brought the game to a close in rainy Tadcaster.

A convincing victory for York, who now travel to neighbours Selby on Monday night.

Tadcaster Albion: Wilton (Trialist, 45), Owen, McDaid, Thirkell (Ibrahimi, 70), Qualter, Hardcastle (Roper, 45), Ahmed (Trialist, 45), Kitchen (Holmes, 70), Stephens (Trialist, 78), Greenway (Walters, 86), Kay (Trialist, 45)

Subs not used: Graves,Trialist, Trialist

York City: Campbell, Duckworth (Fallowfield, 77), Howe, Cordner, Crookes, McLaughlin (Hancox, 77), Dyson (Trialist B, 77), Pybus (Castro, 71), Kouhyar (Burgess, 77), John-Lewis, Siziba (Main, 71)

Subs not used: Trialist A

Goals: Crookes (11), Siziba (30, 60), Pybus (70)

York’s star man: Zanda Siziba. An instrumental performance from the winger who was a thorn in Tadcaster’s side, netting a brace and an assist for Crookes’ opener.

Shots (on target): 1 (1) | 3 (14)

Corners: 3 | 5

Offsides: 1 | 4

Fouls committed: 8 | 7