Match report: Gateshead 0, York City 3

But temperamental former City winger Craig Nelthorpe could be for the high jump again after incurring the wrath of home boss Ian Bogie for his 30th-minute dismissal during the New Year’s Day clash.

Nelthorpe, once senselessly sent off in a pre-season friendly for the Minstermen at the beginning of a troublesome Bootham Crescent career, saw red after lunging recklessly at Ashley Chambers, who was deep in his own half at the time.

From that point on, the visitors always looked likely winners and secured victory thanks to second-half goals from Jonathan Smith, Neil Barrett and Leon Constantine.

Having previously illustrated at Rushden what a tough team they are to counter with a one-man advantage, City’s impressive ability to retain possession bordered on exhibition football against Gateshead at times in the second half without ever becoming disrespectful to their north-east hosts.

Robbie Weir was particularly impressive with and without the ball, passing sensibly but also adventurously when the opportunities presented themselves.

The on-loan Sunderland midfielder has become the latest player to slot effortlessly into the anchorman role that is so crucial in Gary Mills’ 4-3-3 formation, following on from the likes of David McDermott, Danny Racchi and Djoumin Sangare.

In their performances, Chris Carruthers and Barrett also provided strong evidence of why they were mainstays in last season’s promotion-challenging team.

Both have been peripheral figures since Mills’ arrival at the club in mid-October but Barrett shone with his endeavour and intelligent runs into the box and Carruthers’ quality service from the left, pushing on from full- back, led to the visitors’ first and third goals.

At the other end of the pitch, imperious duo David McGurk and Chris Smith helped their team to another clean sheet with just one goal now conceded in eight outings including the abandoned match at Luton.

Chambers almost welcomed in the new year with a bang but his well struck second-minute free-kick was parried by Heed ’keeper Paul Harman.

City stopper Ingham, meanwhile, was alert to smother an 18th-minute Jon Shaw chance but that proved the former Northern Ireland international’s only save of the match.

Midway through the first half, Chambers missed a great chance to open the scoring when he raced on to an excellent 40-yard pass from Weir but drove wide with only Harman to beat.

Nelthorpe departed soon afterwards, prompting Bogie to leave Shaw up front on his own and visiting captain Chris Smith headed another promising opportunity over on the stroke of half-time when he attacked Chambers’ inswinging corner.

City then dictated the second-half proceedings with former Minsterman Andy Ferrell clearing a Jonathan Smith header off the line on 54 minutes.

Daniel Parslow forced an edge-of-the-box save moments later and James Meredith also went close before Smith broke the deadlock just past the hour.

The ex-Forest Green midfielder stuck out a boot to find the roof of Harman’s net from six yards after Carruthers’ cross had been headed down by Chris Smith.

Six minutes later, Parslow spotted Barrett’s charge through the right channel and the former Ebbsfleet midfielder beat Harman inside his near post with a low ten-yard shot.

Gateshead almost grabbed a consolation on 87 minutes when substitute Nathan Fisher rattled Ingham’s right-hand post from 12 yards after McDermott had surrendered possession on the left wing.

But fellow replacement Constantine had the final say, sidefooting in from six yards after Barrett had stepped over Carruthers’ left-wing cross on 89 minutes, before going close to claiming a hat-trick with two further efforts in stoppage time.

Match facts

Gateshead 0, York City 3 (J Smith 60; Barrett 66; Constantine 89)

York City: Michael Ingham 7, Daniel Parslow 8, David McGurk 8, Chris Smith 8, Chris Carruthers 8, Robbie Weir 9, Neil Barrett 8, Jonathan Smith 8, Ashley Chambers 7, Michael Rankine 7, James Meredith 7.

Subs: Andre Boucaud (for J Smith, 72), Leon Constantine (for Rankine, 77), David McDermott (Meredith, 84). Not used: Young, Racchi.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Weir – gave a really busy and polished performance in City’s engine room.

Gateshead: Paul Harman, Craig Baxter, Ben Clark, Alan White, Paul Heckingbottom, Martin Brittain (Andy Ferrell, 46), Phil Turnbull, Ashley Winn (Johnny Allan, 67), Craig Nelthorpe, Jon Shaw, Gary Mulligan (Nathan Fisher, 79).

Subs not used: Tim Deasy, Carl Jones.

Booked: Weir 35, Mulligan 51, McGurk 57, White 66.

Sent off: Nelthorpe 30.

Referee: Steve Smith (Darlington). Rating: assertive and pretty competent throughout.

Attendance: 1,231.

Pass of the match: Weir’s defence-splitting first-half through ball to send Chambers clear.

Miss of the match: Chambers’ subsequent shot.

Cross of the match: Carruthers’ low 89th-minute delivery for the third goal.

Shots on target: Heed 2, York 9.

Shots off target: Heed 1, York 7.

Corners: Heed 3, York 5.

Fouls conceded: Heed 9, York 13.

Offsides: Heed 1, York 2.

Head to head: Robbie Weir v Phil Turnbull

Northern Ireland under-21 international Weir outshone former Minsterman Turnbull in the middle of the park.

The on-loan Sunderland midfielder was sharper and more mobile than the Gateshead playmaker, who struggled to impose himself on proceedings.

Weir’s contributions going forward and as a defensive screen were numerous while Turnbull’s noteworthy efforts are hard to recall.