Disciplined York City heeded a 'cool it' plea from manager Neil Thompson to keep their winning form on the boil.

THICK OF THE ACTION: Getting stuck in for City at The Shay are, from left, Wayne Hall who takes a tumble after challenging Halifax number nine Chris Tate, Chris Fairclough, Steve Agnew, Mark Sertori grappling with Mark Paterson, and Scott Jordan

City vanquished Division Three high-fliers Halifax Town 2-0 last night to notch their third consecutive win.

The victory did not elevate the City men any further from 17th spot. But by extending an undefeated sequence to five games - during which they have picked up 11 out of a possible 15 points - City are now just one win away from going into the top half of the table.

Midfield force Kevin Hulme attributed City's controlled performance at The Shay to manager Thompson's pre-match appeal.

Revealed Hulme, one of three ex-Halifax Town players returning to their former stamping-ground: "There were one or two rumours flying around about things that might happen.

"But the gaffer said he wanted to have 11 men on the pitch at the end of the match. He said if we did that we would win the game, and that's what we did.

"And I don't think it would have flattered us if we had got four or five goals."

Hulme said he and his other ex-Shaymen cohorts, Mark Sertori and Marc Williams, had been delighted by the winning return to a club where they had performed with distinction over the last few years.

Ex-Halifax captain Hulme declared: "First and foremost our intention was to come here and get a win. I then wanted a good performance and maybe nick a goal.

"I should have scored when I was put through, but I'm chuffed to bits that 'Willo' got one here."

The midfield battler said City had to take heart from the last few results.

"We've gone to Brighton and won. We've come to a side in the top three and won. They've been two hard away games, but we've come back with six points. That's got to be a big boost."

City boss Thompson hailed the 90 minutes as one of the most effective of his reign, confirming he had demanded his players be sensible in their approach to the derby duel. "There was a fear whether things would kick off," said Thompson.

"Hulmey and Sertori are big characters who were at Halifax a long time. But I told them I wanted to still have 11 men on the pitch at the end.

"I know Kevin Hulme is a combative player and I would not want him to lose that. But we needed to handle things properly. Hulmey showed a lot of strength and composure."

Goalscorer Williams, who struck City's second ten minutes after Barry Conlon set the Minstermen on their way with his fifth goal of the season, said he knew he would score back at The Shay.

"I told the lads on the way here that I would get on the scoresheet and it's always good to bang in a goal against an old club," he enthused.

"I wanted to prove a point to the (Halifax) chairman, because he was the reason I left the club after being messed about with my contract. That goal was for him."

York City reserves travel to Hartlepool tonight in the Pontin's League Cup, kick-off 7pm.

York City reserves: Howarth, M Thompson, Garratt, Bullock, Hocking, Reed, Fox, Conway, Williams, Turley, Naylor, Walters. Subs: Collinson, Keegan, Whitfield, Marshall.

City reserves' match at home to Blackpool on November 17 has been brought forward 24 hours and will now take place on Tuesday, November 16.

End of era as Mac is released

Andy McMillan's 12-year career with York City finally came to an end today.

The right back has been released from his contract at Bootham Crescent.

A statement issued by the club said: "York City have, by mutual agreement with Andy McMillan, released him from his contract and also his registration with the Football League with immediate effect.

"A financial settlement has been mutually agreed."

His contract with City was scheduled to end next year.

McMillan was told at the end of last season that he did not figure in Neil Thompson's plans and has not played in City's first team since the 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Wigan Athletic on March 20 - Thompson's first game in charge after the departure of Alan Little.

Thompson believed that McMillan was no longer equipped to deal with the hurly-burly of Third Division football.

McMillan was City's longest serving player and was just eight games short of reaching 500 senior appearances.

This season McMillan has played reserve team football at City and has also trials with Walsall, Lincoln City, Scarborough and, most recently, Bury, but no permanent move has been forthcoming.

He had a testimonial game against a Leeds United XI at the start of the season and ranks second in City's all-time appearances list with 492 games - just 47 behind Barry Jackson's all-time record of 539 set between 956 and 1970.

Triple tonic

Last night's win was the first time City have won three League matches in succession since the 1994-95 season. In January 1995 City won 2-0 at Oxford and 4-0 at Chester before beating Birmingham City 2-0 at Bootham Crescent.

Wintery weather then caused the games against Huddersfield and Wycombe to be postponed before City made it four wins with a 2-1 success at Plymouth on February 4. The run was halted by Wrexham who won 1-0 at Bootham Crescent three days later.

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