YORK City boss Billy McEwan has set his side the target of reaching Christmas still in the Conference play-off frame.

An excellent 2-1 victory at Weymouth, coupled with Burton's 3-0 defeat at Dagenham, saw the Minsteremen move level on points with Saturday's third-placed opponents.

Emmanuel Panther and Jason Goodliffe's first goals for the club saw City respond in impressive fashion to the top-five Yuletide challenge set by McEwan in his team talk before the Wessex Stadium clash.

McEwan will now be demanding the same standards in Saturday's home match with second-placed Dagenham as well as in the three other league games between now and December 25.

Back-to-back away matches against Forest Green Rovers and Grays Atheltic follow the Daggers' game with a KitKat Crescent derby clash versus Halifax then scheduled for the last Saturday before Christmas.

The Shaymen showdown will mark the half-way point of the Conference campaign and, fully aware that his side fell away from play-off contention this time last season, McEwan is keen to still be in the melting point at the turn of the year.

After Saturday's victory, he said: "It was not a lucky win, it was fully deserved and we are now sat handily in the pack up there so I am delighted for everybody at the club. We know there is still a long way to go as far as the season goes and we still need work to improve all areas of our game but if we show the same desire, attitude and commitment as we did at Weymouth then who knows?

"I said before the match that we have some big games coming up and I want to be up there in the pack at Christmas. I think people will also be looking over their shoulders and saying what a result that was for York as well, which is what I want."

McEwan recalled fit-again pair David McGurk and Nathan Peat in place of Luke Foster and Anthony Lloyd for the game and was pleased with their returns, saying: "Dave was tired towards the end as, like Nathan, he has not played much football but I was pleased that they got 90 minutes under their belts and got worked and tested against good opposition."