YORK City boss Billy McEwan paid tribute to his squad after they overcame a virus to clinch a crucial 3-1 victory at play-off rivals Morecambe.

Illness deprived City the services of key defender David McGurk and talented winger Martyn Woolford for yesterday's match.

McGurk failed to make the journey to Lancashire while an under-the-weather Woolford watched from the bench until he was required as a last-minute substitute for goalscorer Steve Bowey.

Even physio Jeff Miller was unavailable for duty because of the virus while on-loan defender Jason Goodliffe completed 90 minutes despite suffering as well.

The Minstermen, however, triumphed thanks to well-crafted goals from Clayton Donaldson, Craig Farrell and Bowey and McEwan reckoned his side retained possession in a manner unrivalled this season.

With James Dudgeon suspended, Danny Parslow returned to the starting line up in place of David McGurk and Darren Craddock stood in for Nathan Peat, who was also banned for his red card in Friday's fracas against Woking.

Darryn Stamp filled in for Woolford as City adopted a 4-5-1 approach that came up trumps with McEwan gushing over his side's display afterwards.

He said: "It was the best possession football we have played this season. We kept the ball for three-quarters of the game and, in the period we didn't, we let them back in and they scored.

"But the approach work for all our goals was excellent. We also had Jason Goodliffe ill before the game and at half-time and he was carrying a knock as well but he battled through it.

"Martyn Woolford was up all night and David McGurk never played. We were also without our physio but the lads that came in did very well, particularly Parslow.

"I thought our defence was different class to limit a team of their ability to very few chances."

McEwan was also full of praise for striker Farrell, who ended an 11-game drought without a goal since bagging a brace at St Albans with an excellent strike to give City a 2-0 lead.

The City boss said: "The goal just after half-time was a killer goal and a fantastic finish. The build-up was superb and it was a clinical strike.

"No keeper would have saved it at this level and I'm really pleased for him especially after the last few games because he's had some good chances that you would expect him to finish by his standards."

Man-of-the-match Bowey also earned McEwan plaudits for his "whole-hearted" display, culminating in a second goal of the season although he hobbled off at the end of the game with a minor hamstring problem.

Despite his side climbing into third position with the victory placing them just seven points behind top two Dagenham & Redbridge and Oxford, McEwan signalled his intention to improve the squad during the January transfer window.

He also called for an end to needlessly-conceded goals, adding: "We gave the corner away too easily for Morecambe's goal and did not defend it properly so I'm not pleased with that. We were a bit careless and we could have given them another goal.

"We've got to defend better at times because we let a similar goal in at Morecambe a fortnight ago and, if you want to do anything at all, you need clean sheets."

City's board also confirmed that no official offers have still been made for 18-goal top scorer Donaldson.