YORK City caretaker boss Sam Collins hailed an "outstanding" performance as Blyth Spartans were seen off 2-0 at Bootham Crescent.

Late goals by subs Jon Parkin and Adriano Moke secured a deserved victory for the Minstermen, who have now moved up into the National League North play-off positions for the first time this season.

The win also meant Collins has collected four points from a possible six during his temporary tenure, following Saturday's 0-0 draw at Brackley, with his new charges yet to concede.

Delivering his verdict, the ex-Port Vale and Hartlepool defender enthused: "We played some really good football from start to finish and I don't want the players to be afraid of making mistakes. I want them to to go and play and enjoy having the ball and, while a couple of times we got sucked into playing long balls, we've only really had two days to work on things, because we've needed to keep people fresh with two games in three days so, to put in a performance like that, was outstanding."

Collins made two changes to the side that started against Brackley, with veteran striker Parkin dropped to the bench and fatigued 18-year-old Fergus McAughtrie rested, as Jake Wright and Wes York earned recalls to the first XI.

On those decisions, the Pontefract-born, 41-year-old explained: "I wanted three quick players on the pitch against them and we created three of four good chances and probably should have won by more.

"But Big Jon got us a goal at the right time, because it can be frustrating when the chances don't go in and, with Jon, we wanted to make sure we got him through both games, so we could use him at certain stages in each match. With young Fergus, it was down to sheer fatigue.

"He was absolutely shattered walking off the pitch at Brackley with his bust nose and I just wanted to cuddle him really, so we have to look at the bigger picture, even though I don't know what will happen in the future. I didn't want him playing and getting an injury that meant we'd lose him for six weeks."

Russ Penn, meanwhile, was sent off just eight minutes after Blyth midfielder Kieran Green received his marching orders on the half-hour mark, with Collins agreeing with both decisions from referee Ben Speedie.

He was unsighted, meanwhile, for the penalty that was awarded against Connor Oliver for handball, but was just pleased to see Parkin convert it.

"The first sending off was a definite red card because, if David Ferguson had planted his leg on the ground, it would have been broken," Collins reasoned. "For ours, Russ got himself in a bit of a bad position and gave the ref no choice really, because you couldn't argue with a second booking.

"I couldn't tell if the penalty was fair or not from where I was, but I was delighted when he gave it."

Moke went on to wrap up maximum points on 90 minutes to earn more praise from the caretaker chief, who added: "It was a very composed piece of play at a great time in the game for us, because players can panic in that situation.

"I put him on because I wanted as much energy on the pitch as possible and he gives you that. He's a bright player, who's really lively and he wanted to get on the ball and make things happen, which I know he can do."

When asked about his own hopes of landing the City job permanently, Collins replied: "I just want to win as many matches as possible because, if it's me or somebody else that becomes manager, we're all paid by the club to win games."