5 Things We Learned from York City's 5-0 win v Ashton Athletic

When given the caretaker manager’s job, Sam Collins was quick to implement a 4-3-3 formation with his own twist, including ball-carrying centre halves, advanced full-backs and deep-lying central-midfield players. It was clearly a system he trusted as he looked to make a strong first impression in his bid to become Martin Gray’s permanent successor.

Collins subsequently lined up in the same manner for his first four fixtures in charge, but it was encouraging that he was prepared to change tactics following his first significant setback – the 3-0 home defeat to Kidderminster. As early as the end of last season, Gray openly stated that he would be pinning his faith in 4-4-2 football during 2018/19, but opposition analysis has grown extensively in recent years, given the availability of match footage now available at all levels of the game and, if a team plays in the same manner game in, game out, the chances are evenly-matched rivals can safely devise a game-plan, knowing the side’s methods will vary little. Having seen Kidderminster close down the space in front of Joe Tait and Hamza Bencherif as they tried to start attacking moves from the back and his midfield labour to support two isolated front men who were struggling to hold up the ball, it was clear it might be time for a rethink if Collins’ City were to avoid a certain level of predictability and this contest was a good opportunity to experiment with a 3-5-2 structure.

2 Wing-backs could represent City’s best option for attacking penetration on the flanks

Gray’s desire to hang his hat on 4-4-2 this term appeared a little compromised, given that Wes York was the only natural winger in his squad, after talented teenager Vinnie Steels had departed for Burnley. Furthermore, York had previously confessed that he preferred to play through the middle too, as he did to good effect against Ashton Athletic’s tiring defence as a second-half sub.

Under Gray, a number of players auditioned unconvincingly for the left-wing spot in his favoured formation, including striker Alex Kempster, midfielder Adriano Moke and full-back David Ferguson. Since then, the promotion of teenager Fergus McAughtrie to the senior squad could facilitate another look at the system, beloved by all 1980s enthusiasts, if needed at some point, but the employment of Kallum Griffiths and Ferguson as wing-backs did present a compelling case for them to provide forward thrust down the flanks.

With less that two minutes on the clock, Ferguson had unexpectedly popped up on the right far-post to tap in City’s opening goal and, just moments later, the stretching former England C international almost doubled his afternoon’s haul at the opposite upright when a charging Griffiths had retrieved Macaulay Langstaff’s overhit pass from close to the by-line. Clearly playing Ashton meant both players could worry less about spaces behind them being exploited by counter-attacking opponents but, even in a 4-3-3, Collins expected his full backs to push on and, with three centre-halves and an anchoring midfielder to hold the fort, the risk of Griffiths and Ferguson’s forward pushes leaving the team exposed should be lessened in theory.

3 A better team than Ashton Athletic might still have capitalised on defensive gaps

Collins referenced his former manager Mick Wadsworth in his post-match assessment when he quoted one of the ex-Hartlepool, Huddersfield and Scarborough chief’s favourite sayings: “When we’re attacking, we’re defending.” No doubt on the City caretaker chief’s mind were the six on-target efforts his team let the North Counties West League’s bottom club have on Adam Bartlett’s goal – one more than Kidderminster were afforded seven days earlier and a higher number than in any National League North fixture this term, other than the 1-1 draw against Hereford.

Arguably, Ashton forward Marcus Cusani should have taken one, if not both, of his one-on-one chances and, against opponents three divisions higher, Bartlett might have been harder pressed to claim his fifth clean sheet of the season. While being comfortable on the ball is often a pre-requisite of any back-three defender, that must not come at the cost of any susceptibility against forward-breaking opponents.

4 Ideas to maintain attacking vigour without Jon Parkin are finally emerging

Nobody would be naïve enough to suggest Saturday’s free-scoring victory presented evidence of a solution to the team’s long-standing problem – an over-dependence on Parkin for goals – but there was, at least, the hint of some form of plan to retain a level of potency when the 36-year-old veteran isn’t on the pitch. Five different marksmen – Ferguson, Jordan Burrow, Tait, Alex Harris and York - made the scoresheet, as Josh Law and Sean Newton also provided assists.

Griffiths and Macaulay Langstaff were heavily involved in moves for goals too, meaning nine outfield players had a direct hand in the five efforts for a team that had only managed to net in one of their previous 15 matches without the former Championship campaigner being on-field. With debutant Harris and Adriano Moke breaking from midfield, the team were given more forward momentum from that area of the pitch, while the team’s struggle to find a forward capable of holding the ball up as effectively as Parkin in a 4-3-3 line-up was not as troublesome with two central strikers to occupy the opposition defence.

5 There IS room for sentimentality in football

Displaying your human side can sometimes be perceived as a weakness in the ruthless world of football management, but Collins’ knowing decision to hand Dan Parslow the 61st-minute substitute outing that saw him break into the club’s all-time, top-ten appearances’ list was a nice touch. With Parslow having been one game short of the significant landmark since the end of last season, it would perhaps have been ridiculous not to reward the City stalwart’s years of service in such a manner as the team led 4-0 to against the Lancashire minnows.

But there are plenty examples of churlish behaviour in football and, having not kicked a ball for either Gray or Collins this term prior to the weekend, there did seem a distinct possibility that Parslow could depart North Yorkshire without ever managing that elusive 380th outing. It remains to see what the future holds for the two-time Press Player of the Year and 2015 National League title winner – and his prospects of selection should be enhanced by the switch to 3-5-2 – but Collins’ substitution selection represented good man-management and demonstrated the actions of a boss still in touch with players’ emotions. Parslow will now be keen to prove Saturday’s cameo was as merited as it was an act of kindness, as he looks to move clear of Happy Wanderers hero Billy Hughes and chase down another club legend Phil Burrows in ninth place on 390.