IF any evidence was needed to outline the psychological fragility that has plagued York City teams in recent times, it can probably be found in the damning statistic that, prior to Saturday’s National League North clash against Guiseley, the hosts had not won any of the last 21 league games in which they had conceded the first goal at Bootham Crescent.

Not since a 4-1 triumph over Woking in August 2016 – arguably the high point of Jackie McNamara’s regrettable reign – had a visiting side failed to take any reward home after opening the scoring.

Those 21 games ultimately ended in 14 away successes and seven draws.

During the same period, meanwhile, in stark contrast, the 22 Bootham Crescent contests during which City broke the deadlock resulted in 16 home victories, five draws and only one loss.

Former boss Martin Gray repeatedly stressed the need to recruit players over the summer that would be equipped to handle the pressures of playing in front of an expectant Minstermen faithful when going a goal behind, rather than looking fearful of fans’ reactions as their shoulders drooped and heads lowered at the prospect of another North Yorkshire setback.

A subsequent defeat to Alfreton and draw with Curzon Ashton at the club’s once-proud, 86-year-old home this season suggested little had actually changed in the bid to overcome the side’s perceived mental weakness.

Gray went on to lose his job but caretaker boss Sam Collins, with the players he has inherited plus the one addition of Alex Harris, has managed to end a two-year long hoodoo and, whilst it might be premature to hail a corner turned, it was refreshing to see a City side demonstrate the character and calmness to recover from an early blow.

Indeed, City started as poorly as they have done in any of Collins’ previous five matches in temporary charge, including his one defeat – the 3-0 reverse to Kidderminster.

With just 12 seconds on the clock, Paul Clayton had volleyed the afternoon’s first chance over the home crossbar and, by the fourth minute, the Minstermen trailed to a Kingsley James penalty.

The spot kick was awarded after City failed to deal with Niall Heaton’s long throw in from the left at their near post and, when a late runner into the box lost Macaulay Langstaff, referee Adam Herczeg spotted a handball.

James went on to sidefoot into Adam Bartlett’s bottom-right corner as the ex-Darlington keeper dived in the opposite direction.

In response, Adriano Moke shot high and wide from 20 yards, but City could have easily fallen further behind on 13 minutes had Bartlett not been alert to smother at Clayton’s feet after right-wing back Cliff Moyo had burst through the home defence far too easily to collect Will Hatfield’s through ball and send in a low cross.

Collins’ men were level three minutes later, though, as Terry Kennedy set the tone for an afternoon of slip-shod away defending.

The former Harrogate Town centre back misjudged his header from a long Bartlett punt forward and only succeeded in sending Jordan Burrow clear on goal.

He went on to unleash a firm shot that was parried out by Lions keeper Joe Green low to his left, only for Langstaff to follow up and net from the rebound.

With the Minstermen having now settled into the game, Burrow went close again five minutes later when his header from Kallum Griffiths’ right-wing free kick came back out off the inside of an upright.

Precise Simon Heslop through balls went on to set up chances for Langstaff and Burrow in quick succession – with the former’s deflected wide of the near post and the latter’s calling Green into action.

At the other end, Bartlett was equal to Hatfield’s downward header from Heaton’s left-wing cross, but City made it 2-1 on 37 minutes after Griffiths’ free kick was scrambled around his near post by Green.

The former Spennymoor right-back went on to take the consequent corner from the left and, when his flag kick flashed across the face of the visitors’ six-yard box, Burrow found space at the far post to control and drill home from close range.

Finishing the half in the ascendancy, City also saw centre-back Joe Tait skilfully create room for a 15-yard half-volley that just cleared the crossbar.

After the restart, a brilliant Newton free kick, awarded for a foul on willing runner Burrow, glanced the underside of the crossbar and somehow bounced out the wrong side of the goal-line.

Newton was relieved, though, to see Alex-Ray Harvey then lift a 20-yard opportunity too high after he had been robbed of possession in his own half.

But the Liverpool-born utility man, playing his first game since turning 30, went on to settle the outcome by bagging a brace within the space of three minutes.

First, on 79 minutes, he won and converted a penalty after Will Thornton held the City player as he looked to jump and meet Harris’ inswinging free kick from the right.

Newton then never looked in doubt as he drilled the spot kick powerfully into Green’s bottom-left corner.

Next, more slack penalty-box marking saw Harris’ left-wing corner drop to Newton, who took a touch before blasting home from ten yards.

Two minutes later, Newton was busy blocking a goal-bound Lewis Walters’ effort at the other end, only for Scott Smith to follow up for a consolation that never looked destined to provide the unlikely grandstand finish needed to extend the visitors’ unbeaten nine-game run.

City ratings

Adam Bartlett 7

Josh Law 7

Joe Tait 8

Sean Newton 8

Kallum Griffiths 7

Simon Heslop 8

Adriano Moke 8

Alex Harris 8

David Ferguson 7

Jordan Burrow 8

Macaulay Langstaff 7

Substitutes: Wes York 7 (for Langstaff, 70), Hamza Bencherif 7 (for Griffiths, 70), Russ Penn (for Moke, 77).

Subs not used: Jon Parkin, Jake Wright.

Star man: Newton - impressive second half with his goals, defensive work and passing out from the back

Guiseley: Joe Green, Cliff Moyo, Will Thornton, Terry Kennedy (Scott Smith, 46), Andy Halls, Niall Heaton, Alex Purver, Kingsley James, Alex-Ray Harvey (Curtis Morrison, 78), Will Hatfield (Lewis Walters, 78), Paul Clayton. Subs not used: Kayode Odejayi, Jack Dyche.

Guiseley star man: Heaton – strong presence on left

Referee: Adam Herczeg: 8/10 – assertive and rarely at fault

Booked: Clayton 65, Halls 76

Sent off: None

Attendance: 2,331 (202 from Guiseley)

Shots on target: City 8, Guiseley 5

Shots off target: City 4, Guiseley 4

Corners: City 7, Guiseley 2

Fouls conceded: City 15, Guiseley 9

Offside: City 6, Guiseley 2