WHILE coal-powered trains puffed past Kidderminster Harriers’ Aggborough stadium on the Severn Valley Heritage Railway, York City gave the first genuine signs that they are beginning to gain some steam under Steve Watson.

The former Gateshead chief is vowing to get the Minstermen back on the right tracks after several seasons of decline and, securing the club’s first back-to-back league wins in 13 months during his sixth game in charge, had the long-suffering travelling faithful singing his name towards the end of this 2-1 triumph.

It was a rare demonstration of pride in their team’s efforts from the away supporters who were also celebrating the side’s first consecutive triumphs on the road since January 2018, having witnessed eight straight defeats before the 3-2 success at Alfreton earlier this month.

For once, it felt that the players’ commitment levels matched their own in terms of the time, money and miles they dedicate to following their club.

And those standards must now be consistently met until the end of the season if Watson’s desire to inject some positivity back into the club is to be achieved.

The ex-England under-21 international had described the previous weekend’s 2-0 home win over Ashton United as the most complete performance under his tenure, but this contest was a less-laboured victory than that secured by Jordan Burrow’s late brace, with the Minstermen looking to assert themselves on proceedings from the first whistle.

The reward for that adventure came in the form of two stunning strikes from Kallum Griffiths and Scott Burgess, who claimed their first goals for the Minstermen in spectacular style.

In between, former loan striker Joe Ironside levelled from a sloppily-defended free kick on 75 minutes after the Minstermen had barely been breached in open play, with David Mirfin superbly marshalling the back four for a second successive game.

But, with three of Ashton’s only four chances coming from free headers following corner kick seven days earlier, Watson has rightly identified opposition set-pieces as an ongoing area for improvement. An eager Alex Kempster, meanwhile, had contributed the afternoon’s first two efforts at goal, exchanging passes with David Ferguson before curling a 15-yard attempt at home keeper Brandon Hall and stabbing wide of the near post following Paddy McLaughlin’s right-wing cross.

Kiddy briefly responded with Adam Bartlett pushing a low edge-of-the-box effort from Nick Clayton-Phillips around his left-hand upright The City keeper also prevented Liam McAlinden from squeezing a shot inside his far post from an unfavourable angle after he met Fraser Horsfall’s left-wing cross.

Hall was then extended to keep out a deflected 25-yard Burgess drive, whilst Ashley Chambers’ strike from a similar distance lacked conviction and the ex-City striker limped out of the action soon afterwards.

A Burrow header from Ferguson’s cross subsequently bounced wide before the visitors forged in front just past the half-hour mark.

Griffiths threw the ball down the right flank for Burrow to contest and, when it returned to his feet, the full-back cut inside before unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt that crashed into Hall’s top-left corner from 20 yards.

After the interval, Kempster couldn’t direct a far-post header on target from Griffiths’ right-wig cross and the latter might have done better when another chance fell on his weaker left foot but, this time, he dragged a ten-yard opportunity wide.

Kidderminster had failed to muster a single shot for 54 minutes, before sub Ed Williams’ firm 25-yard drive was held by Bartlett who was, nevertheless, beaten following the game’s next attack.

Sean Newton was penalised for a foul as Kane Richards turned and ran into the City defender 35 yards from goal.

From the resulting free kick, McAlinden curled the ball into the six-yard box where Ironside, who failed to net in ten outings for the visitors this season, scored against the Minstermen for a second time in 2018/19 after shinning in while Bartlett stayed on his line.

Play then swung from end to end with Clayton-Phillips lifting an edge-of-the-box effort too high and Kempster seeing his 15-yard drive collected by Hall after positive play by Burgess.

Ironside also headed wide before Griffiths picked out Burgess from another throw-in and, after lifting the ball over his marker, the on-loan Bury midfielder sent a superb 20-yard, dipping half-volley crashing into Hall’s net.

In the final throes, a Griffiths tackle teed up Burrow for a shot that Hall gathered, whilst an Ironside attempt was deflected away from goal, as City’ finally rid themselves of their status as one of the three teams in English football’s top-seven divisions to have waited longest for back-to-back league wins.

City ratings

Adam Bartlett 6

Kallum Griffiths 8

David Mirfin 8

Sean Newton 8

David Ferguson 8

Scott Burgess 8

Paddy McLaughlin 7

Adriano Moke 8

Wes York 7

Jordan Burrow 8

Alex Kempster 7

Subs not used: Ryan Whitley, Hamza Bencherif, Josh Law, Alex Harris, Jon Parkin.

Star man: Griffiths - terrific first goal for the club and stuck to his defensive responsibilities well

Kidderminster: Brandon Hall, Sam Austin, Fraser Horsfall, Ryan Johnson, Joel Taylor, Billy Daniels (Ed Williams, 62), Milan Butterfield, Ashley Chambers (Kane Richards, 23), Nick Clayton-Phillips, Liam McAlinden, Joe Ironside. Subs not used: Harry Higginson, Jake Weaver, Russ Penn.

Kidderminster star man: Taylor – proved a strong adversary for Wes York

Referee: Aaron Jackson 7/10 – decisive throughout the contest

Booked: Ironside 33, Moke 49, Butterfield 73, Newton 76, Taylor 86, Burgess 89

Sent off: None

Attendance: 1,598 (147 from City)

Shots on target: Kidderminster 5, City 6

Shots off target: Kidderminster 3, City 4

Corners: Kidderminster 3, City 5

Fouls conceded: Kidderminster 14, City 12

Offside: Kidderminster 1, City 1