KIERAN GREEN scored on his first return to Blyth Spartans to help York City to a convincing 3-0 win and back to the top of the early National League North table.

Signed by Steve Watson in the summer from the Croft Park outfit, Green rose highest to head in Sean Newton's cross to complement first-half strikes from Kallum Griffiths and Alex Kempster.

Barring a five-minute spell in the first 45, City were comfortably in control across the park, stronger in attack and defence. This time, the chances York created were converted clinically.

It would not have been a surprise had York gone into the break three goals to the good - and when the third did arrive, the result never looked in doubt.

Though Blyth fought back in the second period, they were death throes rather than a surge back against their visitors.

A former team-mate of Watson’s from his Newcastle United days, Blyth manager Lee Clark started seven of his summer signings, including the Magpies’ Under-23 keeper Nathan Harker. Scott Fenwick – a familiar name to City fans – started on the bench.

There were a good few players making the step up from lower divisions. Rhys Evans and Joe Robson have arrived from Northern League outfit Newcastle Benfield while Anthony Callaghan has come in from Northern Premier League side South Shields along with loanee and substitute Ursene Mouanda.

Watson fielded two former Spartans in his starting 11 – keeper Peter Jameson and midfielder Kieran Green – with another in Macaulay Langstaff on the bench. Croft Park alumnus Dan Maguire was the only change from the weekend, making way again for Green, having come off against Brackley with more struggles with his knee injury.

Alex Kempster showed early signs of intent and used his strength to get beyond Ryan Hutchinson to an Andy Bond through ball but his cross was easily collected by Harker.

A similar result greeted a Blyth right-wing cross, which was gathered low by Jameson a couple of minutes on.

York were not afraid to shoot on sight and Andy Bond, in an effort to recreate his heroics from Saturday, fired well over after a clearance only made it just beyond the edge of the area.

Blyth were reluctant to commit too many forward from set pieces with Burrow and Kempster occupying the halfway line, but a rare break from open play yielded another dangerous right-wing ball which Jameson scrambled to tip away.

The light but persistent rain that started just before kick off made for a slick ball and surface but, by the quarter-hour mark, City had assumed control of possession and were patiently looking for an inroad against a stubborn Blyth formation.

It arrived in the 18th minute with Griffiths’ acrobatic effort from Bond’s scuffed effort inside the area. Alex Kempster played the ball the back post and, when the ball sat up for him, Griffiths buried his low overhead effort.

The hosts had their first effort on goal five minutes on through centre-forward Dale Pearson. His shot from a 25-yard free kick sailed comfortably over.

And a minute on, it was two for City, Kempster at his precocious best up front to force his way into the area and curl superbly into the top corner.

As the half drew to a close, Blyth were well under the cosh, and rarely able to escape their own third with the ball at their feet. Long balls forward were calmly contained by captain Steve McNulty and Joe Tait.

City came close twice in quick succession, first from a wicked inswinging David Ferguson corner that was scrambled clear before Bond had a better effort from Kempster’s lay-off, blocked by a sliding Hutchinson.

There followed a brilliant effort from Kieran Green, who showed good composure to chest down and make space for himself in the area before unleashing a left-footed strike that drew a fingertip save from Harker.

Another summer signing Michael Sweet came on at half-time, shifting Blyth to a 3-5-2 formation. He was withdrawn 10 minutes later with a head injury, replaced by Fenwick.

Before that, though, came the killer third goal for York. Green rose well in the 52nd minute to meet Newton’s ball in from the right and he powered in from 12 yards out off Newton’s left-wing cross.

Fenwick – who had briefly gone off in some pain from his wrist – had a long-range effort sail just over before Wrightson drew Jameson into a fine fingertip save with a snap-shot from 16 yards.

Wrightson was looking particularly keen in the second half and was almost sent clear through a couple of minutes on but could not trap the tricky ball over the shoulder that would have put him squarely one-on-one with Jameson.

But by the final 10 minutes, Blyth were largely reduced to hopeful long balls forward and the result looked like a done deal.

Blyth: Harker, Evans (Nearney 88), Callaghan (Sweet HT, Fenwick 50), Robson, Devitt, Hutchinson, Wrightson, Spooner, Pearson, Orrell, Scott. Subs not used: Dale, Mouanda.

York: Jameson 7, Griffiths 7, Ferguson 8, Newton 7, McNulty 7, Tait 8, Moke 7, Bond 8 (Dyer 7 63), Burrow 6, Green 8, Kempster 9 (Langstaff 6 63). Subs not used: York, Spratt, Whitley.

Star man: Alex Kempster. Though substituted with half an hour to go, his devastating presence across the front line gave City a superb outlet and he was excellent value for an excellent goal.

Attendance: 1,389