YORK City got their third win on the spin with a 2-0 victory over Leamington at Bootham Crescent.

Alex Kempster and Jordan Burrow both scored their second goals of the season to keep the Minstermen top of the National League North table.

Fears that Leamington would replicate visiting sides Farsley Celtic and Brackley Town in making this another arduous home game for York were only half realised. The Brakes had looked happy to go into the break only one goal down following Kempster's fantastic first-half header but had to be drawn out of their shell by Burrow's volley.

As such, the second 45 was an end-to-end affair with both sides lacking some composure in the hunt for another goal.

Peter Jameson had to make a good late save, but York were again deserved winners.

York boss Steve Watson named the same starting 11 as that which won so convincingly at Blyth Spartans. Goalscorer Kieran Green was again played in midfield in place of the recovering Dan Maguire.

On loan from Birmingham City, 22-year-old keeper Jake Weaver has impressed for Paul Holleran’s side. The long-serving Connor Gudger – who is approaching 200 appearances for the Brakes – was among the back line, though fellow defender Junior English began a five-match suspension for successive dismissals against Curzon Ashton and Boston United.

Midfielder Jordan Murphy was also sent off in the 1-0 defeat at Boston – Leamington’s first loss of term – but he was eligible for the game.

Another veteran New Windmill Ground player, Jack Edwards was supported by a five-man midfield featuring summer signings Josh March and Kaiman Anderson.

Leamington were responsible for low-level time-wasting at the back, taking a few extra seconds over throws and goal kicks.

The Brakes had a foothold in the opening 10 minutes, with City struggling to find much cohesive passing, though the visitors did not dig out any sort of effort on goal. There were early calls for handball from Jordan Burrow after succession misjudgements from Joe Tait and David Ferguson allowed Leamington to come forward but nothing came of it.

By the quarter-hour mark, York had found their feet in attack through the familiar channels of wing-backs David Ferguson and Kallum Griffiths, while Green showed good strength and awareness through the middle.

Green had the first effort of the game after making the most of a curling Sean Newton ball in but had to lean back to get his head on it and Weaver saved comfortably to his left.

Ferguson produced an excellent chance for York 18 minutes in, playing across goal after easily beating right-back James Mace, but his ball was too close to Weaver. Otherwise, Jordan Burrow would have been perfectly placed to tap in.

Just before the midway point of the half, Alex Kempster netted for the second successive game, arriving late at the back post to power in a header from Ferguson’s cross. Despite slightly miscontrolling the ball into him, Ferguson had Mace well beaten for pace and was able to deliver a great ball to the back post.

At the other end, keeper Peter Jameson was more than equal to a soft March effort – Leamington’s only shot on target of the half.

The only side that looked like adding to the scoreboard was York, who came within inches of adding a second just before the half-hour. It was only an outstanding save from Weaver that prevented Kempster from scoring after the striker met another Ferguson ball powerfully from five yards out and Weaver reacted well to palm it away.

Kempster did have the ball in the back of the net again before the half-time whistle but the offside flag had been raised for a while before he rolled in.

Both Mace and Green received yellows before the break.

Leamington threatened through a succession of corners at the end of the half but their two best efforts were repelled by determined blocks from Griffiths and Tait.

The visitors went into the break looking content to be just the one down but came out with renewed vigour and March came close, getting in behind McNulty, but he could not steer his volley goalwards.

It did not take long for York to reassert their dominance and eight minutes after the restart, it was two. Burrow finished very neatly at the near post, beating his man to get his left boot on Griffiths’ low pin-point right-wing cross.

A minute on, Andy Bond dragged wide after being played through by a neat ball from Griffiths, who had reacted well when a clearance bounced off him, before Bond then put an effort over from a half-cleared corner.

The lively Murphy was swapped to the left-hand side and he got a shot away straight at Jameson at the near post after jinking into the area.

York had two chances well saved by Weaver 10 minutes apart. Just after the hour mark, the young keeper pushed Burrow’s downward header away and got to a fierce Griffiths free kick that was heading into the top corner.

In between, Andy Bond dinked a delightful ball over for Kempster to run on to down the left, but he could not pick a pass for the incoming Burrow.

Burrow, spurred on by his goal, was not far from a second in the 71st minute as he met Newton’s whipped ball into the near post but put his header just wide of the keeper’s right-hand upright.

Five minutes on, March put a free header wide at one end before substitute Macaulay Langstaff had a driven effort blocked by Weaver. Hood was in the way of Burrow’s follow-up.

York: Jameson 8, Griffiths 8, Ferguson 8, Newton 8, McNulty 6, Tait 7, Moke 7, Bond 7 (Langstaff 7 69), Burrow 7, Green 8 (Dyer 88), Kempster 8. Subs not used: York, Spratt, Whitley.

Star man: Kallum Griffiths. The right-sided wing-back deservedly got one assist and some quick thinking nearly put Andy Bond through for another. A constant threat down the wing.

Leamington: Weaver, Mace (King 69), Gudger, Clarke (Mussa 69), Hood, Lane, Murphy, Gittings (Taylor 69), March, Edwards, Anderson. Subs not used: Shamsi, Dunbar.

Attendance: 2,258