STEVE WATSON has admitted that tiredness played a factor in his side’s performance as York City won 2-1 against Boston United.

Goals in either half from Alex Kempster and Jordan Burrow proved to be enough to give City the win - a result which puts them eight points clear of nearest challengers Chester at the top of the National League North table.

For large periods of the contest, though, York struggled to gain control over the game with Boston a threat throughout the 90 minutes.

After two tough and high-profile victories, over higher-tier Stockport in the FA Cup and then Chester away from home, Watson conceded that the hangovers from those games showed in their display at Bootham Crescent.

“It was another hard-earned win, we had to work hard for it,” reflected the manager.

“We’ve just come off the back of two really tough games and we’re the only team that have played Saturday-Tuesday (this week).

“The players are playing that well that we don’t want to do too much chopping and changing.

“It wasn’t a game where we could make lots of changes as it was going on because we weren’t comfortable enough.

“We had a lot of chances down the left. Our best player this season, Fergie (David Ferguson), his final ball tonight was missing.

“But you’re going to get games like that. We didn’t really control the box very well, when the balls came in.

“We didn’t seem to have that composure. I think that there was a little bit of tiredness setting in. I know people get frustrated when I say that.

“But you’ve got to understand how hard we’ve worked over the past two weeks to pull out those two big results.

“Tonight was never going to be a game of total football, with every pass being crisp and true. But it was one of those where we had to graft for it.”

Ultimately, the two moments of quality from York’s two top-scorers, Kempster and Burrow, were the difference and Watson was quick to praise their efforts.

The manager added: “Kempster has just got this knack of being in the right area, whether you play him at the top of a midfield three or as an out-and-out striker or on the left or the right of a front three.

“This season he’s just been on the end of everything. That’s not luck, that’s good positional play and sensing where the ball will fall.

“Dan (Maguire) is a handful and a nightmare for defenders.

“Jordan is someone that I’m always reluctant to take off because he gives us so much. He obviously helps us aerially both attacking and defending.

“He’s a really aggressive player too. His work-rate is non-stop.

“He’s someone that has played in near enough every game but I think that his work does go a little bit unnoticed.

“But the work he does for us is incredible really.”