MICKY CUMMINS has admitted York City's recent performances mean "there are places up for grabs" for the players who impressed during Tuesday night's 5-0 win over Pickering Town.

The assistant manager is staying realistic about the significance of a goal glut against the Northern Premier League north/west division basement side, but said it was an "ideal" night, with fringe players getting a run-out and a good win.

Macaulay Langstaff scored a brace, with the other strikes coming from Nathan Dyer, Dan Maguire and Reiss Harrison, as York breezed into the North Riding County FA Senior Cup second round.

Ryan Whitley made his third competitive start of term in goal, with Adriano Moke returning from illness to complement a midfield of Kieran Green – who had been handed the captain’s armband – and Elliott Durrell.

Youngsters Dyer, Josh King, Harry Spratt and Charlie Jebson-King – who have a handful of first-team appearances between them – made up the backline.

"It was an opportunity for the lads who need minutes," Cummins said.

"They know there are places up for grabs. The last three games we've not been at our best so there was an opportunity to put themselves in contention for the weekend.

"We played a different shape because of the personnel.

"With the ball, they were good in spells and a little bit sloppy in spells.

"Overall, it's been ideal for us tonight.

"We're not in a reserve league and there are lads who need minutes. Their approach and attitude was spot on.

"There's loads and loads we can gain and they'll have gained loads from that.

"Kingy and Spratty partnered really well and it was nice to see Macaulay. He's been like that in training - he's had limited opportunities in games so it's nice for him to score a couple, and for Dan Maguire to score. He looked good tonight.

"Moke was missed all last week so it was an opportunity to give him a blow-out."

He added: "They've got every chance (of featuring on Saturday's FA Trophy match against Altrincham). Taity is going to be struggling.

"There's a couple of things we need to address. "They haven't done themselves any harm.

"It's another clean sheet. Ryan didn't have a lot to do but when he was called upon, he made a fantastic save, then with his feet late on.

"All in all, it was a good run-out.

"The three lads - Jacko, Archie and Jebbo - competed really well.

"In spells (Jebson-King) was probably a bit loose in decision-making but that will come with time.

"It was a good opportunity for them to play with the pros."

This was not York at their finest, certainly in the first half, with individual errors and misplaced passes in evidence across the pitch. This could maybe be accounted for by the mixed nature of the side, who had not shared a pitch before in this permutation.

Regardless, the two tiers’ worth of difference in quality was evident, as it would have been hoped. Pickering's only meaningful effort on goal came after the 90 minutes was up, when the game had long since become a procession. York, meanwhile, looked to be enjoying themselves more and more as the game progressed.

The goals were to see following City's last two games, in which they drew a blank both times. Cummins is keeping realistic though.

"No disrespect to Pickering but you've got to look at the opposition," he said.

"They took their goals well.

"We've probably played against better opposition at our level but it's nice for their confidence scoring goals.

"A lot of the game was played in and around their box. It's nice to see them scoring goals."