YORK City Academy maintained their challenge at the top of National League Under-19 Alliance with a 5-2 win over Halifax Town.

Brandon Finn scored a brace, and there were goals for Kiari Ventura, Reiss Harrison and Ethan Henderson as well as York raced into a five-goal lead.

The result lifts York second in the table, four points behind leaders Fylde with two games in hand.

Ventura netted the opener after just seven minutes, finishing well from 10 yards, and Finn bagged his first six minutes later from the penalty spot.

Finn netted the third in the 20th minute and Harrison got the young Minstermen's fourth in first-half stoppage time.

It took Henderson just a minute after the restart to add his side's fifth.

Jean-Jacques Kirongozi's deflected effort looped in in the 72nd minute to deny York a clean sheet.

Patrick Grooms added an excellent second for the visitors in the 92nd minute, beating a number of York defenders and finishing.

The sides meet again next week in the fourth round of the National League U19 Alliance League Cup.

Meanwhile, first-team forward Jake Wright has re-joined Boston United on loan until the end of the season.

He will not be eligible to play against York on February 8, nor can he be recalled to Bootham Crescent.