ASSISTANT manager Micky Cummins labelled this a "must win" game for York City and they duly obliged with a convincing 3-0 win at Blyth Spartans.

While it remains early in the Vanarama National League season, after two separate isolation periods, York were desperate to kickstart their stuttering season and go someway to making up the sizeable gap between themselves and top spot having played considerably fewer games than leaders Gloucester.

The trip to bottom side Blyth ultimately proved the ideal starting point, with City showing some classy build-up play, clinical finishing in the final third and professionalism to see out the second half.

Michael Woods put the visitors ahead early on and seconds into the second period Harry Bunn doubled the advantage before Jake Cassidy's header secured the points on the hour.

Of course, bigger challenges will come over a busy festive period for Steve Watson's side, namely at home to fellow promotion chasers Chester on Saturday, but it was hard not to be impressed by a three-goal win, the first since September last year when City beat King's Lynn 3-0 at Bootham Crescent.

Perhaps the biggest positive for York was the performance of Jack Redshaw, who was handed his first start for the club. A composed attacking presence going forward, he set up York's second and most importantly got through his hour without any signs of the injury problems that have marked his City career to date.

Redshaw featured alongside Bunn and Cassidy in a front three, while Olly Dyson took the place of the injured Josh King at right-wing-back.

Woods came in for Paddy McLaughlin in midfield, with the latter dropping to the bench.

Cummins called for York to start quickly and impose themselves on the game, having quickly gone two goals behind at Leamington on Saturday.

And they did just that, scoring in less than ten minutes with their first effort of the match.

From a Blyth corner, Redshaw showed great composure to lay a pass off to Bunn on the edge of his own penalty area. Bunn showed the class that has seen him previously play in the Championship when he put Woods through on goal and the midfielder muscled off a challenge, with his finish trickling into the far corner.

Redshaw looked lively from wide positions and he almost teed up Woods' second when he jigged his way across the edge of the Blyth box with the ball then falling to the number eight who couldn't keep his shanked shot down.

Any pre-match concerns surrounding rustiness, having played only twice last month, were by now completely dissipated. York were playing some slick stuff, with their forward players interchanging in positions and looking in genuine control.

Such dominance was twice almost rewarded. First, Bunn hit the post after following up on Redshaw's blocked shot. Then, moments later, Akil Wright headed home but his challenge on goalkeeper Brad Young was adjudged as a foul, to few complaints.

To their credit, Blyth did have chances of their own but seemed to lack the cutting edge of York. The livewire Paul Blackett neatly turned and shot in the box, an effort which Peter Jameson just about held onto.

Late on in the half, Blackett's pressing paid dividends to win the ball back in the York penalty area, setting up Connor Thomson. But his first touch let him down and ex-Spartan keeper Jameson was rapid off his line to slide in to clear.

The hosts were the one side creating chances by the time of half-time whistle, but the Minstermen were well worthy of their lead at half-time.

City were dealt a blow when Robbie Tinkler went off injured, and was replaced by Kieran Kennedy at half-time.

Yet that was not going to deter York in their rapid start, killing off any chances of a Blyth comeback within seconds of the second-half. A lofted back post cross was smartly headed back across goal by Redshaw and Bunn was quickest to it, firing home from close range.

As expected, Blyth began to be the aggressors from then on as Priestley Griffiths flicked the outside of the post from his rangy effort, though Jameson did look to have the effort somewhat covered.

But, after a fairly flat few period, York struck the killer blow by scoring their third.

And if there was any player York were keen to see on the scoresheet then it was surely Cassidy, who got his first for the club.

It was a typical target man goal from the former Stevenage man, who nodded home a brilliant cross from Dyson at the back post.

And like red buses, Cassidy could well have had two goals to his name when another Dyson delivery just evaded his head at the far stick.

The Spartans could and maybe should have registered a consolation when Rhys Evans darted inside but fired his left-footed strike wide of the mark.

They, it must be said, all out of substitutes having seen both Thomson and Blackett - their greatest two offensive options on the night - limp off injured.

Things then went from bad to worse for Blyth as Bunn's silky feet saw him fool a Blyth defender and then tripped in the box.

He dusted himself down, stepped up for the spot kick and then fired the ball straight into the stand, putting far too much power on the shot.

The game began to slow in the final few minutes, though there remained time for Wright to head over a Bunn free-kick from the left flank and for substitute McLaughlin to scuff a shot wide, but it mattered not as City eased to victory.

Blyth: Young, Evans, Elsdon, Alex, Thomson (Russell 72'), Cain, Heslop, Blackett (Amanthci 67'), Guy (Scott 62'), Griffiths, Nelson. Subs not used: Pearson, Russell, McKeown.

Yellow cards: Griffiths

York: Jameson 7, Tinkler 7 (Kennedy HT 6), Brown 7, Newton 7, Dyson 8, Wright 6, Woods 7, Barrow 6, Bunn 7, Cassidy 7 (McLaughlin 76' 5), Redshaw 8 (Potts 61' 6). Subs not used: Flatters, Wollerton.

Goals: Woods (9'), Bunn (47'), Cassidy (63')

Star Man: Jack Redshaw. A great first York City start for the forward, who looked sharp in the ball, comfortable in wide positions and assisted Bunn for the second goal.