YORK City wrapped up their North East trilogy in style with a confident 2-1 pre-season win over Middlesbrough.

Dael Fry gave Boro an early lead but City grew fantastically into the game and fought back to take the lead by the break, Mackenzie Heaney and debutant Mark Beck both netting.

Pete Jameson, after a penalty save against Sunderland, again had the chance to show off his prowess from spot kicks - and show off he did to save well from Paddy McNair in front of a joyous LNER Community Stadium.

This was again a different test to the Newcastle and Sunderland games, and on Tuesday, the new-look York side showed themselves to be very comfortable in possession at times.

City tired towards the end and had a couple of close shaves but held out for a good win over Championship opposition.

There were two changes at the back for York boss Steve Watson. Josh King was missing from the centre-halves after having been forced off against Sunderland with a cut to his leg, while Sean Newton had a flare-up of tendonitis.

Matty Brown was on from the start with the young defensive-midfield trialist dropping back to partner him.

Striker Jason Gilchrist was absent from the squad so Mark Beck – signed on loan from Harrogate Town last week – joined Clayton Donaldson up top.

Boro boss and one-time York winger Neil Warnock made two changes to the starting line-up from their 2-1 win at Plymouth Argyle on Friday. Marcus Tavernier – younger brother of Rangers captain James – and ex-Sunderland wonderkid Duncan Watmore dropped out in favour of former Leeds United midfielder Jonny Howson and Djed Spence.

It took Boro just six minutes to get on the scoreboard. Scott Barrow was pulled up for a foul on Uche Ikpeazu down the right wing. Paddy McNair looped the cross in and Dael Fry did well to outjump everyone in the area and direct a tricky header beyond the outstretched Pete Jameson.

Boro could have made it two by the 12th minute, Jamie Paterson getting away a header in the six-yard box but this time only hitting the crossbar.

York’s response to going behind was decent and one foray forward sparked a game of head tennis, beginning with Mark Beck’s attempt being blocked and ending with Akil Wright heading well wide.

It was not an isolated incursion and York were giving almost as good as they were getting, albeit without that higher-tier touch of class Boro showed flashes of to unlock the City defence.

But with 25 minutes gone, York were level through Mackenzie Heaney. The Minstermen broke from defence, starting with Paddy McLaughlin reading a pass well to easily intercept before Wright set Olly Dyson free down the right. A cross into the box was only partially cleared and it dropped onto the left boot of Heaney, who sweetly volleyed into Joe Lumley’s bottom-right corner.

Heaney looked dangerous for York in the minutes after his goal, whipping in crosses and curling efforts goalward where he could. Michael Duckworth showed a deft touch and had a fair shot from range fairly comfortably stopped.

Donaldson, meanwhile, was working hard across the pitch. He started the half with some delightful showboating, taking on and beating a handful of Boro men and later followed a Middlesbrough attack all the way to the dead-ball line to shepherd the ball out of play.

The distribution from the stand-in centre-back trialist was outstanding. Each of his pinged long-range balls seemed to find its target.

With five minutes to go before the break, Beck turned the game in York’s favour. Patient and controlled build-up from the back ended at the feet of Scott Barrow, who curled a ball into the area where Beck attacked it and glanced a header across Lumley.

City picked up at the start of the second half where they had left off. There were few chances on goal to speak of (though by the end of the first half, City had racked up more than Boro) but the football on display from York was olé stuff at times.

As the clock ticked towards the hour, Jameson was called on to face his second penalty of pre-season after Ikpeazu was felled in the area. McNair went to put it straight down the middle but the diving Jameson was alert and saved with his legs.

A raft of Boro substitutions – eight in all – left just Djed Spence from the starting line-up on the field. Between that delay and Barrow going off holding his right lower leg, it was almost as if the game had to pick up momentum again for the final quarter of an hour.

And a refreshed Middlesbrough side were able to pass around a tired looking York much more freely. Spence became the most threatening player on the field and delivered a devil of a low cross which needed only a toe to turn it in.

When York did get forward with five minutes go, Kurt Willoughby tried an overhead kick which he scuffed wide but, because of the angle, briefly had fans in the Main Stand anticipating a world-class finish to the game.

York: Jameson, Duckworth, Barrow (Degruchy 71), Trialist ‘A’, Brown, McLaughlin, Dyson (Trialist ‘B’ 67), Wright, Heaney (Willoughby 61), Donaldson, Beck (Woods 61). Subs: Trialist ‘C’, Whitley, Jones.

Goals: Heaney (25), Beck (40)

Middlesbrough: Lumley (Stojanovic 64), Dijksteel (Wood 64), Hall (Peltier 64), Fry (Bamba 64), McNair (Robinson 64), Howson (Hackney 64), Crooks (Malley 64), Morsy (Coburn 64), Spence, Paterson (Jones HT), Ikpeazu (Akpom 61).

Goals: Fry (6)

Match stats for York / Middlesbrough

Shots (on): 5 (4) / 6 (2)

Corners: 2 / 3

Offsides: 1 / 2

Fouls: 8 / 12