YORK City's National League North campaign is still yet to get off the ground after the Minstermen suffered a 4-0 defeat at Gloucester City on Saturday.

For Gloucester, it was the perfect way to welcome fans to their new stadium, the Tigers thoroughly deserving winners over a depleted and dejected York.

With just one familiar face in the back line - Sean Newton, who was later substituted after jarring his knee in the first half - City never settled into the contest. Not one player could be relied upon in possession, it seemed.

And once the first goal went in following Akil Wright's mistake at the back, there looked no way back for York. Completely overrun in the second half, City conceded further goals from Fabien Robert, Kevin Dawson and Matt McClure.

Some mitigation could be offered in that one goal was a mistake, one a freak deflection and two were wonder strikes against a side without four key players but the York side out there at the weekend merited precious little from the game.

Boss Steve Watson made two changes from the starting 11 from last week’s defeat to Kidderminster, both possibly forced by midweek injuries. Neither Michael Duckworth nor Clayton Donaldson featured in the squad.

Michael Woods came into the starting line-up having been on the bench last week while Jaden Charles, a new loanee, bolstered Watson’s ailing back line by taking up the left-back position.

Paddy McLaughlin returned to his familiar central midfield berth, alongside Woods, while Akil Wright dropped into the centre of defence next to Sean Newton, with Sam Fielding at right back.

Gloucester manager Paul Groves kept the same starting 11 from last week’s 2-2 draw at Southport, including goalscorers Matt McClure and Jordan Young.

The back line remained that mix of youth – represented by Jordan Piggott and Sheffield Wednesday loanee Ryan Galvin – and experience thanks to ex-Bristol Rovers right-back Daniel Leadbitter.

The opening 10 minutes were combative and fast-paced without either side particularly convincing in possession. Both teams had early corners that came to little, and better efforts on goal from open play.

Charles was involved in a couple of City’s forays forward, over-hitting one cross before getting a better one onto the head of Olly Dyson, whose effort lacked power.

At the other end, captain Kevin Dawson probably should have opened the scoring when played through by the lively Danny King. Instead, he curled wide of Pete Jameson’s right-hand post, before Mackenzie Heaney slipped while striking from distance.

Gloucester should have been ahead just after the quarter-hour. King left Fielding for dead down the right before driving a delicious low ball across the goalmouth, but neither of the Gloucester men in there could get a boot on it.

By the midway point of the half, the balance of play was largely in Gloucester’s favour. Certainly, they had had the more dangerous attempts and were looking more controlled in possession than either side had in a hyperactive start, but every now and then had a loose pass in them that York were quick to exploit.

Poor deliveries were a constant frustration on York’s part. After McLaughlin intercepted a tame Gloucester ball, Dyson was able to get a cross away – but only succeeded in swinging it out for a goal kick.

With 10 minutes to go before half-time, Wright slipped, letting Young in. From an acute angle, he looked to place his effort in Jameson’s far corner and the keeper did well to stretch and tip it around his left-hand post.

Charles picked up the game’s first yellow card. He went rashly in and fast on Leadbitter, whose spinning tumble made it look a certain red. But Leadbitter got back to his feet and the referee took a moment to assess the challenge before cautioning the young left-back.

Another Wright error proved more costly with a minute to go before the break. He dawdled on the ball coming out defence and was picked off by McClure. The ball was played through to Gloucester’s attacking spark King and his effort had too much on it for Jameson, who got a fingertip to it but could not stop it going in.

King picked up in the second half where he had left the first. He ploughed through the centre of the park and into the area, swerving the attentions of a good three City players before going down in the area. Referee Darren Rogers waved his appeals away.

Gloucester doubled their advantage in the 56th minute. After Young had come inches away from getting his boot to a good ball in from the left, Robert had a much less worrisome effort from the edge of the area. This one took a massive deflection and, cruelly, bobbled into the empty net as Jameson dived the wrong way.

Another wickedly deflected Robert effort had Jameson diving the wrong way again 10 minutes after the first, though this time, the City stopper got his feet to it.

Just before the goalscorer’s effort, York’s defensive line had taken another surprise shake-up as captain Newton was taken off in favour of attacking midfielder Harrison Hopper. This allowed Fielding to move into the middle, with Harrison going to right back.

Intelligent keeping from Jameson kept City’s deficit to just two with 17 minutes to go, standing up to and blocking a shot from McClure before forcing him wide after the striker had been played clean through.

Captain Dawson made it three 14 minutes from time with a superb strike. With the outside of his right boot just outside the area, his effort lofted over Jameson’s glove and dipped under the crossbar.

McClure made it four with two minutes to go with a cross-cum-shot from the left which looped into Jameson's far bottom corner.

Gloucester: Cole, Dawson, Piggott, Harrison, Leadbitter, King (Evans, 72), McClure, Robert (McGilp 79), Thomas, Young, Galvin. Subs not used: Bremner, Armstrong.

Goals: King (44), Robert (56), Dawson (76), McClure (88)

York: Jameson 6, Dyson 4, Fielding 4, Newton 5 (Hopper 4, 62), Charles 4, Wright 3, McLaughlin 4, Woods 4, Heaney 4, Willoughby 5, Beck 4. Subs not used: Campbell, Cunningham, Degruchy, Jones.

Yellow cards: Charles

Star man: Pete Jameson. Conditions were not ripe for an outfield player to shine on Saturday, and none took it on themself to do so. Jameson again provided some quality keeping to minimise the deficit.

Attendance: 2,034

Referee: Darren Rogers

Match stats for Gloucester / York

Shots (on target): 9 (8) / 5 (3)

Corners: 3 / 5

Offsides: 1 / 2

Fouls: 6 / 9

Yellow cards: 1 / 1