YORK City secured their first victory under interim manager John Askey as they limped to a 1-0 win over Blyth Spartans in the FA Trophy.

Mark Beck scored the only goal of the game on four minutes, finishing Clayton Donaldson’s cross from close range.

York had a brief spell of chances after that but for the remainder of the match - around an hour - they struggled to make any further clear-cut opportunities.

City goalkeeper Peter Jameson, later named as man of the match, was worked more than his opposite number and Blyth will feel they should have got on the scoresheet when gifted with chances, in the first-half in particular.

Having edged past a side sitting 20th in Vanarama National League North, this was yet another reminder of the work that Askey has to do to turn York into genuine promotion contenders again.

Regardless, York will progress into Monday’s third round draw and have a first victory under new management.

While not hugely so, this was an improvement on the abject 2-1 defeat City suffered to Kettering Town last time out.

Askey made four changes to the starting 11 from that match.

Mark Beck, Sam Fielding and Scott Barrow were back in from the start while Burton Albion loanee Kieran Wallace made his City debut as a holding midfielder. Josh King was back among the substitutes.

Mitch Hancox, Harrison Hopper, Adam Senior and Mackenzie Heaney dropped out, with the latter failing a fitness test.

In comparison to the awful weather conditions - which saw rain, slow and sleet from start to finish - York started brightly.

The front three of Beck, Donaldson and Kurt Willoughby were combining well and it was the former two that linked up for the early opener.

Donaldson was put into space down the right flank and Beck was given the simple task of tapping in after making a sharp run to the front post.

Akil Wright was proving to be the most advanced of the midfield three and he had a cross in the box cleared before almost getting on the end of a delivery himself.

Such was City’s confidence in the first quarter of an hour that even centre-back Sean Newton fancied his chances from 30 yards in a blocked shot.

Blyth slowly began to work themselves into the match and, with York’s defence sitting off, were able to get plenty of shots off, but to little effect.

Connor Thomson flashed an effort wide before Jameson had to be sharp to tip over a looping strike from the forward.

Robert Dale’s free-kick again worked Jameson before Thomson half-volleyed off target and then had the City keeper at full stretch with another strike that went wide.

On the touchline, Askey was visibly unhappy with the number of opportunities Blyth were having.

York’s possession got increasingly loose as the game progressed and it was only a late chance from Willoughby that provided some optimism at half time.

In trademark style, the forward cut onto his right foot and shot an inch wide of the far post.

Even after the interval, City struggled to find the same impetus seen in the opening minutes.

The Spartans had the half’s first major opportunity when Donaldson had to head off the line from a corner, with City unable to clear at the first chance.

In fairness to York, neither side found the same rhythm as in the first half which largely owed to the horrendous conditions.

The snow got continuously worse as the match wore on and another goal looked increasingly unlikely as a result.

With that said, City’s build-up play in the final third left a lot to be desired. Willoughby crossed straight to goalkeeper Alex Mitchell while Barrow and Fielding both produced heavy touches to send the ball dead out wide.

Paddy McLaughlin found some outside the box but his pass in behind to Beck was poor.

Late on, both sides had late opportunities at last. On 85 minutes, Dale gambled with a long-range shot which rattled against the crossbar. It was by far the best chance of the second period.

In the final minute, Willoughby could easily have settled the cup tie. Again he cut onto his right foot but Rhys Evans was able to block it.

Sean Reid’s outside-of-the-boot strike flashed into the stands in added time and City breathed one final sigh of relief as they laboured to the next round.

York: Jameson 7, Fielding 6, Brown 6, Newton (C) 6, Barrow 6, Wallace 7 (Hancox 89’), Wright 6, McLaughlin 7, Donaldson 6, Willoughby 6, Beck 7.

Subs not used: Campbell, King, Hopper, Gilchrist.

Goals: Beck (4)

York star man: Mark Beck. Provided the only moment of quality up front with his front post finish.

Blyth: Mitchell, Evans, Reid, Buddle (C), Watson, O’Donnell, Dale, Byrne, Deverdics, Lees, Thomson.

Subs not used: Liddle, Hickey, Maguire, McNall, Painter.

Attendance: 1,184

Stats

Shots (on target): 6 (1) | 10 (3)

Corners: 2 | 5

Offsides: 2 | 2

Fouls committed: 9 | 5