MARK BECK is hopeful of forming a working partnership with "bright" attacking midfielder Remy Longdon as the pair's York City loan deals cross over.

On a deal from Harrogate Town since July, striker Beck is due back at his parent club on January 3. Longdon, meanwhile, has just been brought in from Lincoln City until the end of January.

Longdon made his debut at Matlock Town on Saturday as City progressed to the FA Trophy fourth round with a 1-0 win, courtesy of Beck's injury-time header.

Provided they all go ahead, the pair will have three more games to link up before Beck's loan deal comes to an end - after which he admitted he does not yet know what he will do.

"I thought he was very good," commented Beck of Longdon. Nice and bright, positive, always looking to drive and be on the front foot.

"He looks a good signing and a good player for us.

"We've only had one session together and we've seen what he's like today. The more we play with him, the more we'll get used to him.

"He got into some good positions off me a few times."

On his preparations for January, Beck added: "I've still got to have a few conversations.

"(The decision) will be all three, to be honest.

"Obviously Harrogate are my club and if they say I can't go, then I can't go.

"Then it's up to me to see what's out there.

"I've enjoyed it here so we'll see what happens."

Since joining City ahead of the 2021/22 National League North season, Beck has been a near ever-present in the side.

His physicality makes him a useful target man playing alongside Kurt Willoughby and Clayton Donaldson, and he has come up with some key goals among the four he has scored.

The one at Matlock could go down as one of the most vital. The Gladiators were struggling with a goalkeeping crisis but, for 90 minutes, City had barely threatened to break through against the lower-league outfit.

With the three keepers Matlock had on their books prior to the weekend all unavailable for various reasons, the Northern Premier League premier division high-flyers turned to the inexperienced Sam Ogden, who did not even have time to train with the side following his arrival on dual-registration from Step 6 side Hallam.

It was therefore something of a disappointment that York were not able to put him through his paces more, registering just four shots on target.

But as penalties looked a sure thing as the clock ticked into the 91st minute, left-back Scott Barrow delivered a free kick into the area for Beck to loop a header over Ogden, who showed a touch of naivety in rushing out to try to meet the ball.

"It was a great ball in from Scotty," Beck said.

"It looked like it might be a frustrating evening for us but thankfully I saw that ball go in off my head.

"We'd seen the situation they had with the goalie and we weren't sure what they were going to do with that.

"It was difficult. They made it difficult for us.

"We would have liked to have to have tested him a bit more but we're just thankful we've come away with the win.

"We would have liked the performance to have been better but, speaking to a few of the lads, it's a tough place to come.

"They're doing well in the league below, which is a good league. We've seen Buxton. They're doing well.

"We'll take it and move on.

"In the end, I think we deserved it. We were the better team in the second half, and a lot better than the first half."