YORK City are up to eighth in National League North after recording a deserved 1-0 win over play-off hopefuls Alfreton Town.

The Minstermen showed a marked improvement at the LNER Community Stadium, determined and quick both in and out of possession, and were good value for Paddy McLaughlin's 60th-minute winner.

All that was left wanting from the game were defined chances. Particularly in the first half, City were almost in total control, but only tested Alfreton keeper George Willis properly once (although he did do well a couple of times to smother the ball at Remy Longdon's feet).

The visitors came more into it in the second half, and that is when McLaughlin swept home a flowing move to continue City's confidence-boosting revival.

Attacking midfielder Jack McKay went straight into the side, supporting lone striker Mark Beck up front. For the first time in eight games, neither Kurt Willoughby nor Clayton Donaldson was in the starting 11.

Responding to yet more defensive disruption, City manager John Askey moved Akil Wright back from the centre of midfield to centre-back. Matty Brown was serving the second game of his three-match suspension and Josh King – who would have been a straight swap for Brown – was out with a broken leg.

Alfreton boss Billy Heath made three changes to the side that started December 18’s 3-1 FA Trophy win at Curzon Ashton.

Rob Evans and Bobby Johnson dropped to the bench, with Adam Lund and Matt Rhead coming in. Young centre-back James Jones was left out entirely as Dominic Smith returned to the side.

Goalscorers at the Tameside Stadium Conor Branson, Yusifu Ceesay and Bailey Hobson all kept their spots.

It was a very promising start from City, who showed good early intent to win the second ball, and came close on a couple of occasions to releasing wide-men McKay and Remy Longdon. The latter had a decent chance to run through on goal after beating the offside trap but Alfreton keeper George Willis was out quickly to smother his low lofted effort.

York were by far the better side on the ball – and looking more confident than they have in some time, playing quick, one-touch football and deft passes around the corner.

After Smith went down holding his face, Longdon was presented with a drop-ball, which he took on and fizzed a left-footed effort on target from outside the area.

There followed a couple of corners for the hosts, who showed some invention to work the ball short and low down the touchline and to Sean Newton on the edge of the area. His shot was blocked for another corner.

What York were missing was a clear-cut chance to make the most of their control of the game. That almost arrived from good play again through the midfield, this time ending with Newton curling a ball towards Beck. He stretched and made decent contact but could not guide it towards goal.

Come the half-time whistle, that chance had not arrived despite all of their good play. York’s threat up to the edge of the attacking third resulted in nine corner kicks – but of their five efforts on goal, only one had been on target.

Alfreton mustered a brief foray into City’s defensive third towards the end of the half and drew a save from Pete Jameson with a tame headed effort. It was all the keeper had had to do.

There were encouraging performances across the board, with the young wingers looking bright and threatening to create, and Paddy McLaughlin linking up well with the pair.

Alfreton came more into the game in the second half, releasing rapid winger Ceesay down the left a few times, but each time, Duckworth was equal to the challenge.

And as if to punish the visitors for coming out of their shell, York took the lead on the hour. The ball was played nicely along the deck to Mitch Hancox on the left and the midfielder pulled it back into the area for McLaughlin to sweep across Willis into the far bottom corner.

Despite fans’ calls for blood on a couple of occasions – notably Willis strongly dispossessing Longdon on the touchline, sending the winger tumbling – it had been a fairly mild-mannered affair and Hancox picked up the game’s first yellow when he went in wildly on Lund.

As Curzon showed in the week, a one-goal advantage is a precarious one, and Alfreton could have wiped it away – but for a brilliant on-the-line clearance from Barrow. A corner was cleared only as far as Ceesay in the edge of the area and his effort drilled through the mass of bodies in the area, beating Jameson, but Barrow was covering and hoofed clear.

Another phase of Alfreton attack ended with Smith cracking the crossbar before being called offside.

But with the refreshed Willoughby and Donaldson on, City looked almost certain to create again. The moment fell to Donaldson in the 87th minute - but he powered his free header just wide.

Jameson protected the slender lead deep into injury time with a fingertip save.

York: Jameson 8, Duckworth 8, Wright 7, Newton 7, Barrow 8, Wallace 6, Longdon 7 (Willoughby 6, 59), McLaughlin 8, McKay 7 (Donaldson 6, 70), Hancox 7, Beck 6. Subs not used: Campbell, Hopper, Heaney.

Goals: McLaughlin (60)

Yellow cards: Hancox

Star man: Paddy McLaughlin. Played a key role in keeping the attack ticking over in the first half, and finished neatly in the second.

Alfreton: Willis, Clackstone, Wilde (Preston 29), Branson, Sutton, Smith, Ceesay, Lund (Evans 76), Rhead, Southwell (Johnson 79), Hobson. Subs not used: Wiley, Hare.

Referee: Paul Brown

Attendance: 2,986 (182 away supporters)

Stats for York / Alfreton

Shots (on target): 9 (3) / 6 (4)

Corners: 13 / 0

Offsides: 0 / 2

Fouls: 7 / 7