YORK City extended their winning run to five matches after comfortably dispatching 10-man Guiseley 3-0 at the LNER Community Stadium.

Guiseley were down a man after less than 10 minutes when Prince Ekpolo was shown a straight red card for a high tackle and, from that point onwards, York had the upper hand.

Their early pressure seemed to have fallen away before half time but a late Paddy McLaughlin finish gave them the lead at the interval.

Similarly in the second half, the match fell into a scrappy affair but soon after Mitch Hancox bagged a quick-fire double to seal the three points.

The victory keeps up York’s push for a spot in the Vanarama National League North play-offs, with just a two-point gap to the top seven and four matches in hand on seventh-placed Hereford.

Questions marks will remain about City’s record against the sides that are also competing for promotion this season, with just some of the answers likely to come in Tuesday’s trip to AFC Fylde.

As impressive as York were large periods and as comfortable an afternoon they made for themselves, it is important to note that Guiseley are just two points off the bottom of the table.

Of course, given recent postponements at Kettering Town and Chorley, John Askey’s side can only beat what is currently in front of them, and only time will tell whether they can translate results such as these away to some of the division’s top clubs.

AFC Telford, another lowly outfit, were York's last opponents, some 11 days ago, and City made three changes from that side.

Nottingham Forest loanee Sam Sanders came in for his York City debut while striker John-Lewis makes his first start for the club.

Meanwhile, Michael Woods was fit enough for a return to the bench after his injury worries.

Kurt Willoughby was demoted to the bench while Matty Brown and Will Jarvis dropped out altogether,  the former being due to injury.

York were already at a great advantage in terms of resources and league standing in comparison to Guiseley and on nine minutes they were given a numerical advantage too.

Prince Ekpolo lunged in on John-Lewis and the referee wasted no time in issuing a straight red card.

Initially, City’s 11 men did seize upon the sending off, particularly profiting down Guiseley’s left flank.

Some intricate build-up play saw Mitch Hancox cross for John-Lewis, whose close-range header produced an incredible save from Owen Mason.

Another move down the York left side gave John-Lewis another opportunity when McKay crossed only the see the former’s header lacking enough to trouble the goalkeeper.

As Guiseley began to work out York’s proficiency for left-side offence, City’s momentum slowed and evidently the players became restless, summed up when Scott Barrow and McKay exchanged some unpleasantries by the touchline.

John-Lewis had another couple of chances in-between this lull however as two more headed chances, one from each wing, failed to force Mason into saves.

Just as the atmosphere had gone flat around the LNER and the usually-noisy South Stand had quietened, City broke the deadlock shortly before half time.

The ball fell to McKay in the box and while his shot was wayward it found John-Lewis whose close-range shot was somehow saved by Mason.

McLaughlin was the quickest to react and was easily able to convert from a few yards out.

A sluggish start to the second half ensued from both sides until McLaughin had a quick-fire pair of chances as he looked to add to his personal tally.

A looping Michael Duckworth cross fell to the Northern Irishman who tapped wide at the back post.
Seconds later, a long-range strike from McLaughlin ballooned over the crossbar.

The game seemed to be falling into a lull and one that suited Guiseley, who may have been hoping to steal a point late on.

Any such hopes quickly dissipated in the space of two minutes through Hancox’s brace.

The eager McKay pinched the ball off the Guiseley defence before putting Hancox through on goal before the midfielder found the bottom right corner from the one-on-one.

Seconds after kick-off, City broke through midfield and this time it was McLaughlin’s turn to put Hancox’s in the clear.

From a practically identical position, Hancox found the same corner of the net to put the game well beyond Guiseley’s reach.

Such a cushion allowed Askey to rest up some of his starters and bring on Clayton Donaldson and Kurt Willoughby from the bench.

The latter saw an effort lacking in power easily stopped from just outside the box while Duckworth stung the palms of Mason.

Donaldson also had an effort on goal before the finish, whistling a first-time strike wide of the near post.

Some nice interplay between the substitute pair saw Willoughby drag an injury-time shot wide of the mark.

York: Jameson 6, Duckworth 6, Kouogun 7, Sanders 6, Barrow 7, Wright 6 (Greaves 83’), McLaughlin 7, Hancox 8, Dyson 7, John-Lewis 7 (Willoughby 68’) McKay 7 (Donaldson 68’).

Subs not used: Campbell, Greaves, Woods, Willoughby, Donaldson.

Goals: McLaughlin (43’), Hancox (63, 64)

Yellow cards: Sanders (87’)

York’s player of the match: Mitch Hancox. Another two goals for the midfielder in quick succession put the game well beyond Guiseley.

Guiseley: Mason, Cantrill, Sraha, Ekpolo, Hollins (Bencherif 73’), Mbeka, Brown, Tear, Bremang (Hutchinson 73’), Gale (Haw 85’), Latty-Fairweather.

Subs not used: Hey, Bencherif, Nicholson.

Yellow cards: Bremang (57’)

Red cards: Ekpolo (9’)

Shots (on target): 18 (7) | 3 (0)

Corners: 1 | 4

Fouls committed: 9 | 7

Offsides: 3 | 1

Attendance: 3,621 (152)

Referee: Dale Baines