YORK City boss Colin Walker hailed an "outstanding" debut by Simon Rusk as his team defeated top-of-the-table Aldershot 2-0.

Rusk, 26, was drafted in as a late replacement for right-wing back Ben Purkiss, who failed to recover from a thigh strain in time to face the Blue Square Premier leaders on Saturday.

But Rusk, who only joined City during this month's transfer window and is normally a midfielder, played a key role in overcoming the title hopefuls.

A delighted Walker said: "Simon was outstanding in a position that's foreign to him, although he did play right-back a long time ago. He's an attacking midfielder player and I'm not sure he would want to be at right-wing back for the rest of his life, but we have players who can play in a couple of positions and others on the bench who are dying to come on."

Walker described his 13th game without defeat as the team's best of the season at KitKat Crescent. He said: "They are a quality side and very good going forward, but it was our best team performance at home.

"We've been threatening a display like that. We gave one at Grays on Tuesday night and carried on from there and maybe took our game to another level in the second half. There's now lots of confidence with the run we are on."

Walker's knack of making influential substitutions continued, with the second goal in a dominant display coming four minutes from time when good work by second-half replacement Craig Farrell saw Martyn Woolford join Richard Brodie on the scoresheet.

The City chief said: "Richard had worked his socks off and was tired.

"We brought Faz on and he did really well for the second goal to seal it for us. I'm glad we haven't got a game tomorrow now because it means we'll get a little bit of rest."

David McGurk gave a man-of-the-match performance at the heart of defence for City to keep Aldershot's strikers at bay and Walker also praised his response since replacing the injured Darren Kelly at the centre of City's three-man back line.

The City boss said: "It was unlucky that Darren got injured, but TY (McGurk) has relished the responsibility of being in the middle."

Walker will, however, be forced into one defensive change for City's next match.

Darren Craddock received his fifth yellow card of the season for a reckless first-half challenge and will now serve a one-match ban for City's FA Trophy third round trip to Alfreton Town or Farsley Celtic on Saturday. New signing Jimmy Beadle - a substitute against Aldershot - could be handed his City debut at Craddock's expense.