IT has rarely been plain sailing at Plainmoor for York City during recent times.

In fact, prior to the latest 320-mile slog to south Devon, the Minstermen’s loyal supporters had not witnessed a win at the humble home of Torquay United during their last six trips.

No other stadium, from the 22 that Nigel Worthington’s men will visit in League Two this season, has seen City endure a longer run of games since their last away victory with only Home Park, where the Gulls’ neighbours Plymouth ply their trade, proving an equally unhappy hunting ground in the modern era.

Worthington, despite being only seven months into his Bootham Crescent tenure, has already presided over one fruitless journey to the English Riviera, losing 2-1 there last season when defeat meant his newly-acquired team were firmly entrenched in the relegation zone with six fixtures left to play.

Back then, the hosts were also fighting for their Football League lives but, on the evidence of Saturday’s contest, it is the Minstermen who have made the better progress since.

Goals from Wes Fletcher, Josh Carson and Plainmoor old boy Ryan Jarvis ensured the visitors matched their biggest-ever triumph in Torquay and, for the second consecutive weekend, enjoyed the luxury of effectively sewing up victory with more than 20 minutes left to play.

In this match and last week’s 4-2 tonking of Portsmouth, City have displayed a ruthlessness in attack that was missing in their play during the opening fixtures of the campaign.

Leading marksman Jarvis, who claimed his sixth goal of the season on his old stamping ground, remains just as potent as he did in those early fixtures but there is not an over-reliance on his scoring ability now with striking partner Fletcher looking just as likely to net.

Carson’s dangerous dead-ball deliveries have also added an extra dimension to the team’s threat in the final third of the pitch.

The former Ipswich winger, not so long since a full Northern Ireland international and trusty Championship performer, is looking an inspired addition to the squad.

As against Portsmouth, City scored from two of his set-pieces – the brilliance of his direct 25-yard free-kick for the second goal complemented by the accuracy of his inswinging corner for the third.

Earlier, though, the Minstermen had looked less assured with a back four in which on-loan Burnley right-back Luke O’Neill was making his debut surviving several hesitant moments during a nervous opening.

Fortunately, for the visitors, the clumsy Karl Hawley and naive Ade Azeez never looked likely to capitalise up front for Alan Knill’s men.

Hawley shot wide from 25 yards and also missed the target with two first-half headers as the hosts started positively. City ’keeper Michael Ingham, however, was only called upon to make one save before the interval – a routine stop from Jordan Chapell’s weak effort.

At the other end, the Minstermen’s most successful first-half forays forward came down Torquay’s left, where full-back Kevin Nicholson’s pace is not as impressive as his ability in possession.

On 23 minutes, a sweeping move involving Ben Davies, Ryan Brobbel, Jarvis, Craig Clay and Elliott Whitehouse ended with a centre from that flank by O’Neill that was headed wide by Fletcher.

Fletcher also failed to force a save on the stroke of half-time when Jarvis picked him out in the home penalty box, but it would not take long for the former Burnley forward to make amends.

After Hawley had shot straight at Ingham, City broke swiftly and, following a quick throw-in, Clay’s low cross from the right initially looked like it might travel behind Fletcher.

He expertly dangled back his leg, though, to control the ball with his heel and, in the same movement, teed up a shooting chance that he despatched firmly past home shot-stopper Martin Rice from five yards.

The Gulls briefly rallied with Anthony O’Connor going close with two headers and substitute Damon Lathrope seeing a deflected 30-yard drive drift wide.

O’Neill, though, seemed unlucky to be punished for simulation when Torquay captain Lee Mansell appeared to nudge him over in the penalty box and, on 67 minutes, Worthington’s men had a decisive second goal.

On-loan Blackburn centre-back O’Connor saw his name taken for a foul on City substitute Ryan Bowman but there was worse punishment to follow when Carson’s curling free-kick crashed in off the crossbar despite Rice’s best efforts to keep it out.

Inevitably, it was then Jarvis who put the game beyond doubt. The former Gull had been the cause of much hilarity for home fans when he mistakenly kicked the corner flag instead of the ball during the first half but he had the last laugh on 73 minutes.

Jarvis pounced from two yards after Carson’s flag kick had been met powerfully in the air by an unmarked David McGurk on the far post and Rice could only push the City centre-back’s header on to the underside of his crossbar.

There was still time for the hapless Hawley to pass up the late chance of a consolation when he woefully drove high and wide across the face of Ingham’s goal from four yards but a measure of the Minstermen’s dominance was evident when the fourth official’s board showed a minimum of five added-on minutes.

The news was greeted by a chorus of groans from the Plainmoor faithful who, by that point, just wanted to be put out of their misery.


Match facts

Torquay 0, York City 3 (Fletcher 53; Carson 67; Jarvis 73)

Michael Ingham 8
Commanded his box and made important saves when he needed to, although never at full stretch.

Luke O’Neill 7
Surrendered possession dangerously early on, but grew into game and looked confident with both feet going forward.

David McGurk 8
Got the measure of the quick but raw Azeez early on and looking more and more of a threat at attacking set-pieces.

Daniel Parslow 8
Dominated in the air, winning all his headers, and adopting a no-nonsense approach to his defending.

Ben Davies 7
Survived a few anxious moments against Chapell during the opening exchanges and got tighter in the second half.

Josh Carson 9
STAR MAN – continues to combine industry with quality both in open play and from set-piece situations.

Elliott Whitehouse 9
Busy and energetic throughout and showed a real understanding of his position and job in the team.

Craig Clay 8
Touch let him down on a couple of early occasions, but settled into his game and set ball rolling with an assist for first goal.

Ryan Brobbel 7 
Quieter afternoon than of late but still threatened with a couple of trademark runs before his early second-half replacement.

Ryan Jarvis 8
Pulled his old team-mates out of position with a willingness to run the channels and displayed his poaching instinct.

Wes Fletcher 8
Loves charging into the six-yard box and his early misses did not deter him prior to his excellently-crafted and finished goal.

Subs: Ashley Chambers 7 – bright (for Brobbel, 56), Ryan Bowman 7 – determined (for Fletcher, 64), Tom Platt (for O’Neill, 72). Not used: Kettings, Smith, Allan, Puri.


Torquay United

Martin Rice, Dale Tonge, Anthony O’Connor, Thomas Cruise, Kevin Nicholson, Jordan Chapell, Lee Mansell, Ben Harding (Damon Lathrope, 42), Billy Bodin (Courtney Cameron, 70), Karl Hawley, Ade Azeez (Elliot Benyon, 66). Subs not used: Callum Ball, Nathan Craig, Daniel Sullivan, Conor Thompson.

Star man: O’Connor – strong, comfortable on ball, set-piece threat.