York City 2, Aldershot 0

Walker's 13th game without defeat - a dominant 2-0 defeat of long-time Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot - gave genuine hope that the Minstermen can still recover from their traumatic start to the season and gatecrash the play-off party.

It also led one member of the post-match media pack to ask the City boss whether there was anything he couldn't do.

The former New Zealand international striker quipped that Mrs Walker might point to his questionable domestic skills, but City supporters will be reflecting on another polished performance from his team this morning.

Goals from new strike partners Richard Brodie and Martyn Woolford secured City a well-deserved win that flattered their high-flying visitors, who were restricted to just one shot on target all afternoon.

That came just three minutes into Saturday's game, with Tom Evans making a routine save from Lewis Chalmers' 25-yard effort and City went on to control the rest of the match.

Soon afterwards, a raid down the right by debutant Simon Rusk, playing at wing-back, led to a chance for Brodie that Shots 'keeper Nikki Bull smothered.

But, seconds later, the former Newcastle Benfield forward gave City a seventh-minute lead.

Woolford made an excellent run down the left channel and his intelligent back heel found Nicky Wroe without the former Barnsley midfielder having to break his stride.

Wroe then made a beeline for the by-line before switching the ball on to his right foot and sending a well-flighted cross to the far post where Brodie headed in from a yard.

Brodie and Woolford continued to cause the visitors problems during an excellent first-half display.

On 15 minutes, Brodie rounded Bull following a Woolford cross, but could not find the empty net from a narrowing angle.

Brodie also cut inside Aldershot's Anthony Straker before dragging a 15-yard effort wide of the near post.

Left-wing back Anthony Lloyd then missed an excellent opportunity to extend the home side's lead when he failed to control the ball in front of goal after Woolford's deflected shot had ricocheted invitingly into his path. At the other end, though, Darren Craddock was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card for an x-rated challenge on John Grant near the corner flag.

A sending off might have changed the complexion of the game but, instead, City reasserted their superiority after the break.

Manny Panther's crossfield pass set up Lloyd for a 53rd-minute chance that flashed across the face of goal.

City skipper Panther and Woolford also combined to set up an opportunity that Wroe drove narrowly wide.

A quick free-kick by Stuart Elliott and Lloyd's cross then saw Woolford force a low save from Bull and Craddock headed inches over from the subsequent corner.

Elliott sent a bouncing 25-yard drive wide on 68 minutes before Aldershot reminded City they were still in the game while the deficit remained one goal with Ben Harding going close from long range.

Soon afterwards, the Minstermen failed to take advantage of a four-against-two situation when Panther, Woolford, Wroe and Craig Farrell counter-attacked in devastating fashion only for the latter to stray offside.

Farrell, who replaced Brodie, made amends though on 86 minutes when he capitalised on an error by visiting captain Rhys Day to collect Panther's pass and pull the ball back for Woolford, who sidefooted into the roof of Bull's net from eight yards.

At the final whistle, Walker was left to reflect on an exciting victory and the continuation of his remarkable unbeaten start to management.

To put it into some form of context, Sir Alex Ferguson lost his first game in charge at Manchester United, the great Bill Shankly only avoided defeat for his first two matches as Liverpool boss and Arsenal lasted six fixtures before being beaten under Arsene Wenger.

Match facts:

York City 2 (Brodie 7, Woolford 86), Aldershot 0

York City: Tom Evans 7, Darren Craddock 8, David McGurk 9, Danny Parslow 8, Simon Rusk 9, Anthony Lloyd 8, Stuart Elliott 8, Manny Panther 9, Nicky Wroe 8, Richard Brodie 8, Martyn Woolford 9.

Substitutions: Craig Farrell (for Brodie, 70) 7

Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Onome Sodje, Paul Brayson, Jimmy Beadle.

Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire

City's star man: McGurk - never missed a tackle. His timing and positional play were impeccable.

Aldershot: Nikki Bull, Dean Smith, Rhys Day, David Winfield, Anthony Straker, Louie Soares, Lewis Chalmers, Ben Harding, Scott Davies (Joel Grant, 61), John Grant, Jonny Dixon (Danny Hylton, 65).

Subs not used: Ricky Newman, Rob Gier, Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.

Yellow cards: Craddock 34.

Shots on target: York 4, Aldershot 1

Shots off target: York 9, Aldershot 5

Corners: York 6, Aldershot 3

Fouls conceded: York 14, Aldershot 13

Offsides: York 1, Aldershot 2

Referee: Mo Matadar (Blackburn).

Rating: better than on previous visits but still puzzlingly stopped play because somebody had lost a boot when City were threatening the visitors' goal.

Attendance: 3,092 (312 away fans).

Move of the match: The interplay between Woolford, Wroe and Brodie for City's first goal.

Mistake of the match: Craddock's rash challenge on Grant could have cost his team.

Pass of the match: Panther's diagonal ball that found Lloyd in a scoring position.

City player watch: Wing-back Simon Rusk

Goal attempts on target: 0

Goal attempts off target: 1

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 19

Passes to opposition: 6

Crosses to own player: 3

Crosses to opposition: 4

Pass success rate: 68.8 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 5

Dribbles ball lost: 3

Dribble success rate: 62.5 per cent

Headers: 6

Tackles: 17

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 4

Free-kicks won: 1

Free-kicks conceded: 1

Offsides: 0

Bookings: 0

Final summary: Simon Rusk's incredible tackle tally of 17 illustrated his commitment to the cause during his debut for City. He also provided a healthy number of crosses from his wing-back role, especially early on and went past his man more times than he was stopped in his tracks. Reasonably reliable in possession, he will also be pleased to have got 90 minutes under his belt.