YORK City dismantled the ten-men of Bromley with a comfortable 3-0 victory in South London.

Michael Morton’s side completed the double over Bromley and inflicted the Ravens first loss of 2023 with a dominant scoreline, seeing York avoid a third consecutive defeat on their travels.

It’s a much-needed three points for City, who are now six points ahead of the relegation zone with ten matches remaining of the Vanarama National League season.

It was a tight match up until the brink of half-time, when Bromley goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook was shown a red card for hacking Mitch Hancox down in the box, gifting York a penalty.

The Ravens had no backup goalkeeper on the bench, meaning left-back Besart Topalloj was forced to play his role between the sticks.

Up stepped captain Lenell John-Lewis, who confidently smashed home his 14th goal of the season.

York added their second after the half-time break, with Ryan Fallowfield drifting forward and hammering an unstoppable strike past Topalloj, grasping his first goal for the club.

And substitute Luke James settled a brilliant scoreline and three points with a clinical diving header, thanks to a teasing assist from Dan Pybus.

Morton had raised concerns towards the playing surface at Hayes Lane prior to kick-off, admitting he wasn’t a fan of the 3G surface that Bromley played their home matches at.

The City interim boss made just one change to the side that suffered defeat to the Daggers on Saturday, with Shaq Forde being dropped in place of veteran Paddy McLaughlin, resulting in a change of formation to a 5-2-2-1 from Morton.

Bromley set themselves up in a 4-3-3 formation spearheaded by the prolific Adam Marriott, but had the option of bringing the son of Dennis Bergkamp onto the pitch, with Mitchel Bergkamp on the bench for the Ravens.

Nobody would have predicted a 3-0 win for City after watching the first 40 minutes, with neither side really testing one another.

Mitch Hancox looked to demonstrate an early dominance when collecting the ball on the edge of the box, and on the turn he managed a tame strike that was deflected into the hands of Charles-Cook.

Bromley launched an attack of their own through Corey Whitely, but struggled to breakdown some resilient City defending, with both Mark Ellis and Max Kouogun making pivotal challenges to deny an early lead to the hosts.

It was very much a game of nearly-chances for both sides, as a delicately-struck ball from Michael Duckworth came within inches to play Ryan Fallowfield in behind, but the wing-back couldn’t quite reach the pass.

Something that showed clear improvement tonight was the delivery of set-pieces, with both Hancox and Duckworth taking turns from corners.

Duckworth had back-to-back chances from deep Hancox crosses, first heading high  over the bar, before slicing a volley wide when escaping his marker.

Bromley came forward themselves as some nice build-up play allowed Louis Dennis to deliver a pinpoint cross towards Whitely, but a last-ditch touch from Mark Ellis prevented a certain goal for the Ravens.

But on the brink of half-time, a rather uneventful game sprung into life in extraordinary fashion.

Almost out of nowhere, some sloppy control from a Bromley defending allowed Hancox to steal the ball and race in behind the Ravens defence.

With just the goalkeeper to beat, Hancox confidently rounded the former Coventry City shot-stopper before being hacked down by Charles-Cook.

The referee had no choice but to award the penalty and punish Charles-Cook with a unavoidable red card, forcing Bromley to finish the match with ten men.

To make matters worse for the home side, Andy Woodman had opted not to have a backup goalkeeper on the susbtitutions bench, meaning left-back Besart Tollapoj was forced between the sticks.

Up stepped John-Lewis, who dispatched a venomous penalty into the top corner to gift York the advantage on the brink of half-time.

Heading into the second half, both sides made changes at the break, with City’s being forced, as the injured Alex Whittle made way for James.

Following the substitution James, City established an early dominance on the ten-men of Bromley.

A brilliant cross from Hancox found an unmarked John-Lewis ten-yards from goal, but his volleyed effort was smashed over the bar.

McLaughlin looked to double the advantage as he drove at the Bromley defence, and when he perhaps should have thread a ball through, the midfielder struck an effort wide of the target.

Bromley had their first shot of the match in the 53rd minute, as young Kellen Fisher struck a tame effort into the gloves of Ryan Whitley.

John-Lewis was very eager to add his second, as he protected the ball well on the edge of the box before spinning his man and narrowly curling an effort wide.

But finally, York’s relentless pressure would be rewarded, and in some style.

A loose ball was spread wide into the path of Fallowfield, who struck an unstoppable effort into the top corner, leaving an unlucky Toppaloj no chance to net his first in City colours.

Fallowfield nearly had a chance to add his second just a minute later, as a similar situation arose but this time Fallowfield had more time and somehow lifted his strike over the bar.

It would quickly be forgotten for the rampant Minstermen however, as Morton’s side added a third.

Another goal of clear quality, as Dan Pybus floated a teasing cross onto the diving head of James, who arrowed his effort into the back of the net with the aid of the post.

Whitley would be called into action again for a rare Bromley chance, as a corner found the towering Omar Sowunmi at the back post, and his cushioned header was smothered by the City shot-stopper.

City did have to soak up some pressure from Bromley in the dying moments, but it would’ve been merely a consolation.

Nevertheless, Whitley maintained his clean sheet and York celebrated a joyous three points at Hayes Lane.

Bromley: Charles-Cook, Fisher, Sowunmi, Reynolds, Toppaloj, Vennings, Stirk, Dennis, Whitely, Marriott, Forster

Subs not used: Cheek, Bergkamp, Arthurs, Elerewe, Krauhaus

Red card: Charles-Cook (44)

Yellow cards: Fisher (90)

York City: Whitley 7, Fallowfield 8, Duckworth 7, Ellis 7, Kouogun 7, Whittle 6 (James 7, 45), Pybus 7, McLaughlin 6, Hancox 8, Dyson 8 (Forde, 81), John-Lewis 8 (Duku 6, 78)

Subs not used: Kerr, Campbell

Goals: John-Lewis (45+2), Fallowfield (66), James (72)

Yellow cards: Ellis (42), Pybus (45+3)

York’s star man: Ryan Fallowfield. A first goal for the City defender, handling some very dangerous Bromley wingers and he proved an option up-and-down that right-hand side constantly.

Referee: Wayne Cartmell

Shots (on target): 0 (2) | 5 (3)

Corners: 3 | 5

Offsides: 1 | 2

Fouls committed: 6 | 9