YORK City’s Vanarama National League survival hopes took a major blow, as an Aaron Jarvis hattrick handed Torquay United three points in Devon.

York supporters made the longest trip of the season to visit Torquay’s Plainmoor, but were left ruing their decision after a flat performance from City.

The Minstermen have now fallen to back-to-back defeats to relegation contenders, and have slipped to 18th in the National League table, with just three point separating York from the relegation zone.

City had to manage without first-team manager Michael Morton, who was unable to make the trip down to Devon after receiving a positive covid-19 test.

As a result, Tony McMahon and Scott Barrow were placed in charge of the side, but couldn’t prevent a disappointing defeat.

Jarvis was in red hot form for the home side, and scored two goals in the space of seven minutes.

He first nodded home a fantastic cross from Lewis Collins, before meeting another pinpoint cross to poke the ball home from close-range.

York responded through a fantastic headed finish from captain Lenell John-Lewis towards the end of the second half, before Jarvis completed his hattrick from the spot.

Adam Crookes did net a late consolation, but it was too little too late for York.

And to make matters worse, City midfielder Mitch Hancox was shown a straight red card, meaning he won't appear again for the remainder of the season.

Whilst Morton wasn’t present at Plainmoor, three changes were made to the side that fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat to FC Halifax Town on Easter Monday.

Ryan Fallowfield, Lenell John-Lewis and Maxim Kouogun all returned to the starting eleven in place of Danny Rowe, Michael Duckworth and Alex Whittle.

Olly Dyson in particular started the game brightly, latching onto a loose ball after Mark Ellis’ long throw, but the midfielder couldn’t direct his effort on target.

York weren’t alert enough from the start however, and nearly conceded from the first breakthrough for Torquay, only to be denied by a crucial clearance from Mark Ellis.

And with just 14 minutes being player, the home side took the advantage with Jarvis’ first goal.

Dean Moxey fed Kieron Evans possession on the wing, before a floated cross was headed past Whitley by the lurking Jarvis.

Soon enough, Jarvis was celebrating his second of the afternoon, doubling his tally in the space of seven minutes.

Lewis Collins raced in behind the City defence before producing an excellent cross across the face of goal, where Jarvis was positioned to coolly tap the ball into the empty net, handing Torquay a comfortable lead.

The second goal did appear to wake York up, and they responded immediately with a major chance to half the deficit.

Dyson was once again involved and threaded a clever through ball to Ryan Fallowfield, but his pull back was fantastically scrambled clear with Shaq Forde ready to tap home behind the defender.

The Minstermen wouldn’t have to wait much longer however, and quickly prevailed from their pressure.

A free-kick on the halfway line from Paddy McLaughlin was launched onto the head of Crookes, who expertly headed the ball into the path of John-Lewis to bundle the ball past Halstead.

York were beginning to grow into the game with Halstead being a busy man, as Forde and Max Kouogun forced the goalkeeper into impressive stops.

Crookes was again involved when meeting a Mitch Hancox corner, but again Halstead was alert and produced a reactive low stop.

Heading into the second half, Torquay rediscovered their foothold in the game and quickly added a third.

Some calamitous defending from Kouogun saw the defender wrap himself around Jarvis, forcing the referee to point to the spot.

Jarvis stepped up and calmly completed his hattrick, slamming the ball home and sending Whitley the wrong way.

Torquay nearly added a fourth within three minutes of their third,  and it was nearly in formidable fashion. A free-kick on the edge of the box from Jack Stobbs curled around the wall, before falling inches wide of the post.

York found themselves needing to make up for a two goal deficit once again, and again they woke up far too late in the half.

Everyone was left scratching their heads as to how City didn’t pull one back, with luck firmly being against the Minstermen.

McLaughlin’s deflected strike was parried away with a brilliant stop from Halstead, before Forde’s instinctive follow-up somehow rolled across the goal line before deflecting off of the post. The chance ended when the ball bobbled into the path of Kouogun, whose strike from six-yards out was bravely blocked before being scrambled clear.

Having hit the post, Forde was once again left frustrated after Kouogun slid the ball across to the Watford loanee, but he could only slice his effort wide from close-range.

Collins was proving to be a dangerous option for Torquay, and he nearly aided Torquay’s fourth when squaring the ball to Frank Nouble, but the former Colchester United forward could only side-foot his attempt over the bar.

Jarvis was again causing issues for York too, as he spun his marker before forcing Whitley into a low stop.

As the game approached its closing stages, City did claw back a consolation strike through Crookes.

Some confusion in the box saw the ball fall to Maziar Kounyar, whose original effort slammed against the post before Crookes followed in and hammered the ball past Halstead.

But it was too little too late for the Minstermen, despite stoppage time pressure, who fell to a disappointing defeat in Devon after failing to contain a prolific Jarvis.

Torquay United: Halstead, Lawrence, Donnellan, Moxey, Stobbs, Dawson, Evans, Hall (Hanson, 77), Collins (Omar, 83), Nouble (Wyatt, 76), Jarvis

Subs not used: Crowe, Lovett

Goals: Jarvis (14, 21, 57)

Yellow cards: Hall (37), Collins (67)

York City: Whitley 6, Fallowfield 6, Kouogun 5 (Kouhyar, 78), Crookes 6, Ellis 5, Hurst 6, McLaughlin 7 (Duku 6, 70), Dyson 7, Hancox 6, Forde 6, John-Lewis 7

Subs not used: Campbell, Mafuta, Duckworth

Goals: John-Lewis (28), Crookes (90)

Yellow cards: Hurst (16), Forde (28), Kouogun (56)

Red card: Hancox (AFT)

York’s star man: Lenell John-Lewis. A spirited effort from the captain, who did well on his return from injury. He was dominant in the air, held the ball up well and even pipped in with a goal.

Attendance: 3469 (424)

Referee: Ryan Atkin

Shots (on target): 2 (6) | 6 (7)

Corners: 2 | 9

Offsides: 1 | 0

Fouls committed: 13 | 15