Boro cruise past York

York City 0 Stevenage Borough 2

Boro's play-off hopes received a massive boost this evening as goals from Lee Boylan and Steve Morison saw off the challenge of York City at KitKat Crescent.

Graham Westley's side came to life after a lacklustre first period and the Minstermen couldn't handle Stevenage's lethal strike pairing as Boro strengthened their case for a place in the top five.

Starved of service in the first half, both Boylan and Morison vented their frustration in the best possible way after the break with two predatory strikes.

Boylan broke the deadlock when he headed home Scott Laird's excellent cross in the 48th minute and Morison completed the scoring with the kind of finish that belied the fact he had scored just one in eight games going in to tonight.

Gary Mills was handed the central midfield berth due to David Bridges' absence through a knee injury sustained against Oxford United while Junior Mendes was dropped to the bench in favour of Darren Murphy. Michael Bostwick was shunted out to the right to accommodate the young Irishman.

York presented the first real threat on goal in the ninth minute when Daniel McBreen released Richard Brodie in behind the Boro back four. Fortunately for Stevenage, Jon Ashton was covering and eased the forward off the ball when he looked set to get an effort in on goal.

Mark Robinson then had a decent effort from 30 yards but Day handled well with the York strikers set to pounce on any error.

Westley's side had a massive let-off in the 25th minute when Ben Purkiss made good progress down the right flank before delivering a cross for McBreen, whose downward header from six yards was brilliantly kept out by Day.

From the resultant corner Stevenage were again fortunate not to concede when Brodie stole in at the near post but headed wide.

Boro's front pairing of Steve Morison and Lee Boylan were being isolated with the midfield sitting too deep to offer anything in support for the majority of the first half.

Boro really weren't functioning as an attacking force and gradually the Minstermen were cracking up the pressure. Simon Rusk had a half chance when he wriggled free in the penalty area but dragged his left-footed shot wide.

Boro then almost took the lead against the run of play when Morison met Ronnie Henry's corner but the striker's header just looped wide grazing the post on its way.

There was clearly more attacking intent from Stevenage after the break with Michael Bostwick having decent effort from 20 yards that York 'keeper Michael Ingham did well to gather.

Then a moment of enterprise down the left flank from Laird set up the opening goal. The defender made a great run to the by-line and stood up a fantastic cross to the back post where Boylan rose highest to head home.

Boro hadn't looked like scoring in the first half but Laird proved that if you give the likes of Boylan and Morison the service they deserve then goals will follow.

Morison almost doubled Boro's money soon after when he cut in from the right before trying a curler that Ingham held on to well.

Boro suddenly looked like a side challenging for the play-offs and were looking to kill the game off. Morison had come to life and was unlucky not to find a team-mate when he fired across the six-yard box in the 56th minute.

Stevenage had to make sure they kept the back door shut, however, and only some excellent defending from Ashton at the near post preserved his side's lead when Brodie looked set to pounce.

Bostwick almost sewed up all three points with a wonderful 25-yard half volley that was tipped over by Ingham.

But Boro didn't have to wait long for the clincher and didn't you just know that Morison would be the man to provide it.

The former Northampton man said earlier in the week that he can always be counted upon to score goals despite his recent barren spell and his 68th minute finish proved just that.

He found some space inside the York penalty area and, when through on goal, he calmly finished with ease past Ingham.

He almost grabbed his second just a few minutes with a thunderous shot from the corner of the penalty area only to see his effort cannon off the crossbar.

York deserved credit for the way they battled on and almost grabbed a consolation when Day decided to go AWOL off his line but, with the goal at his mercy, Mark Robinson shot tamely allowing Ashton to hack off the line.

Day made up for his aberration moments later when he made a smart save to deny Brodie.

Substitute Peter Vincenti could have added a little more gloss to the scoreline but Ingham produced a good save to deny the 23-year-old.

York City (4-3-3): Ingham 7, Purkiss 6, Parslow 6, Pejic 6, Robinson 6, Rusk 7, Mackin 6, McWilliams 6, Sodje 6, McBreen 5 (Boyes 59), Brodie 7. Subs not used: McGurk, Greaves, Russell, Brown.

Boro (4-4-2): Day 7, Henry 7, Ashton 8, Roberts 7, Laird 8, Murphy 6 (Albrighton 89), Mills 7, Bostwick 7, Cole 6 (Mendes 90), Boylan 7 (Vincenti 82), Morison 7. Subs not used: Bayes, Willock.

Referee: Jez Simpson

Attendance: 1,924