It was only as the changes began to be used on a more regular basis towards the end of Saturday's match that the game became a little more stretched, something which the Minstermen capitalised on.

However, the first half showing saw a well-organised Blues side give as good as they got and they actually found themselves a goal up at the break thanks to Bradley Fewster's stunner.

It was Fewster who had the first real chance of the game following a bright start from the Seasiders. He headed just wide following a pacey ball into the box from his strike partner, Jacob Hazel.

As the half went on, the higher-ranked outfit began to grow into the encounter and Whitby only Shane Bland was able to stop his side falling behind when he made himself big to deny City youngster, Jack Degruchy from a tight angle after 19 minutes.

Two minutes later, Whitby went close to taking the lead themselves when Hazel did all he could to fire the ball goal-bound from an awkward angle. York keeper Peter Jameson was beaten but he was a relieved man when he saw one of his team-mates clear the ball off the goal-line.

With 25 minutes on the clock, one of the many York trialists on show was close to scoring a screamer but his long-range effort was just too high of the worried Bland's goal.

Bland almost gifted the former Football League outfit the lead with half-time nearing when he rushed out of his goal to gather the ball. It was always going to be big ask for him to comfortably collect the ball sliding on a slick surface, and his troubles were realised when he had to release the ball to avoid conceding a free-kick for handball on the edge of the area. Fortunately for him, York somehow failed to convert despite the open net they had to fire in to.

York, who had enjoyed the better of the closing stages of the first period, suffered a real sucker-punch right on half-time when Whitby counter-attacked following an attacking free-kick. The ball found its way to Fewster who smashed the ball into the top corner with a first-time effort from around 25-yards out.

The break saw the introduction of former Championship forward Clayton Donaldson and his impact was felt almost immediately as he skilfully broke away from the Whitby defence, however there were signs of rustiness in his finish which was fired straight at Bland when he had both sides of the goal to aim at.

Despite a number of changes for both sides, Whitby still created chances of their own and Fewster went close to another goal from range, this time firing into the side netting from the edge of the area.

Whitby's experienced midfielder Lewis Hawkins, then called Jameson into action, but his low strike was claimed with ease by the York shot-stopper.

With 76 minutes gone, York got themselves level through a trialist after he fired a free-kick beyond Bland from just outside the box. This trialist turned out to be former Town man Mackenzie Heaney who was snapped up by City on Sunday.

Whitby didn't look too affected by being pegged back and Coleby Shepherd went close to restoring the lead six minutes later but he dragged his effort wide following a short corner routine.

But despite the valiant efforts of the Whitby players, York got themselves what turned out to be the winner four minutes from time when Donaldson showed his class and experienced, curling the ball beyond Bland from just inside the area.