York City thrashed a totally demoralised Kettering Town side 7-0 at Bootham Crescent to narrow the gap at the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier table. The victory was the biggest recorded in the league by the Minstermen for more than 25 years.
Jamie Reed netted with two early headers and the goals simply kept on coming for the rampant hosts, with Jon Challinor, Matty Blair, Patrick McLaughlin, Ashley Chambers and on loan Poppies striker Moses Ashikodi similarly on target.
Striker Reed [right ] headed home Blair's inch-perfect cross from the right to begin the rout on six minutes and then guided in Scott Kerr's cross-cum-shot to make it two six minutes later. The former Bangor City marksman appeared odds-on for a hat-trick until having to be substituted at half-time after picking up a slight knee injury.
Former Kettering midfielder Jon Challinor soon added a third after McLaughlin's shot came back off the post before Chambers set up Blair for goal number four right on the stroke of half-time.
Northern Ireland Under-21 international McLaughlin then showed great footwork to add a fifth early in the second-half and Danny Pilkington unselfishly allowed Chambers to turn and drive home low to make it 6-0 midway through the second-half.
Substitute Ashikodi had already missed a great chance before himself getting into the act from McLaughlin's neat backheel before Kettering goalkeeper Aldi Haxhia made a great double-save to deny first Blair and then Ashikodi's follow-up header in added time.
