DAN BATTY was full of credit for his York City teammates after their 3-0 win over Southend United took the Minstermen back to the top of the National League.

After York had two big chances in the first-half squandered, City responded magnificently in the second-half to score from three corners, all delivered by Batty, to claim a relatively comfortable win over Southend.

Batty’s corner for the opening goal was headed against the crossbar by captain Callum Howe, before substitute Dipo Akinyemi lashed home the rebound, with Howe then nodding the next corner into the back of the net just three minutes later.

With their lead now comfortable, another corner from Batty was headed on by Malachi Fagan-Walcott, with David Ajiboye perfectly positioned to glance the ball past Collin Andeng Ndi and Noor Husin on the Southend line.

It was a performance to be proud of for Batty, who was impressed by York’s dedication to their style of play, as City confirmed that they would be top of the National League for Christmas

“It was a great performance from start to finish really,” Batty told the Press.

“In the first-half I think that we played well as well, we just couldn’t be clinical in front of goal and lacked a bit of composure in front of goal, we could have had a few goals there.

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“But the second-half, we dug deep, kept going, kept creating chances and look what happened, we scored three goals.

“We just had to keep playing how we [play].

“The fans are going to want us to get it forward and be more exciting, but sometimes it is slow building and it works for us.

“It’s how we enjoy to play and it worked for us in the second-half, we kept plugging away, don’t change and we go three goals from it.”

Batty played a vital role in all three of York’s goals thanks to his precise corner kicks, assisting Howe’s goal and having his two other corners lead to goals for City’s victory.

York City moved back to the top of the National League with a 3-0 win over Southend United. (Image: Tom Poole) It’s a part of his and his teammates games that they have been working on, to become more of a threat from set-pieces, with the holding midfielder glad to see that York are reaping the rewards by returning to the top of the National League.

Batty explained: “Recently we have yeah, we’ve been working on how to attack corners and how to deliver it.

“The coaching staff and the lads will be thrilled with that. It’s nice to see it out there in front of the home crowd as well, all three in front of that end too, so we can’t complain.

“The squad is all together and we all work so hard for each other.

“We just need to keep plugging away and getting the victories that we deserve.

“We’re only halfway through the season but if we keep plugging away and keep putting in these performances, I don’t see why we can’t [gain promotion].”

Batty has been a standout player for the Minstermen this season in his deep midfield role, being second only behind Barnet’s Anthony Hartigan in the average amount of accurate passes per match (71.3), and being second only behind Woking’s Cian Harries for the average amount of accurate long balls per game (8.4).

That’s contributed to his four assists so far this season, with Batty explaining to the Press why he feels he is flourishing in the team this season compared to last: “That’s how I’ve played everywhere I’ve been really, it’s just that last year we didn’t really play to the style that I liked to play or as a team.

“Now we’re more settled as a team and as a group, we know where each other is moving so I feel like it’s easier for me to get on the ball and dictate some games.

“I can’t just do it on my own, the lads have got to be there and making the right runs, so it’s a credit to all of the boys.

“We’re all on the same wavelength and it’s good at the minute.

“It’s hard to say because you’re in the middle of the pitch, you’ve got to try and dictate to spread the ball to where it needs to be.

“There’s a level of trust in the lads for everyone, I trust anyone that I pass the ball to, so hopefully all of the lads that pass the ball to me have got that faith in me too.

“If we keep moving it and plugging away how we are, building slowly, then I believe that we can go onto big things.”

Once again on home turf, all of York’s goals came in front of the South Stand, with Batty praising the support shown by the home fans.

“They’re brilliant, especially in the second-half when we’re playing into them.

“They’re like a 12th man, you can’t ask for much more really from the numbers that come out here.

“We want to put on a good performance and sometimes, like in the first-half, we’ve had chances and have missed so we go in at nil-nil at half-time.

“Second-half, we’ve scored a few goals in front of them and it’s happy days, so I can’t ask for much more from them behind the goal.”