Aldershot Town crashed to an emphatic 7-2 defeat at York City in the National League.

York piled on the pressure early on with a couple of corners and as Callum Howe rose highest in the centre and headed towards the far post, Ollie Pearce was on hand to head in his 30th goal of the season and give his side the lead in just the third minute.

Six minutes later, York doubled their lead through Lewis Richardson. Ashley Nathaniel-George did well out on the left wing and found Richardson in the box who dummied inside and made enough space to give himself time to pick out his finish and find the back of the net.

But just a couple of minutes later, the Shots were given hope of getting back in the game as Josh Barrett was tripped just inside the box and a penalty was given. Barrett himself stepped up but was denied by York keeper Harrison Male who dived the right way. Male then got straight back up to make a superb double save denying Barrett once again on the rebound.

York still have hopes of automatic promotion and a Vanarama National League title and were certainly playing like it as Will Armitage needed to make a last-ditch block and deny what was most likely going to be a third goal just a minute after the penalty save.

The Minstermen did have their third in the 18th minute, though, as Richardson scored his second with another composed finish from around the penalty spot.

A devastating counter-attack saw the Shots get back into the game in the 22nd minute, however. Ryan Jones was found in space on the halfway line and he drove forward before playing the ball out to Jack Barham on his right who found the bottom corner with a brilliant, powerful finish.

Jones was gifted an opportunity in the 37th minute as a misplaced pass by a York defender fell straight to his feet on the edge of the box, but he blasted his shot over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time, the Shots were given another penalty as Barham was dragged down just inside the box by Joe Felix, and Felix was shown a yellow card.

Male once again dived the right way and pulled off his second penalty save of the afternoon to deny Theo Widdrington, but Kwame Thomas turned in the rebound and put the Shots back in the game.

But that lasted just a minute as a high ball over the Aldershot defence caused confusion and Pearce was able to race in behind, control the ball and finish under Shots keeper Marcus Dewhurst and restore York's two-goal advantage.

The Shots were reduced to ten men in the 55th minute with Cameron Hargreaves shown a straight red card after taking Marvin Armstrong out from behind.

York put their numerical advantage to use with a fifth goal in the 70th minute. Josh Stones found the bottom corner with an effort from the centre of the box.

Five minutes later, they had a sixth. Howe ventured forward and found the back of the net with a superb strike from outside the area.

Pearce completed his hat-trick and scored York's seventh of the afternoon in the 85th minute when his low effort beat Dewhurst.