Relegation-threatened Gateshead romped to their first away win in over three months, putting three past a York City side of sorts at the LNER Community Stadium.
The visitors had the lead after just nine minutes, with Danny Elliott converting from the penalty spot, after he had been taken down by goalkeeper Ethan Ross.
One goal was enough for the Heed to remain focused and on top in all aspects of the game - they waited until the 68th minute for a chance to double the advantage. Once again, it was an opportunity taken from the spot, Elliott sending Ross the wrong way following a clumsy challenge in the penalty area.
The Tynesiders weren't done there though, making a corner count to their benefit, with defender Owen Bailey sliding home from close range as a product of it.
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Story of the match
For his first game in charge of the Minstermen, manager David Webb made three changes to the side that thumped Blyth Spartans in the FA Trophy in midweek - Ethan Ross returned between the sticks, while Dan Pybus and Mitch Hancox also made starts.
Mike Williamson's Gateshead side consisted of just a sole change following their 5-1 trophy win over Gloucester, with Adam Campbell coming in for Dan Jarvis.
The first test for City 'keeper Ross came after only five minutes, making an easy catch from Owen Bailey's long range strike, before Danny Elliott's downward header was alike, a straight-forward claim.
Elliott was back in the thick of it, three minutes later. Being played through on goal by a ricocheted clearance, the loan-striker attempted to take it round Ross, only to be brought down by the foot of the 'keeper, resulting in a spot-kick, and a booking for the unlucky offender.
From 12 yards out, Elliott was calm and collective in sending the 'keeper the wrong way, placing his penalty into the bottom-right corner.
Despite conceding the penalty five minutes earlier, Ross was forced into a redemptive stop, brilliantly blocking a Dan Ward chip from doubling the Tynesiders' lead.
Boxing Day seemed to be all about Gateshead's number 9, who had already got on the scoresheet, and nearly had another, racing onto a error from Maxim Kouogun, but dragging his shot wide at the final stage.
Pacey winger Nathan Thomas was the most-alive player in a demoralised-looking Minstermen team, bringing them their first proper chance of the match on 25 minutes, dancing past a couple of defenders before agonizingly striking the side-netting.
Moments later, the silky winger's ball into the box found no other than frontman Lenell John-Lewis, but even he couldn't find the back of the net. His effort was acrobatically dived onto by Heed stopper James Montgomery, whose heroics saw the ball eventually cleared of danger.
Only just past the half hour mark had the visitors come close to putting the game out of sight once again, a counter-attack proving useful, as it had numerous times so far. Greg Olley's pass into the feet of Ward was followed by a low shot from the midfielder, which was well-stopped by Ross.
It could have been so much more for Gateshead going into the break, but it wasn't, and York were still in the game, mostly thanks to their goalkeeper.
The second half started in exactly the same fashion as the first did, with the Tynesiders playing football a far cry from their second-bottom of the National League status.
Just four minutes after the restart, the away side had the ball in the back of the net, though on that occasion, it didn't count due to a handball in the build-up.
Elliott, still searching for his second goal in black and white, found himself in space on the edge of the box and tried to curl one towards the top corner, but Ross was again equal to it, pulling off an incredible fingertip diving save to deny the forward.
Thomas, the bright spark in the City side, had a left-footed shot fly wide on 56, before an effort with his right foot was also blasted well clear of the target; an Adam Campbell strike into the side-netting was sandwiched in between.
Ross had been relentlessly the savior for the North Yorkshire outfit on a cold, wintry afternoon, but was faced with his previous enemy for a second time in the match - Pybus' clumsy challenge on a Gateshead man inside the area meant Elliott was to step up for another penalty.
Yet again, Elliott slotted one way, and Ross went the other, but opposite directions from the first one, nevertheless, doubling the Heed's advantage with 22 minutes left to play.
Soon after, for the fifth time in the clash, Gateshead had scored, through Elliott, but the linesman was quick to raise his flag, indicating an offside in the good link-up play.
That didn't knock them though, as they went on to grab a third from a set-piece. A lofted corner from the right was brought down and slid home by defender Owen Bailey, greeted by boos around the ground, with the exempt minimal travelling contingent of 155 in delight.
Three goals was enough to seal three points for the Heed, who now have the upper hand when they host the Minstermen at the Gateshead International Stadium next Monday in the reverse fixture.
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Player of the match
Danny Elliott (Gateshead)