It was Boro’s second outing in less than 24 hours and Michael Carrick fielded a completely different starting line-up to the one which played at Hartlepool the previous evening.
There was a first outing in Boro colours for a number of players with Seny Dieng, Rav van den Berg, Sammy Silvera and Morgan Rogers all the starting XI.
Boro played some neat stuff against the National League side. A couple of Isaiah Jones crosses caused York early problems and a Tommy Smith cross was cleared when Rogers was well-placed to convert.
Rogers was also denied by an offside flag after a great ball over the top from Darragh Lenihan.
By the midway point of the first half, the skies had blackened and there were rolls of thunder in the air, as the floodlights were switched on to lift the gloom.
It wasn’t long before the storm came with monsoon-like rain and lightning flashes, and play was halted for a period for the safety of the players.
On resumption, Rogers was denied a great chance to open his account when a York defender nicked the ball at full stretch with a last-ditch sliding tackle.
Rogers was also involved in creating an opening for Sam Collins, but the home goalkeeper proved equal to his strike.
Carrick made his first change at half-time with Tom Glover replacing Dieng in goal for his first appearance in a Boro shirt.
Once again, at the start of the second half, Rogers held off the challenge of a defender as he looked to tee Matthew Hope, but his pull-back was scrambled clear.
The lively Silvera was next to go close when he grazed the bar after working himself an opening.
Three more changes came on the hour – Jack Stott, Ajay Matthews, and Jack Hannah replacing Hoppe, Sykes, and van den Berg.
Matthews, who had scored at Hartlepool the previous evening, had an effort blocked with his first touch at York.
More subs came after 72 minutes. Fenton John, Daniel Nkrumah, and Rio Patterson-Powell replaced Jones, Silvera, and Morgan.
And there were more changes for the final moments. Smith, Lenihan, Barlaser, and Collins were replaced by AJ Bridge, Frankie Whelan, Nathan Simpson, and JD Costello.
Matthews almost repeated his goalscoring feat when a clearance cannoned back off him before being smothered by the keeper.
Boro: Dieng, Smith, van den Berg, Lenihan, Collins, Barlaser, Sykes, Jones, Hope, Silvera, Rogers.
Subs used: Glover, Stott, Matthews, Hannah, Patterson-Powell, Nkrumah, John, Bridge, Whelan, Costello.
Subs unused: Howells
Att: 4958 (2185 Boro)