WEALDSTONE, England (AP) — Sam Cox walked out of Grosvenor Vale convinced his Wealdstone side outplayed York City until a second-half sending-off handed the visitors victory on a platter.

The National League contest ended 3-0 Saturday after Enzio Boldewijn picked up his second yellow card in a challenge with York captain Ollie Pearce. That left Wealdstone down to 10 men, and York struck three times in the final half hour through Morgan Williams, Zak Johnson and Daniel Batty.

“I’d say for 60 minutes of that game, we were the better side,” Cox told the Wealdstone club website. “Unfortunately, the red card changed the whole scheme of the game and just flipped it on its head really.”

Wealdstone pressed hard in the first half against Stuart Maynard’s title-chasing York squad. They carved out promising chances but couldn’t break the deadlock. Boldewijn, a veteran presence and club captain, had been sharp up to that point.

The turning point came at the 56th minute. Boldewijn lunged into a 50-50 duel with Pearce. The referee deemed it reckless — his second booking of the match. Cox questioned the drama Pearce showed on the turf.

“I didn’t think there was much contact; it was late,” Cox said. “Whether or not there was as much contact as the player going down in the pain that he showed, I’m not sure.”

With numerical superiority, York took control. Williams opened the scoring, followed by Johnson’s strike and Batty’s clincher. Cox praised his players’ resilience even after the dismissal.

“If you go 10 men against a team like York City, they will punish you, and that’s exactly what they did,” he said. “I thought for 60, 65 minutes we created the better chances. It’s really frustrating, but I couldn’t be any prouder of these players and their efforts.”

Wealdstone executed their game plan well, Cox added. They worked on set pieces and patterns that troubled York early. Fine margins decided it, he reckoned — and discipline proved the difference.

“We’ve created chances today, and we’ve shown that we can go toe-to-toe with anyone in this league,” Cox said. “But when you go up against a team like York with 10 men, they’re going to punish you.”

Boldewijn’s exit irked Cox most. The captain has started every match this season. His first-half display set the tone before the flashpoint.

“Nobody means to intentionally get sent off, and Enzio’s been ever-present for us,” Cox noted. “I thought he was excellent in the first half. The referee’s decision has changed the whole complexity of the game.”

Wealdstone now face a quick turnaround. They travel to Sutton United this weekend, chasing a response after two straight league losses — their first since mid-December. Tuesday’s home game against Hartlepool United fell victim to a waterlogged pitch.

Cox demanded focus. York sit near the top, chasing promotion. Wealdstone battle relegation worries. Saturday’s display offered hope amid the frustration.

The loss drops Wealdstone further down the table. York climb closer to the playoff spots. Maynard, who once managed Wealdstone, savored the points against his old club.