York and Swansea fought out a goalless draw in wet and windy conditions at Bootham Crescent. The home side possibly shaded the match, but to suggest they were unlucky not to win, ignores the one remaining deficiency in the side, a natural goalscorer.

Despite the atrocious conditions, both sides played some attractive football in the first fifteen minutes, with City having the better chances. Indeed the first two minutes saw efforts on goal from Nogan, Edmondson and Bullock as York passed their way round a static looking Swansea defence. The best of the trio of chances probably fell to Edmondson, who cut inside from the right and drilled a low shot, well saved by Freestone.

For Swansea, Lee Trundle looked a handful and he forced the first save from the City keeper on five minutes with a shot from the edge of the area.

On seventeen minutes came the incident that changed the match. Trundle and Hope both chased a ball down the Swansea right channel, tangled on the floor and then appeared to exchange blows as team-mates raced in. The outcome was no surprise with both Hope and Trundle receiving straight red cards for a fight that looked like continuing as they left the arena.

From then on it seemed that two disgraced combatants had taken the games quality with them. Swansea reverted to a lone striker and City never again regained their swagger or balance. The remainder of the half continued in a bad tempered manner with further yellow cards from a somewhat pedantic referee. The best chance fell to Jon Shaw, who after a powerful run forced a one handed acrobatic save from Freestone at full stretch. Bullock too came close, whilst Ovendale tipped a Robinson free kick just over the bar.

Swansea started the better of the second half, with a Lenny Johnrose shot being tipped round the post by Ovendale. The bookings then continued with Brass, Johnrose and Edmondson all receiving yellow cards as the match became scrappy and disjointed, not helped by some bizarre decisions from the officials. The referee in particular infuriated both sets of supporters by demanding all free kicks and throw ins be taken from seemingly precise locations on the pitch, known to him only.

The game did however come alive again finally in the last five minutes. Bullock came closest for City with a powerful shot from eight yards only parried by Freestone and eventually hacked off the line by a Swansea defender. This was preceded by a marvellous Merris cross, which was nearly turned into his own net by Jones.

However it all proved too little too late and City came away with their sixth draw from seven outings. In the end 0-0 was probably about right, City just did not have the quality in attack to suggest otherwise,
for all their efforts and passing.

Man of the match was probably be Dunning, although Merris pushed him all the way for the honour. Another solid display too from Ovendale and Chris Smith, whilst I’m afraid Brass had another howler. Is management affecting his form? On today's performance and other recent displays I would suggest so. Perhaps it is time for the hero of last season to take a break from the pitch and concentrate on dugout duties.

Whatever he decides on a personal level, if City are to remain in touch with the play-off places, a genuine goal-scorer must be found by the City manager. For this deficiency aside, York still look a decent side in a poor division.

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Report by Mark Willis

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