OUT-OF-FAVOUR forward Paul Robinson may as well pack his KitKat Crescent bags now because any striker who cannot get in the current misfiring York City team clearly has a bleak future at the club.

His namesake Paul D Robinson also appears to be on borrowed time after manager Billy McEwan hauled him off the pitch just half-an-hour into last night's latest tale of woe at Canvey Island.

The younger Robinson though was forced to look on from the bench for the full 90 minutes as his team-mates unbelievably squandered NINE simple chances in front of goal and the Minstermen failed to find the net for the seventh time in their last eight outings.

Canvey -- a club who were playing county football 12 years ago and survive on three-figure attendances -- took better advantage of the fewer opportunties they were presented with and ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.

It was another slap in the face for City's loyal supporters who, having made a 230-mile trip to the most basic stadium in the Conference, watched their team easily humbled by the part-time Essex outfit.

Trailing 3-0 at the break, an angry McEwan sent his team back on to the pitch five minutes early for the second period but, until the resumption, only goalkeeper David Stockdale dare tread within 40 yards of the goal behind which the travelling fans were congregated.

Several bare-chested away spectators took off their tops in a desperate bid to inject a celebratory atmosphere into the club's final away match of a depressing season.

Certain players on show at Park Lane, however, are unlikely to pull on a City shirt again when the club's dismal Conference campaign comes to a close after Saturday's home match with Farnborough.

Top scorer Andy Bishop and teenage winger Bryan Stewart missed a hat-trick of clear-cut chances each, while Robinson, Byron Webster and Paul Groves passed up other opportunities to dent the scoresheet.

Canvey, however, broke the deadlock from their first goal attempt on five minutes.

Robinson and Graeme Law, who were both substituted on the half-hour mark, allowed a long throw down the line to reach Jason Hallett and his low cross from the left wing found Lee Boylan, whose shot curled into the bottom corner.

The Minstermen then illustrated their profligacy in front of goal three times in as many minutes.

Robinson dispossessed last man Dominic Sterling but, instead of charging straight for goal, opted for a square pass that was easily intercepted. Stockdales's long punt was then helped on by Robinson's head to send Webster clear on goal but he volleyed weakly wide and, moments later Bishop exchanged passes with Robinson but fired straight at 'keeper Danny Potter.

Canvey midfielder Ollie Berquez was much more ruthless on 15 minutes, rifling a rising drive into the top corner.

Stewart was then found wanting on 20 minutes, lacking a clinical finish after a clever turn on the halfway line and threaded pass by Bishop had sent him clear on goal.

Stockdale, meanwhile, grabbed the ball off Hallett's feet and palmed out a cross-shot from Chris Duffy before Bishop shot weakly at Potter with another one-on-one opportunity after being sent clear by substitute right-back Kyle Armstrong's first touch.

Veteran Groves was the next cuplrit with a shot from four yards that lacked the power.

Canvey subsequently increased their lead when Berquez raced into the box to collect a return pass from Jeff Minton before poking the ball past Stockdale.

City continued to be just as wasteful after the break. A nervous Stewart took a heavy touch and then fired straight at Potter with half the net unguarded and the teenager later dragged another effort across the face of goal.

In between, Bishop had the ball taken off his toes as he bore down on goal and tried to round Potter.

At the other end, Boylan struck the crossbar after cleverly lifting the ball over a stranded Stockdale before Canvey added a fourth goal on 77 minutes. Berquez sidestepped penalty box challenges from Groves and Webster before dribbling past Stockdale only for Neil Midgley to unforgiveably tap in as the central midfielder looked certain to complete his hat-trick in stunning style.

Canvey Island (Boyland 5, Berquez 15, 42, Midgley 77), York City 0

Nationwide Conference

Tuesday, April 20, 2005

at Park Lane

Stockdale 5, Law 5 (Armstrong 30m 6), Groves 4, Davis 4, Merris 5, Yalcin 5, Webster 6, Donovan 5, Stewart 4, Bishop 5, Paul D Robinson 5 (Jackson 30, 5)

Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire

Subs not used: Porter, Smith, Paul Robinson

Star man: Webster -- energetic, spirited and reluctant to surrender. Rare qualities in City's players last night.

Canvey Island: Danny Potter, David McGhee (Peter Smith, 46), David Theobold, Dominic Sterling, Neil Midgley, Jeff Minton, Ollie Berquez, Ben Sedgemore (Tommy Williamson, 72), Chris Duffy, Jason Hallett (Junior McDougald, 67), Lee Boylan. Subs not used: Ashley Harrison, Neil Gregory.

Yellow cards: None.

Red cards: None.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northampton). Rating: another official reluctant to hand out yellow cards for normally bookable offences, knowing that end-of-season cautions are unlikely to lead to suspensions.

Attendance: 817.

Weather watch: Dry with a cool sea breeze.

Game breaker: Another miserable night for City, who made Canvey look considerably better than their league position, which is a more accurate indication of their true ability.

Player watch

David Stockdale

Shots faced: 8. Shots saved: 1. Shots parried: 1.

Shots saved/faced ratio: 25 per cent.

Kicks to own player: 6. Kicks to opposition: 18. Kick success rate: 25 per cent.

Throws to own player: 4. Throws to opposition: 0. Throw success rate: 100 per cent.

Crosses caught: 6. Crosses punched: 1. Crosses dropped: 1.

Free-kicks won: 0. Free-kicks conceded: 0.

Summary: Was exposed by his defenders at times and was not to blame for any of Canvey's goals although he was also saved from conceding two more by the woodwork and a David Merris clearance.

Updated: 10:34 Wednesday, April 20, 2005