Leigh RMI 0, York City 3

But spectators watching York City play Leigh RMI for the first 45 minutes of Saturday's Nationwide Conference clash could have been forgiven for thinking the rugby league season had started a fortnight early.

Forward punts that found touch or members of the opposition - granted, more of a rugby union trait than league - littered much of the visitors' first-half play and Darren Dunning's off-the-ball grapple with home midfielder Warren Peyton which earned him a 58th-minute red card would have been more understandable on the rugby field.

Maybe it was the pitch markings and unchanged scoreboard from the Centurions' friendly victory over Whitehaven last week that confused City and Dunning but, fortunately after the midfielder's sending off, Viv Busby's men remembered which sport they were playing and picked up a crucial three points largely thanks to rejuvenated striker Andy Bishop.

The 22-year-old forward atoned for an unbelievable miss early in the second half to net twice and set up player-coach Lee Nogan for his third goal of the season.

Bishop's brace took his tally to four in three games, and nine for the campaign, and saw the Minstermen move eight points clear of third-bottom Forest Green.

Playing a side who had won only one of their 24 Conference games, anything less than victory would have been shameful for a City team desperate for results to ensure safety as soon as possible.

But ignominy seemed possible after a dreadful first half in which the visitors lacked cohesion and quality and managed just two efforts on James Mann's goal.

Fit-again Byron Webster's header at the far post from a Dunning corner on 12 minutes was kept out by Mann and, midway through the half, Nogan dragged an excellent opportunity wide after being found in the box by a left-wing cross from Sean Davies.

Leigh though looked more threatening in the first period and played the better football.

Chris Simm and Lee Hoolickin both directed free headers wide from close range and Daniel Douglas-Pringle fired straight at Chris Porter from 12 yards. Other efforts included a 25-yard drive by Mark Drew that brushed the side-netting and Simm poking the ball narrowly wide after beating the Minstermen 'keeper in a race to a through ball.

On-loan Doncaster defender Jon Maloney, again impressive at the back for City, also executed an excellently-timed tackle on Simm as the Leigh striker bore down on goal a minute before the break.

Busby reminded his players of the game's importance at half-time and there was a marked improvement after the restart.

Bishop somehow contrived to put the ball wide from three yards with a bouncing drive after being perfectly set up by Nogan, who cut inside Chris Lane before delivering an inch-perfect cross.

City's leading marksman xxxxxxxxxx

then collected Porter's long punt but a block by home captain Andy Roscoe took the sting out of his shot.

The Leigh 'keeper also kept out Bishop's 53rd-minute header after a deep Davies cross and, shortly afterwards, came Dunning's moment of madness.

In the first half, the 24-year-old midfielder had picked up a booking for dissent when his very optimistic penalty appeal after bouncing off home captain Roscoe was rejected by referee Bob Pollock.

So when the referee's assistant spotted a kick on Peyton, Pollock brandished his yellow card again and Dunning headed for the tunnel.

Busby responded by tucking widemen Kevin Donovan and Dave Merris inside to help Webster, while keeping Bishop and Nogan up front in a 4-3-2 formation.

His decision was justified with City continuing to push forward and taking the lead seven minutes later with Bishop curling a 20-yard free-kick into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, Bishop wrestled his way past Ryan Clarke and, despite his assistant flagging for a foul by the home defender, referee Pollock enforced advantage.

The ex-Walsall striker picked out Nogan with a low cross and the player-coach sidefooted in from eight yards.

Busby chose that moment to leave Bishop up front as a lone striker with first Nogan and, then, substitute Paul Robinson being employed on the right wing.

Leigh, though, continued to fare worse with an extra man than they had before Dunning's dismissal and only in the last five minutes did Simm see a scrambled effort saved by Porter from close range and Peyton have a 25-yard drive tipped on to the bar.

But Bishop capped a personally satisfying second half display in the final minute by beating Mann to Paul Groves' lofted pass over the defence and rolling the ball into an empty net.

Match facts:

Nationwide Conference

Saturday, January 29, 2005

at Hilton Park

Leigh RMI 0, York City 3 (Bishop 65, 90; Nogan 67)

City ratings:

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

Porter 7

Staley 7

Groves 7

Maloney 7

Davies 7

Donovan 6

Dunning 5

Webster 6 (Yalcin 83)

Merris 6

Bishop 8

Nogan 7 (Paul Robinson 71)

Subs not used: Stockdale, Law, Grant.

Star man: Bishop - had an excellent second half, scoring two and setting up the other goal.

Leigh RMI: Mann, Lane, Clarke, Drew, Roscoe, Reed, Peyton, Turner, Hoolickin, Douglas-Pringle, Simm. Subs not used: Doughty, Smith, Ashmole, Morton, Shillito.

Yellow cards: Dunning 40, Dunning 58, Bishop 76, Roscoe 79, Robinson 80.

Red cards: Dunning 58.

Referee: Bob Pollock (Merseyside). Rating: some questionable decisions but played good advantage for York's second goal.

Attendance: 701.

Weather watch: Bright, mild.

Game breaker: Dunning's red card seemed to serve as a catalyst for City rather than as an advantage to Leigh.

Match rating: Dreadful first half. City redeemed themselves after the break.

Player watch: Dave Merris

Shots on target: 0.

Shots off target: 1.

Blocked shots: 0.

Passes to own player: 4.

Passes to opposition: 10.

Crosses to own player: 0.

Crosses to opposition: 2.

Pass success rate: 25 per cent.

Dribbles ball retained: 0. Dribbles ball lost: 6.

Dribble success rate: 0 per cent.

Headers: 7. Tackles: 10. Offsides: 0.

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 0.

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

Final summary: Dave Merris worked as hard as ever and put in his fair share of tackles but the left-sided midfielder will be disappointed with his distribution, as well as his failure to go past his man all game or find a team-mate with a cross.

Updated: 09:38 Monday, January 31, 2005