SHOT-SHY Scarborough failed to do their North Yorkshire neighbours York City a favour as their own recent problems in front of goal were cruelly exposed in this 1-0 defeat to hosts Northwich Victoria.

Boro, for whom a win would have reinforced their play-off credentials as well as hampering one of City's relegation rivals, dominated the game for long periods, with the last ten minutes being played exclusively in the home penalty area as a succession of corners rained in.

David Pounder and Tony Hackworth both hit the woodwork and with Scott Kerr and Neal Redfearn being denied by Ben Connett in the home goal, there was little wonder that coach Nicky Henry could only shake his head.

He sighed: "It is unreal how we haven't got anything from that game, but to be honest we weren't sharp enough in the area and we hadn't got enough devil about us.

"I know exactly what our problem is, but it is no use bringing in a striker no better than what we have."

Keith Gilroy set up several chances in the first half, but he and Kerr were guilty of bad misses, as was Kevin Nicholson.

The only goal had a certain inevitably about it.

Last season Mark Quayle was Boro's leading scorer but he has returned to his native Liverpool and is now playing on a part-time basis.

On Monday he celebrated the birth of his first child and just after the interval he was celebrating again when, with his only sight of goal, he sent a glorious 20-yard volley into the top corner of the net.

Whether he would have taken one of the chances at the other end is another thing, but his effort rubbed salt into a wound, which unless action is taken could well prove fatal for Boro's play-off hopes.

Nationwide Conference

Northwich Victoria 1, Scarborough 0

(at Drill Field)

Northwich: Connett, McCarthy, Handyside, Charnock, Garner, Devlin, Mayman, Brisco, Garvey, Quayle, Allan.

Scarborough: Walker, Baker, Cryan, Foot (Senior 62) Hotte, Gilroy, Kerr, Redfearn, Thompson, Nicholson (Pounder 79), Hackworth.

Referee: C Sarginson (Staffs).

Attendance: 638.

Updated: 10:44 Monday, January 24, 2005