SHORT of Roman Abramovich riding into town or unearthing a future Wayne Rooney to sell on, a good cup run has always been the best method of bringing revenue into a football club.

Just ask Exeter City. Months after almost going out of business, York City's Conference rivals are looking forward to an FA Cup third round replay with Manchester United this week after already receiving their share of the proceeds from a 67,000 crowd at Old Trafford.

Of course to reach that stage a club normally have to win one or two cup-ties first which is something the Minstermen have now failed to do for more than three years.

Saturday's FA Trophy exit at Burton Albion was City's seventh straight cup defeat since a 2-1 FA Cup victory over Swansea in January 2002.

For a club that has been desperate for extra funds during that barren 36-month period, it is a regrettable record and for fans, who would welcome a distraction from the Minstermen's lamentable league fortunes, it is also further cause for misery.

The Trophy might not offer the same six-figure rewards as Exeter will receive from their brushes with Paul Scholes, Christiano Ronaldo and co but, with almost £80,000 and a day out at Villa Park at stake for the winners of non-League football's premier cup competition, the Minstermen's board of directors were certainly serious about progressing beyond Saturday's third round clash.

Lifting the Trophy would have, at least, made a healthy dent in the £105,000 required as a first loan repayment about this time next year.

Managing director Jason McGill called on the club's players to display the same determination as its off-field staff and supporters after the £2.1million deal to transfer ownership of Bootham Crescent back to the football club was rubber-stamped at the BCH annual general meeting last week.

But, just four days later, the team produced an uninspiring performance at Eton Park, which left frustrated caretaker boss Viv Busby wondering whether he should step aside after another comprehensive away defeat against modest opponents.

Both teams struggled to provide any kind of entertainment in a poor first half with hopeful clearances to out-of-sorts strikers Andy Bishop and Paul Robinson being City's attacking strategy for long periods.

Lee Grant could have given the visitors the lead but he missed the target with a free header from Darren Dunning's free-kick.

It was left to Burton to break the deadlock on 39 minutes but the source of their goal should have been familiar to the Minstermen.

Centre-back Barry Miller headed in a late equaliser for Leigh RMI at Bootham Crescent earlier this season and the former Doncaster and Gillingham defender rose unchallenged in similar fashion to meet Kris Taylor's inswinging free-kick from the left and beat Chris Porter.

City were forced into a half-time reshuffle when Byron Webster's ankle injury saw veteran Paul Groves move back into midfield and an all-teenage back four of Michael Staley, Jon Maloney, Sean Davies and Grant struggled to keep the home team at bay.

Nigel Clough's men extended their lead on 71 minutes when Dudley was allowed to cross from the right and, after Davies watched the ball flash by him, former on-loan Minstermen striker Jon Shaw directed a powerful downward header into Porter's bottom right-hand corner from ten yards.

It was Shaw's second goal in as many games for Burton this season against City, who he failed to find the net for in eight matches last season.

Taylor then smacked in a third, firing a 30-yard free-kick into Porter's top left-hand corner after Maloney had been penalised.

Burton could have inflicted a heavier defeat on their visitors but were denied a clear penalty when Lee Nogan shoved Dudley over in the box, Porter saved from substitute Andy Ducros and fellow replacement Glenn Kirkwood headed against the bar.

At the other end, City's quest for a consolation saw Kevin Donovan's low drive, after nimble footwork, turned behind at his near post by Crane and Nogan send a low drive wide from 20 yards.

Miller then appeared to be fortunate not to be punished for a heavy penalty box lunge on Paul D Robinson in injury time but, by that stage, the City substitute seemed the only person bothered enough to make an appeal.

Match facts:

FA Trophy Third Round

Saturday, January 15, 2005

at Eton Park

Burton 3 (Miller 39, Shaw 53, Taylor 55)

York City 0

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 6

Staley 5

Groves 6

Maloney 7

Grant 5

Donovan 5

Dunning 5

Webster 6 (Davies HT, 5)

Merris 6

Bishop 5 (Paul D Robinson 60, 6)

Robinson 7 (Nogan 60, 5)

Subs not used: Law, Stockdale.

Star man: Maloney - maintained consistency of performance when few others around him did.

Burton Albion: Crane, Austin, Hall (Ducros, 73), Miller, Corbett,Dudley, Taylor, Clough, Shilton, Shaw (Kirkwood, 78), Robins (Anderson, 57). Subs not used: Simpkins, D Robinson.

Yellow cards: Davies 82.

Red cards: None.

Referee: Dave Birkett (Gainsborough. Rating: Failed to give two blatant penalties but had no bearing on the result.

Attendance: 1,286.

Weather watch: Overcast.

Game breaker: Shaw's header killed any chances of a City comeback.

Match rating: Appalling first half. Burton improved in the second, City didn't.

Player watch: Lee Grant

Shots on target: 0.

Shots off target: 1.

Blocked shots: 0.

Passes to own player: 8.

Passes to opposition: 6.

Crosses to own player: 1.

Crosses to opposition: 2.

Pass completion rate: 52.9 per cent.

Dribbles ball retained: 1. Dribbles ball lost: 1.

Dribble completion rate: 50 per cent.

Headers: 21. Tackles: 1. Offsides: 0.

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 16.

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

Final summary: Lee Grant, playing out of position at left-back, was good aerially, winning 21 headers but he will be disappointed with his distribution. One tackle was also a surprising return for a defender.

Updated: 11:09 Monday, January 17, 2005