York City 0, Scarborough 2

Yesterday's cruel derby day defeat against North Yorkshire rivals Scarborough - sealed with two late goals and coming just seven days after a 5-1 drubbing at the McCain Stadium - meant that the Minstermen failed to take a point from their three festive fixtures.

But, at least, an improved performance on Wednesday night's appalling 2-1 home defeat against Burton Albion suggested there might be cause for more New Year cheer than during a thoroughly depressing 2004.

City have collected a paltry 31 points over the past 12 months and should that form be duplicated in the next calendar year then Bootham Crescent will be playing hosts to the likes of Gainsborough Trinity and Vauxhall Motors in 2005.

Yesterday's performance against Scarborough, however, demonstrated that that ominous possibility can still be avoided but only if it is repeated on a regular basis.

The home side retained possession well for long periods of the match and, until on-loan signing Jon Maloney tired and was replaced on 84 minutes, a new-look defence, including three changes from the team that started against Burton, rarely looked like being breached despite being somewhat hastily thrown together.

But the biggest factor caretaker boss Viv Busby will be looking to address in the New Year is his side's continued lack of firepower.

Despite an evenly-balanced contest, Scarborough managed three times more goal attempts than their hosts, who boast the Conference's second-lowest goals for column.

Defensively, City's record is more representative of a mid-table team despite Busby's pairing of Groves and Maloney being the 10th different centre-back combination used by the Minstermen this season.

Groves' performance indicated that he could be more comfortable in the position he selected for himself during his spell as Grimsby Town player-manager than the midfield role he has filled for the Minstermen this season.

Too often a peripheral figure for City in midfield, Groves was a commanding presence in the back four, winning headers and reading play excellently to compensate for what he might lack in pace.

Maloney, alongside him, made a no-nonsense debut and, should he have still been on the pitch, Scarborough might not have grabbed the 89th-minute and stoppage-time goals that earned a flattering victory.

City started brightly with Dave Merris heading wide from an Andy Bishop cross after just 45 seconds.

Darren Dunning then warmed Leigh Walker's hands with a low drive before curling a 20-yard free kick narrowly wide with the visitors' keeper looking beaten.

City stopper Chris Porter made an impressive save to keep out a Tony Hackworth shot on 26 minutes and enjoyed a spot of fortune when Chris Senior's follow-up effort struck a post.

Porter also saved with his legs on the stroke of half-time when Shaun Smith fell over and Senior raced clear.

Senior continued to pose a threat and, early in the second half, forced another good reaction save from Porter.

Bishop's looping deflected cross bounced on the top of the bar at the other end but the City striker then wasted an opportunity to break the deadlock, heading over from four yards after Dunning's corner.

City's second - and final - shot on target arrived on 81 minutes when Kevin Donovan's long-range drive was saved by Walker.

The Minstermen, edging ever closer to their first clean sheet in 11 matches, then started to look more nervous in defence - an anxiety that could have been compounded by Maloney's replacement due to fatigue and the subsequent reshuffle that saw right-back Graeme Law enter the action and Staley switch to the centre.

Having looked well-organised at the back throughout the afternoon, it was a long throw from Colin Cryan that did the damage.

Groves' headed clearance then fell to Senior, who displayed a predatory instinct to fire a low shot from 12 yards into Porter's bottom right-hand corner.

Scarborough then added a second goal three minutes into injury time when Staley could not complete a sliding interception after Senior's lofted ball over the defence and Hackworth stole in to squeeze a low shot under the body of an advancing Porter.

York City 0, Scarborough 2 (Senior 89, Hackworth 90)

Porter 7, Staley 7, Groves 8, Maloney 7 (Law 84m), Smith 6, Donovan 7, Dunning 7, Webster 7, Merris 7, Bishop 7 (Paul D Robinson 72m), Robinson 6 (Nogan 72m)

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: Stockdale, Grant

Star man: Groves - commanding aerial presence at the back and read the game well.

Scarboough: Walker, Baker, Foot, Hotte, Nicholson, Thompson (Kerr, 76), Redfearn, Cryan, Gilroy (Lyth, 90), Hackworth, Senior. Subs not used: Burton,Haystead, Foster.

Yellow cards: Hotte 31, Foot 35, Paul D Robinson 90.

Red cards: None

Referee: Dave Foster (Gateshead). Rating: Generally sensible.

Attendance: 4,439

Weather watch: Colder as the game went on.

Game breaker: Senior's 89th-minute opening goal deflated City after a strong defensive display.

Match rating: Close contest that had a cruel twist at the end for City.

Updated: 10:05 Monday, January 03, 2005