YORK City player-boss Chris Brass was keen to stress the positives despite his side being beaten 4-0 at Conference leaders Barnet.
Brass believed that his side, which included six teenagers during the course of the afternoon, "more than matched" the table-topping north London team for 20 second half minutes and claimed that the scoreline was an unfair reflection of the game.
The result equalled City's heaviest defeat of the season and, without the late brilliance of teenage goalkeeper David Stockdale, could have suffered further humiliation.
Gravesend and Northfleet have also hit four past the Minstermen this season with Hereford (0-3) and Aldershot (0-2) the other play-off candidates to underline their promotion credentials and make a mockery of the Minstermen's top-five ambitions.
At the final whistle, certain applauding City players were greeted with two-finger gestures from an angry minority of travelling fans although Stockdale's acknowledgement of the supporters was rewarded with an ovation.
More players will have to attain his high standards if the Minstermen's increasingly restless fans are to be appeased.
City trailed 2-0 at half-time, improved slightly after the break, but then conceded a further two goals in the later stages with Stockdale also making two excellent saves.
Brass said: "I was frustrated at half-time. They are top of the league because they are a good side but it was almost as if we were waiting until they got a foothold on the game.
"I said a few choice words at half-time and felt I got a hell of a response for 20 minutes. If we had got a goal I think it would have changed the outcome of the game but we conceded naively from a set play when their lad got a free header.
"Then, with injuries, we got a bit ragged at the end but, for that 20-minute spell, we held our own against what I believe are the champions elect. 4-0 looks a horrible scoreline but it should not have been that in my opinion.
"The players have seen what it takes to be top of the league and, for 20 minutes, they more than matched them so they have got to do that on a consistent basis. This was a test for us to see where we are at. We are not quite there but there were enough positives. Had we been played off the park then there would be problems."
Teenagers Stockdale, Matthew Coad, Sean Davies and Bryan Stewart all started Saturday's match with fellow youngsters Lev Yalcin and Robbie Haw also coming off the bench.
City's youngsters could be called upon again at Carlisle United in the FA Cup on Saturday with Paul Robinson and Gary Pearson now joining Steve Davis, Kevin Donovan, Lee Nogan and Graeme Law in the Bootham Crescent treatment room.
Robinson picked up a hamstring strain after 18 minutes at Underhill while Pearson injured his shoulder and, with David McGurk having returned to Darlington and Chris Clarke leaving for Halifax, City's squad is beginning to look depleted.
Updated: 10:27 Monday, October 25, 2004
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