Cash-strapped York City may have to struggle through the rest of the season without a new recognised striker after Chris Brass admitted that the finances are simply not available to bring someone in.

With City facing a £60,000 bill for the cost of preparing plans for the ill-fated proposed move to Huntington Stadium, Brass may have to curb his spending.

The desperate situation was re-affirmed following City's 2-0 defeat at Boston United when the Minstermen's lack of firepower was once again exposed with barely four shots on target in the entire game - and none in the second half.

The game was the first since big forward Jon Parkin signed for Macclesfield on Friday afternoon and former City front man Peter Duffield only served to emphasise the situation with two classic strikes -- one being ruled out for offside.

Player-manager Brass said: "That's what he (Duffield) is, a bit of a goal-hanger, and we will continue to look for one but that's the way we have to work and with the finances as they are at the minute, we may have to wait for the summer in order to get a proven goalscorer in. But we'll have to improvise until then."

However, a glaring lack of service was also highlighted with many of the crosses simply not good enough for any striker - makeshift or otherwise - to convert into goals.

A calf injury ruled out skipper darren Edmondson and Dave Merris was rested. Steve Downes came in for Edmondson and Shaun Davies, who starred against Lincoln in defence

Brass "Unfortunately we were let down a little bit on the flanks where we had a lack of depth," added Brass. "Dave (Merris), when he's on his game and when Darren (Edmondson)'s on top of his game, provide the impetus and get it wide.

"We were crying out - especially in the first half - to get it wide out to Sean Davies and whether he was screaming and shouting for it or not, it didn't get there.

"When we have been creating chances we have been crying out for the fact we haven't got a striker but we were let down today by a lack of quality and that's something that we have to take on board and eventually put right.

"We knew it was not going to be a game with nice pretty football being played because of the wind and the pitch and we had to match them and I think in the first half we competed. We turned round and hoped to get something from the game.

"But I think the team lacked a little bit of confidence and we will continue to do what we have to do in order to get a striker - those are the areas we need to build on.

"We were just lacking that little bit of composure in the final third and that's just with confidence and what-not but we have to stand up and be counted and come out of it and I'm sure we will come out the other side. We've got a good dressing room in there, they're good lads, and they'll be fine.

"It's frustrating and disappointing but it's a big, big learning curve and today it's games like this when you learn a hell of a lot more."

Some hope for Brass will be the fact that Edmondson is expected to recover from his calf injury in time for Saturday's clash with Scunthorpe, while Merris should also return after being benched for a rest.

City's youth team were without a game at the weekend.

Updated: 11:30 Monday, February 23, 2004