Leyton Orient 2, York City 2

However, the one point gleaned felt every bit as good as a victory after the Minstermen, rocked to the soles of their feet by an Orient one-two, got up off the canvas to defiantly claim a draw.

Two goals down at the break and a ruthless streak in front of goal glaringly absent yet again, the game looked up for City.

Having not scored two goals in a game away from Bootham Crescent since the opening day of the season and having scored just four goals on the road in total, City had not only a mountain to climb but a whole range.

However, City's team spirit and determination has rarely been questioned this term and it positively bloomed under London's skies.

Given the record books and City's first half profligacy in front of goal, it would have been easy had City shrugged their shoulders and accepted their fate.

But rather than wallow in self-pity knowing their first half performance had deserved better, a dogged and determined City brushed aside the disappointment, brushed aside the increasingly difficult conditions and ultimately swept away Orient's resistance.

It had all started so badly for City, as Orient begun the game with not so much a bang as a bomb.

Tom Newey centred from the left and while Chris Smith cleared the immediate danger the ball ran loose on the edge of the area where Justin Miller blasted an unstoppable rocket into the roof of the net. There were barely 90 seconds on the clock.

Orient continued to stretch the City defence, peppering the penalty area with dangerous crosses delivered with pace from both flanks.

Just past the half-hour mark, they doubled their advantage when Newey again centred from the left.

Dean Hammond's towering far-post header seemed destined for the bottom corner only for Ovendale to stick out a hand and push the ball on to a post.

Cruelly for City, and particularly Ovendale, the rebound fell to Lee Thorpe for the simplest of tap-ins.

But it was not all one-way traffic and indeed City, playing some bright and enterprising football, had enough chances to have enjoyed a lead of their own at the break.

Some 15 minutes in and Lee Nogan expertly spun his marker on the halfway line to race on to Gary Browne's through ball.

He hared into the Orient box and from an acute angle tried to flick the ball over the advancing Lee Harrison but the O's' goalkeeper stood up well to divert the danger.

Five minutes later, Lee Bullock pick-pocketed possession on the edge of the Orient area and drove into the box.

Having drawn Harrison from his line, Bullock unselfishly squared the ball for Browne ten yards out but with the goal gaping his shot was deflected by a retreating defender up and over the bar.

The missed opportunities continued even after Orient had gone 2-0 up. From Bullock's header, Browne squeezed through a static home defence but agonisingly poked his shot just wide of an upright.

With such gift-wrapped opportunities going begging, it seemed destined to be 'one of those days' for the Minstermen.

Chances were being created, which offered some semblance of hope at the break, but with City misfiring in front of goal straws were being clutched. Not long into the second period those straws were replaced by a lifeline.

Dave Merris skipped down the left and rolled the ball to Bullock ten yards inside the Orient half. The City midfielder showed great vision to sweep the ball out wide to the overlapping Darren Edmondson, who, in turn, displayed great poise to lob the ball over the advancing Harrison from 20 yards.

City had the bit between their teeth and having found this goalscoring business to their liking decided to bag another five minutes later

Nogan put every bit of his experience to good use to retrieve a ball out wide on the left. He then kept on to it while support arrived, before turning and delivering a well-flighted centre to the back post.

Orient headed the danger clear but the ball landed at the feet of Stephen Brackstone and although the young midfielder's shot was miscued it still carried enough pace to beat Harrison.

City were particularly grateful to Ovendale for another fine save at full-stretch to deny Thorpe's diving header as both sides had chances to snatch a win.

But City, with their tails up and chests out, finished the stronger as they went chasing an improbable third goal. It didn't arrive, but City still finished by far the happier.

Singing in the rain, City's considerable travelling support even gave a rendition of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariots' as the clock ticked down.

A solitary point can hardly compare to the winning of the rugby union World Cup. But for City and their fans, it felt every bit as satisfying.

Match Facts:

Nationwide League

Saturday, November 22, 2003

at Bootham Crescent

Leyton Orient 2, York City 2

City ratings:

Ovendale 7

Edmondson 7

Smith 7

Brass 7

Hope 7

Merris 7

Brackstone 6

Bullock 6

Dunning 7

Browne 6 (Shaw 59m 6)

Nogan 8

Subs not used: Porter, Cooper, Wood, George

Star Man: Lee Nogan. Showed all his experience to lead line and decisive role in City's equaliser

Key: 10 Faultless, 9 Outstanding, 8 Excellent, 7 Eye-catching, 6 Good, 5 Average, 4 Below-par, 3 Dud, 2 Hopeless, 1 Retire

Leyton Orient: Harrison, Joseph, Peters, Zakuani, Lockwood, Newey (Akinfenwa 81m), Miller, Hammond (Forbes 86m), Purser (Toner 70m), Thorpe, Alexander

Subs, not used: Morris, Barnard.

Yellow cards: Zakuani 10m, Hope 33m, Edmondson 50m, Joseph 81m, Shaw 81m.

Red cards: None.

Referee: Lee Probert (South Gloucs). Rating: Accomplished.

Attendance: 3,593.

Weather watch: Persistent rain and darkened skies.

Game breaker: Edmondson's goal gave City a lifeline to grasp.

Match rating: Splendid stuff.

Updated: 09:05 Monday, November 24, 2003