LUCKLESS York City were left counting the cost of Kevin Betsy's late FA Cup winner for Barnsley as the Minstermen were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

With the scores locked at 1-1 and with less than ten minutes remaining, City looked well set to claim a lucrative replay at Oakwell on November 18.

It is estimated that a second set-to with Barnsley would have pocketed a cash-conscious City at least £30,000 in shared gate receipts.

However, Betsy's telling strike dashed hopes of that unexpected cash windfall.

Rubbing salt into Minstermen wounds, Barnsley also claimed £12,500 in prize money and a money-spinning second round date at Bristol City.

For a disappointed player-boss Chris Brass, the financial cost of an FA Cup exit was outweighed at having let a chance of an upset and glory slip through City fingers

Said the City player-chief: "We are more than happy with the performance but there is disappointment in the dressing room.

"We had a realistic chance and created one or two good chances but, unfortunately, they haven't gone in.

"We were certainly not disgraced and are just unhappy not to have taken anything from it."

In a sometimes stormy cup tie, City took a first-half lead through player-coach Lee Nogan.

However, a costly slip by Brass just minutes later allowed Isaiah Rankin to draw Barnsley level before the break.

The game ebbed and flowed after the break but just as a replay looked necessary the Tykes pinched the win through Betsy.

Brass, who held his hand up at his first-half mistake, maintained the difference between the two sides was in front of goal.

"It was really the only chance they had in the second-half but that is the quality that you have in a higher division," he reasoned.

"When they get chances they take it.

"Looking at the game as a whole, you couldn't really tell who was from a higher division but the difference was they got the goal."

With Jon Parkin suspended for another three games, Brass pledged to continue his search for fresh firepower this week.

However, he was heartened by the fact City at least created chances against a Barnsley side riding high in Division Two.

"We are making chances and that is important. I would be more concerned if we weren't," he insisted.

"The ball is being fired into the box but we are playing against a good team who were in the Premiership not that long ago.

"You have to do something a bit special to beat them and if we had that bit more quality in the final third and we would have had some joy.

"But that is something we can at least address."

Updated: 10:58 Monday, November 10, 2003