SKIPPER for the day Mitch Ward reckons York City gave Second Division Barnsley a massive FA Cup fright.

Kevin Betsy's late strike bagged a 2-1 victory for the Tykes, currently riding high in Division Two, to earn a second round tie at Bristol City.

Former Barnsley skipper Ward, who was handed the captain's armband by player-boss Chris Brass on the eve of the game, maintained while City were out they had no reason to feel down.

"I thought we acquitted ourselves well and played some good stuff, in the first half especially," he said.

"They changed their system after about 15 minutes which showed how well we were playing.

"They had to adapt to us rather than the other way round."

Ward added: "We equipped ourselves brilliantly and I certainly don't think there was a big gap between the two sides.

"Everyone is upbeat despite being disappointed by the result. If we play like that in the Third Division we won't be far away from the play-offs."

Barnsley boss Gudjon Thordarson spoke of his relief as his side squeezed through into round two and admitted the only difference between the two sides was in front of goal.

"We thought we were going to get a tough game and we certainly got that," he said.

"Both sides had a couple of attempts on goal but the difference was in the quality of the finishing."

Thordarson was critical of match referee Roy Pearson and reckoned the Peterlee-based official was in danger of losing control of the match.

A late tackle by Jacob Burns on Ward midway through the first-half prompted a melee involving just about every player from both sides.

There was plenty of pushing and shoving although it was not clear whether punches were thrown.

Later, City's Dave Merris was booked for an altercation with Barnsley's Neil Austin with hands again raised.

Thordarson said he would be making his thoughts on Pearson known to the "relevant authorities".

However, Ward, who was substituted in the second-half nursing a thigh strain, distanced himself from any ill-feeling and insisted he had congratulated his former team-mates at full-time.

"It was one of those games, it was a cup tie," he said. "There were a few tackles flying around but that is cup football."

City boss Brass admitted the game had threatened to spill over but praised the discipline of his players.

"There were one or two incidents and one or two tackles flying in," he said.

"But it happens in derby matches and we had to make sure we kept 11 men on the field.

"We wanted the same commitment and desire but we didn't want anyone getting sent off for a silly booking. Fortunately, we kept our discipline and that didn't happen."

Updated: 10:54 Monday, November 10, 2003