THIRD Division football beckons once more for York City but on Saturday's evidence there can be little cause for lingering dejection.

At crunch times, in recent games especially, City have found themselves just that bit short, particularly in terms of cunning and inventiveness.

With their honest endeavour, grit and determination, they've been fierce competitors throughout this arduous campaign. Indeed, perhaps it is not too unfair to say that character alone has taken them above and beyond their ability.

But, as Saturday's display proved when City's shortcomings were all too apparent, a little bit more than Herculean effort is needed, even in the hurly-burly of Division Three.

Major summer surgery is not required to this young City side, just a careful bit of tinkering here and there.

Another year older, another year wiser; missing out on promotion this time around may well prove to be a blessing. There is a growing sense in some quarters that Division Two football, had it been achieved, would have come a season too soon for this still maturing squad.

But for all the positive spin to be had, there will remain a lingering disappointment at the manner in which City's play-off hopes all but disappeared against Exeter.

Saving pretty much the worst till last, instead of going down with a bang they went out with a whimper, a summer memory for Bootham Crescent regulars this team does not deserve.

Credit must be given to Exeter, who arrived under the darkest clouds imaginable but defended resolutely, worked tirelessly, passed the ball better and took their chances.

From their first attack on only five minutes, the visitors took the lead with a goal of rare simplicity.

From Justin Walker's free kick from the right, veteran striker Steve Flack out-jumped the home defence at the far post to head the ball firmly beyond Michael Ingham.

Flack's height and aerial prowess continued to unsettle the Minstermen for the remainder of the half, with partner Sean Devine latching on to a couple of knock-downs before blazing over from good positions in the City area.

However, with a positive outlook of their own, City were giving plenty of cause for optimism and Kevin Miller, in the Grecians' goal, was certainly the busier of the two 'keepers.

After solid saves denied a Lee Bullock header and a low shot from Lee Nogan, Miller produced a tremendous diving save to turn Graham Potter's curling free-kick from 25 yards around the post.

Not long after, he was at full stretch again to push away a thumping drive from Scott Jones that was arrowed for the top corner.

With just a minute to go before half-time, City finally beat the Exeter shot-stopper but to no avail.

From Ingham's long punt, Parkin burst beyond the visiting defence and carefully lobbed the ball over a stranded Miller only for it to bounce back off the top of the crossbar.

The thwack of the woodwork was to signal the beginning of the end for City's hopes.

Given the positive, if luckless, manner in which the first half had closed, such hopes were still high at the start of the second.

Sadly, strangely, a now sluggish and lifeless City never came close to matching their initial endeavours after the break.

Their cause was not helped when Exeter grabbed a second goal within ten minutes of the restart.

Another Flack header proved decisive as he nodded down Phil Baker's long ball into the path of striker partner Devine yet again.

Devine lashed his effort against the bar but James Coppinger was on hand to bundle the ball home.

It should have sparked an attacking frenzy from the home team but, disappointingly, the Minstermen failed to realise a genuine sight of goal thereafter.

Like their promotion aspirations, City, after a promising first half showing, simply wilted away.

York City: Ingham 6, Edmondson 6, Brass 6, Jones 6, Hobson 6 (Smith 52m), Potter 5, Cooper 5 (Graydon 60m, 6), Bullock 7, Brackstone 6, Nogan 7 (Shandran 72m), Parkin 6.

Subs not used: Collinson, Cowan.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Hobson 48m, Smith 70m, Ingham 90m.

Exeter: Miller, Hiley, Todd, Gaia, Baker, Coppinger (Kilheeney 86m), Ampadu, Walker, Pettefer, Devine (Cronin 62m), Flack.

Subs not used: Fraser, Power, Roscoe.

Goals: Flack 5m, Coppinger 56m.

Bookings: Gaia 16m, Ampadu 53m, Cronin 77m, Kilheeney 90m.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke)

Attendance: 4,840

Man of the match: Lee Bullock

Always looked to drive City forward

Updated: 09:33 Monday, April 28, 2003