THE Supporters' Trust in charge, 4,312 fans, three points and City into the automatic promotion spots - what else could you want for a day of celebration?

Okay, the game will probably not be remembered for skill, quality and action, but the whole occasion will certainly live long in the memories of the Minstermen faithful who headed down to a sun-drenched Bootham Crescent.

And with the 2-0 win over what was a disappointing Southend side -- one hack asked whether a surgeon was needed to be called in to see whether there was a heart in any of the Shrimpers' players - moving City closer to promotion, the fans can look forward to the final six games of the season with relish.

The players themselves will now enjoy a fortnight away from the pitch, knowing that their destiny is in their own hands, especially as three of the last six games are at home.

But with four wins and draw from their previous five, the Minstermen are in a magnificent position to claim one of the three automatic spots come 4.45pm on Saturday, May 3 - the date of City's final game of the season against Oxford.

They may not have produced the most classiest of performances against Southend, but Terry Dolan has put together a side that will battle for every inch of the grass to grind out the results.

From Chris Brass at the back, to the midfield 'dogs of war' of Lee Bullock and Richard Cooper, up to 'Mr 100 per cent' Jon Parkin in attack, City's hard-working spirit flows through all the players - from one to 11.

This match was effectively wrapped up after 45 minutes with goals from the two Lees - Nogan and Bullock - just deserts for City's efforts.

As a result, the second half was almost dead as a contest, with the York defence comfortably soaking up the Southend pressure - so much so that the visitors' only effort on goal came after 91 minutes.

The fact it took Southend so long to get a shot on target would have baffled their new boss, Stewart Robson, as the pace of his twin strike threat of Barrington Belgrave and Mark Rawle, along with Tes Bramble, looked to unsettle the City defence in the opening ten minutes.

However, they lacked any killer pass to open up the back three and on 18 minutes they were made to pay.

Gary Hobson played the ball forward to Keith Graydon, who produced a sublime flick with the outside of the boot to release Nogan and the Welshman took a touch before firing past Darryl Flahavan.

Graydon, making his debut on loan from Sunderland, was proving a real handful for the Southend defence and the perfect foil for Jon Parkin and Nogan.

With Parkin providing the brawn and Nogan the brains, Graydon added some brilliant touches and flicks to hint that he could well provide that extra spark to fire City towards promotion.

The best attacks were all City with Graydon and Nogan both seeing goal-bound efforts deflected within the space of a minute, while the Dublin-born loanee had a wicked curling free-kick headed clear.

However, Southend were just delaying the inevitable with City's second goal coming on the stroke of the half-time whistle.

Good work from Cooper and Graham Potter out-wide released Darren Edmondson, with the right wing-back picking out Parkin with a low pass. The former Barnsley man scuffed his shot into the ground, but as it bobbled up Bullock applied the finishing header over a despairing Flahavan.

The second-half was a disappointment in comparison to the first, with Southend upping their game but again lacking the finished product.

Gary McSweeney side-footed wide when he really should have tested the largely redundant Micheal Ingham, while Damon Searle's free-kick was driven straight at the wall.

At the other end, Graydon was gifted the ball by a stray Searle pass, but his first time effort fizzed just wide.

With time ticking away, Brett Darby saw his low cross snaffled by Ingham, before the on-loan Sunderland 'keeper was forced to make his save of the day, with Rawle shooting straight at him from distance.

There was certainly nothing for Southend to celebrate, but for City they can shake off the shackles of the past few months and start to enjoy the run-in.

York City: Ingham 6, Edmondson 7, Cooper 8 (Wood 89m), Parkin 7 (Shandran 81m), Hobson 7, Brass 8, Bullock 9 (Brackstone 70m), Nogan 7, Potter 6, Smith 8, Graydon 8. Subs (not used): Stockdale, Wilding.

Booked: Graydon 79m.

Goals: Nogan 18m, Bullock 45m

Southend: Flahavan, Searle, Cort, McSweeney, Thurgood (Clark 52m), Maher, Bramble, Belgrave (Darby 69m), Rawle, Sutch (Strachan 52m), Jenkins.

Subs (not used): Gay, Henry.

Booked: Bramble 40m, Maher 77m.

Goals: None

REF: Eddie Illderton (Tyne and Wear)

ATTENDANCE: 4,312

Man of the match: Lee Bullock. Marked his return from injury with an all-action display, topped with a goal

Updated: 09:09 Monday, March 31, 2003