EVERY game between now and the end of the season must be treated as a cup final, according to York City midfield terrier Richard Cooper.

The former Nottingham Forest starlet admits the Minstermen head to north Wales for tomorrow's Division Three clash with Wrexham in buoyant mood after racking up three wins on the bounce.

The victories have not only pushed City back into the play-off frame but to within touching distance of an automatic promotion spot.

But Cooper, who has been one of City's most influential performers of late, admits the Minstermen must follow the age-old mantra of taking it one step at a time.

"We haven't really set ourselves any targets, if you do that and come up short then you end up being disappointed," he told the Evening Press.

"Every game now is going to be important but we really do have to take it just one game at a time and see if other results on the day can go our way.

"If they do and we keep sticking in there then who knows what might happen?"

For all the caution, Cooper maintained City have nothing to fear as the promotion race reaches a critical phase.

"The last three games have given us a lot of confidence," he insisted.

"We know it is going to be tough at Wrexham but we also have nothing to be scared off. If we keep doing what we have been doing then we should be okay."

Not only have performances given cause for hope, but Cooper reckons the off-field troubles surrounding the club have worked to forge an unshakeable bond between the players.

He said: "After all the problems the lads have had we have just become united.

"It wasn't the best performance on Tuesday (against Bristol Rovers) but it was all about guts and determination.

"Once we'd got the goal we were determined not to lose the game and made sure they did not score.

"Everyone battled really hard and that showed."

Cooper admits he is at last starting to enjoy life patrolling the middle of the park having initially struggled to make an impact having switched from right-back.

"Only now do I feel I am doing myself justice," he said.

"I wasn't really used to playing there when I first started playing in central midfield, but I've started a to build up a useful understanding with Lee Bullock. I tend to sit in there which lets Bully get forward.

"Unfortunately, Bully was injured on Tuesday but Leigh Wood came in and did very well.

"Hopefully, it will continue and the way Woody came in on Tuesday and did a good job just shows everyone is pulling together.

"There are players who can come in and do a job and you know if you are not playing well then there is someone else able to take your place."

Tomorrow's squads:

York City

(from) Ingham, Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Jones, Cooper, Potter, Shandran, Parkin, Stockdale, Hobson, Nogan, Wood, Brackstone, Wilding.

Wrexham

from Dibble, C Edwards, Morgan, Carey, Lawrence, P Edwards, Whitley, Ferguson, Green, Morrell, Trundle, Rogers, Barrett, Holmes, L Jones, Roberts, Thomas.

Referee: George Cain (Bootle).

Kick off: 3pm.

Match points:

City have not lost on their last six League trips to north Wales (two wins/four draws).

In total, 46 visits to the Racecourse have resulted in seven victories, 15 draws and 24 defeats.

Notable successes have been 6-2 in 1954-55 (Arthur Bottom hat-trick on his debut), 5-4 in 1955-56 after trailing 4-1 and 4-0 in 1990-91 when Ian Blackstone netted three goals. Another hat-trick man was Gary Bull in a 3-2 win in 1995-96 - the last time a City player achieved this feat.

The heaviest defeats at Wrexham have been 4-0 in 1960-61 and 1969-70.

The last visit was on February 20, 1999 when a Second Division encounter ended 1-1 with Alan Pouton netting an equaliser after Neil Thompson had put through his own goal. The side lined up: Mimms, Himsworth, Jones, Barras, Thompson, Hall, Agnew, Tinkler, Pouton, Cresswell, Carruthers.

Players to have appeared for both clubs include Clive Colbridge, Andy Provan and Barry Jones.

Updated: 10:29 Friday, March 21, 2003