WHILE the ups and considerable downs continue off the pitch, on it York City's stock continues to rise and rise.

On an eminently memorable night at the Memorial Ground, packed full of incident if not goal-mouth action, the battling Minstermen chalked up their third win in a row.

City's upward progression was not maintained easily in the West Country.

The Minstermen were put under substantial pressure by the home side, particularly in a first half when Rovers rolled forward.

Much of City's problems in that first period were self-induced as things just didn't quite click.

Michael Ingham's kicking, in particular, did little to calm the nerves and set the tone for an error-strewn opening from the men in red.

Giuliano Grazioli and Paul Tait both came close to capitalising on mistakes.

The tone was set within the first few minutes when Ingham came and missed Ijah Anderson's long throw but fortunately Grazioli screwed his close-range shot wide.

A shanked clearance from the City shot-stopper then saw Tait close in on goal, only for Chris Brass to recover sharply and force the Rovers' striker wide and to safety.

Ingham's uncertainty rippled through the team as fouls were conceded, headers were missed, tackles were lost and heated words were exchanged.

Rovers' actual sights of goal were few and far between but on such rocky foundations it was not suprising City struggled to build any forward momentum of their own.

However, and somewhat ironically given his previously errant kicking, a sweetly-struck clearance from the City goalkeeper offered a gilt-edged chance to relieve the pressure.

From Ingham's punt forward, Kevin Austin tried to clear the danger but managed only to upend Anthony Shandran and referee Phil Joslin had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Jon Parkin stepped up but although the young striker sent Scott Howie the wrong way his shot struck a post and bounced clear.

The disappointment was tempered by the fact City were at last starting to make some progress. And, thanks in no small way to another Ingham hoof, City soon managed to claim the lead just minutes before the interval.

Another clearance from the young 'keeper was headed out of the Rovers' penalty area but only as far as the advancing Darren Edmondson.

The City defender didn't break his stride as he headed the ball down then unleashed a stinging right-foot half-volley from 30 yards that flew beyond Howie and into the top corner.

It was doubtful the Rovers' number one saw the ball as it whistled past him, such was the venom of the strike.

The 8,000-plus crowd were stunned to silence by the sheer velocity of the Roy of the Rovers strike from the City wing-back.

City may have stuttered before exploding into a position of ascendancy but they started the second period with a much more postive and aggressive outlook.

Edmondson had a decent chance to add a second but blazed over at the back post from Shandran's cross but it was in defence where the difference was most noticeable.

Rovers continued to enjoy plenty of possession but with City concentrated and the earlier errors erased, the Pirates' actual sights of goal were ever more scarce.

As the clock ticked down, City had one of the best chances of the game to extend their advantage.

After brushing aside the challenge of Austin, Shandran managed to squeeze the ball through to Potter on the edge of the area, who showed quick feet to bring the ball on to his left and force a fine save from Howie diving to his right.

Two minutes into injury time, however, there threatened to be one last sting in the tail in the key encounter.

Chris Llewellyn's corner was flicked on to Grazioli at the far post who nodded the ball home from just a few yards.

Fortunately for the Minstermen, but much to the bemusement of the home side, referee Joslin blew for offside and City's three-point haul was safe.

After two defeats in succession at the start of the month, City were left clinging to the whiff of promotion.

Now, with only eight games to go, they can just about taste it as they stand shoulder to shoulder with the remaining candidates.

The Minstermen could not have picked a better time to have hit form and, going on last night's evidence, fortune too.

The momentum is currently with them. Long may it continue.

Bristol Rovers: Rovers: Howie, Parker, Austin, Barret (Street 84m), Anderson, Carlisle, Hyde, Quinn (Astajevs 70m), Llewellyn, Grazioli, Tait. Subs, not used: Bryant, Hogg, Gilroy

Goals: None.

Bookings: None. Sent-off: None.

York City: City: Ingham 7, Edmondson 8, Smith 8, Brass 8 (Hobson 82m), Jones 8, Cowan 7, Cooper 8, Wood 7, Potter 7, Shandran 7, Parkin 7 (Nogan 88m). Subs, not used: Stockdale, Brackstone, Wilding.

Goals: Edmondson 42m.

Bookings: Cooper 29m (dissent) Parkin 57m, Wood 79m (both fouls).

Sent-off: None.

REF: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire)

ATTENDANCE: 8,248.

Man of the match: Chris Brass. Held the City backline together. Constantly cajoling his charges.

Updated: 10:05 Wednesday, March 19, 2003