AFTER getting their promotion hopes back on track with victory over Cambridge, York City gave their ambitious quest a massive spur with victory over Bournemouth.

The three points were richly deserved for effort and commitment alone.

But, a nerve jangling 20-minute second half spell aside, the Minstermen proved more than a match for a side with serious hopes of claiming an automatic promotion spot.

Touted by manager Terry Dolan as one of the strongest teams in Division Three, City made the visitors look decidedly ordinary for the vast majority of the match.

City dominated the first half in terms of possession when all that was lacking was the quality of the final ball.

Still, crisp and sharp in both their approach play and their determination to close Bournemouth down, City did manage to fashion at least three decent opportunities to take the lead.

For the first, good approach play down the left from Lee Nogan and Tom Cowan resulted in a teasing low cross from the City defender. Ten yards from goal, Jon Parkin looked odds on to take up the invitation but swung and missed.

For the second, City took the more direct route, Chris Smith striding confidently forward before unleashing a low drive that Neil Moss couldn't hold and the Bournemouth 'keeper was grateful to defender Stephen Purches for sweeping the loose ball clear as Parkin moved in for the kill.

Saving the best for last, deep into stoppage time City produced their brightest football of the half to create their third and clearest opportunity.

After disappointing with his delivery up to that point, Graham Potter's ball in from the left was devastating for defenders and delicious for attackers.

Moss was beaten, leaving Parkin a seemingly free header from eight yards but Cherries' defender Lewis Buxton somehow managed to divert the ball wide with his shoulder.

As an attacking force, Bournemouth had been deeply disappointing and their policy of containment was in many ways a back-handed compliment to City.

But soon after the restart their lack of adventure was punished as City, just as they did against Cambridge, came out for the second period with an extra spring in their step and the bit between the teeth.

The tireless Nogan released Darren Edmondson away down the right. His cross met Potter arriving at the far post and as the ball bounced and bumped across the face of the Bournemouth goal Parkin was on hand to poke it across the line.

City's extra verve was maintained as a soaring header from Lee Bullock was superbly saved by Moss, then the impressive Richard Cooper almost doubled the Minstermen's advantage with a delicate chip from the edge of the area that dipped just the wrong side of the crossbar.

There looked no way back for Bournemouth as City continued to sweep forward but a double substitution from the visitors - the towering Steve Fletcher added to the attack and Brian Stock drafted into the midfield - at last heralded some ambition from the Cherries.

Michael Ingham in the City goal did well to turn away a fizzer from Wayne Cummings that emerged through a crowd of players and the on-loan shot-stopper did even better to lift the ball clear of James Hayter when the striker looked certain to score from Fletcher's cross.

In between both Ingham saves, Marcus Browning thumped a header against the City crossbar.

Bournemouth's new-found attacking ideals and City's inability to clear their lines threatened to make the closing stages tense.

But having thrown a red blanket across their penalty box, City managed to slowly suffocate the life out of the visitors before staging a late rally of their own.

From the edge of the area, substitute Stephen Brackstone tested Moss again with a stiff drive while Leigh Wood, another late substitute, was only inches from firing home from close range, the ball refusing to drop after the young midfielder brought Nogan's header under control with his chest.

The slenderness of City's advantage meant the final whistle, when it finally came, was greeted with relief and applause in equal measure.

But anyone needing confirmation as to the importance of victory needed only to see manager Dolan's reaction as referee Neale Barry called-time.

His clenched fist salute spoke volumes - not only were three points in the bag but promotion remains within touching distance.

City: Ingham 8, Edmondson 7, Smith 7, Brass 7, Jones 7, Cowan 7, Cooper 8 (Brackstone 80m), Bullock 8 (Wood 89m), Potter 7, Nogan 8, Parkin (Shandran 84m)

Subs, not used: Stockdale, Hobson

Goals: Parkin 49m

Bookings: Smith 30m (dissent), Cowan 63m (foul) Sent-off: None

Bournemouth: Moss, Cummings (Eribenne 86m), C Fletcher, Buxton, Purches, Elliott (S Fletcher 60m), O'Connor, Browning, Thomas (Stock 59m), Holmes, Hayter

Subs, not used: Tardif, Young

Goals: None Bookings: Elliott 24m (dissent), Stock 90m (foul) Sent-off: None

REF: Neale Barry (Scunthorpe)

ATTENDANCE: 3,642

Man of the match: Lee Nogan

Worked relentlessly and had a crucial hand in the decisive goal.

At the hub of City's best moments

Updated: 09:21 Monday, March 17, 2003