YORK City suffered the ignominy of crashing out of the North Riding Senior Cup last night following their 3-0 defeat by UniBond League premier division outfit Whitby Town.

Despite fielding a side packed full of first-team experience - with nine players having played League football - City never got to grips with the tie as they lost 3-0.

And there were no excuses coming from the City camp following the disappointing reverse.

Head of youth development Paul Stancliffe said: "It was a very disappointing result, but all credit to Whitby as they were up for it and just wanted it more.

"The players weren't quite up for it. Whether it had something to do with the wind, as it was blowing a gale, but it was the same for both sides out there.

"You've got to question the commitment of one or two of the players."

Former City junior Tommy Reid, whose brother Alan is part of the Under-16s squad while his father Jimmy is a a former manager of Pickering Town, fired the non-Leaguers into a first half lead.

Things got worse as Carl Robertson latched on to Aaron Wilford's through ball to make it 2-0 shortly after the break, while former Scarborough and Pickering star Wilford turned from provider to scorer as he pounced on a John Collinson fumble.

City's best chance came in the first half, when and Aidan O'Kane struck an upright after he was fed by Alex Mathie.

Unfortunately for City, there was more misery with midfield playmaker Christian Fox limping off in the first 45 minutes with an ankle injury.

Fox was replaced as a precaution, but club physiotherapist Jeff Miller was due to assess the extent of the injury today.

City reserves are back in action tomorrow when they face Scarborough, coincidentally, Whitby's next opponents in the North Riding Senior Cup.

Updated: 11:50 Tuesday, January 28, 2003