YORK City chief Terry Dolan dished out the plaudits as the Minstermen came close to becoming the first side to beat Hull at their new Kingston Communications Stadium.

In the end, City had to settle for a point in an entertaining 0-0 stalemate but had far the better chances to win the game in front of a crowd of more than 18,000 - the biggest Football League attendance of the day.

Peter Duffield and Micheal Reddy, in his last game for City before returning to Sunderland, squandered good opportunities in either half.

Duffield did find the back of the net just before the break from a corner, but referee Grant Hegley ruled the strike out for a foul on Hull 'keeper Paul Musselwhite.

"I have to give tremendous praise again for the players," said Dolan.

"I think we closed them down, stopped them from playing and had the better chances.

"I am still puzzled as to why the goal was disallowed in the first place but the referee makes those decisions. I was probably just a little bit disappointed we didn't take all three points but I can't be too disappointed."

Despite losing Reddy back to Sunderland, Dolan maintains he still has plenty of options for change within the current squad.

"We won't be bringing anyone else in because administration means we cannot add to the squad," explained the City boss.

"But we brought Lev Yalcin on and if we have to bring more young players in then we will do. And if we have everyone fit then we have one or two alternatives."

Dolan revealed Duffield was substituted in the second half on Saturday nursing a calf strain while Gary Hobson was ruled out prior to kick-off with a hamstring problem.

Fringe first-teamers get a double chance to stake their claims for City starting tonight.

The City ranks featuring Christian Fox, Chris Smith, Yalcin and Alex Mathie open their North Riding Senior Cup campaign with a first round tie at Whitby Town today, kick-off 7.45pm.

Then there is another trip across north Yorkshire on Wednesday for a reserves' clash against Scarborough (2pm).

Said City coach Adie Shaw: "With the Christmas break there's only been one reserve game in five weeks so these two games are important for the likes of Mathie, Fox and Smith, especially when we need more players pressing for the first team."

Meanwhile, City's youngsters turned in a 'well below-par' performance to lose their North-East Conference Under-19 clash at home to Hartlepool. Said coach Brian Neaves: "It's as poor as we have played for a long time."

City: Collinson, Okoli, Smith, Wise, Baynes, O'Kane, Wilding, Fox, Wood, Yalcin, Mathie. Subs: Law, Stockdale, McKenzie, Stewart, Arthur.

Updated: 12:40 Monday, January 27, 2003