IT is as difficult to be critical of this York City side at the moment as it is to imagine what Terry Dolan's team talks consist of.

"Look lads, I know you've not been paid for two months and there may not even be a club next week so you could be out of work.

"This may well prove then to be a complete waste of time, but go out there and give it your best shot."

If it wasn't such a grim reality it would be laughable.

In the circumstances, that the Minstermen played like a side with something else on their minds at Torquay United is as understandable as it is forgiveable.

For a time, the uncertainty at the club united the players, who seemed to draw Samson-like strength and inspiration from the depths of adversity to forge an unbreakable bond.

It is clear there is still pride running through this City team and no one is chucking in the towel just yet.

At 3-1 down and under considerable pressure it would have been easy for City to concede yet more goals and sink without trace.

But with so much off-field confusion, the uncertainty and worry growing by the hour as the deadline to extinction draws closer, it is hardly surprising if the concentration has slipped, attention wanders elsewhere and the shoulders have sagged just that little bit.

It should be remembered too that City had not seen the training pitch for ten days leading up to this tricky away day.

In the opening 30 minutes it showed.

All at sea and like strangers fumbling around in the dark for the light switch, the City defence was so brittle it was a surprise the creaks couldn't be heard back in North Yorkshire.

Headers were missed, clearances hurried and when it was time to stand off they dived in, when it was time to tackle they stood off.

Torquay could have found themselves 2-0 up within the first two minutes, but for all that City had the temerity to take the lead.

Michael Reddy was on to Peter Duffield's through ball in a flash and as he looked to pull the trigger he was brought down by Sean Hankin for a certain penalty.

Duffield made no mistake from the spot, sweeping the ball past Kevin Dearden.

Had City been able to hang on to that lead, even for just ten minutes, then this game may have ended very differently.

Confidence instilled by the goal, the defensive nerves so clearly apparent would maybe have settled.

Never mind ten minutes, City's advantage lasted less than one and probably no more than 30 seconds.

From the kick-off, Kevin Wills slipped the ball between City's static and very flat defence leaving Martin Gritton in the clear to tuck the ball into the corner.

Things threatened to get worse with Tony Bedeau forcing a superb reflex save from Alan Fettis with a diving header. It wasn't long before they did.

A rare City attack was thwarted by Dearden, whose long clearance was flicked on by Bedeau.

The City defence was nowhere to be seen and Gritton, in the clear again, had all the time in the world to stroke the ball past Fettis.

From bad to worse to woeful as minutes later Torquay made it 3-1.

Fettis produced a fine finger-tip save to push David Woozley's header on to the crossbar, but while the City defence stood and watched the bouncing ball Bedeau declined to stand on ceremony and nudged it over the line.

With 60 minutes still left on the clock, City looked on the verge of complete collapse and but for the woodwork denying Alex Russell's curling effort from 18 yards and another superb save from Fettis to deny Gritton a hat-trick capitulation may well have been realised.

And therein lies some scant comfort and consolation.

If City's opening period was characterised by defending of the sixes and sevens variety, even-stevens was the story of the second.

With an armful of ready-made excuses, at least the Minstermen showed plenty of gumption to stem the tide.

They remained grateful to Fettis for keeping the score respectable, the City number one producing two fine saves to deny Russell's free-kick and Jo Kuffour's low drive.

But while Dearden may not have had a serious save to make --Duffield going closest with a shot from the edge of the area that drifted wide -- at least City continued to press and ask questions of their hosts.

Pride may have been restored but it was still not the way City would have wished to bring the curtain down on their away travels. Fingers crossed it won't be.

Torquay Utd: Dearden, Canonville, Hazell, Woozley, Woods, Hankin, Fowler (Hockley 84m), Russell, Wills, Bedeau (Kuffour 69m), Gritton (Benefield 90m). Subs (not used): Corderoy, Stevens. Goals: Gritton 5min, 20min, Bedeau 24min. Bookings:Hankin 4min, Bedeau 27min, Woods 45min. Sent-off: None.

York City: Fettis 8, Edmondson 6 (Cooper 80m), Parkin 5 (Wise 36m, 7) Hobson 5, Cowan 6 (Jones 58m, 6), Potter 6, Bullock 6, Fox 6, Duffield 7, Nogan 6, Reddy 6. Subs (not used): Collinson, Wood. Goal: Duffield 4m (pen). Bookings: Fox 10m, Hobson 25m (fouls), Jones 60m, Reddy 64m (both dissent). Sent-off: None.

REFEREE: Ian Williamson (Berkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 2,663

Man of the match: Alan Fettis. A string of fine saves in either half kept the Minstermen in touch.

Updated: 10:24 Monday, January 13, 2003