IT is an old saying in football that luck evens itself out over the course of a season.

For York City fiction became fact in the space of just 180 minutes of football.

Against Darlington in midweek, a feeble City played poorly but still took all three points.

On Saturday, a sprightly City were vastly improved, creating chance after chance after chance but still left Cambridge scoreless and pointless.

Certainly, not only did the scoreline flatter the hosts but the fact they claimed all three points too.

City were worthy of a share of the spoils at the very least, and on another day would have taken all three at a canter.

Just to compound the Minstermen's misery, after a bright start from both sides City fell behind to a dubious 13th minute goal when Dave Kitson, who looked a good yard offside, raced clear to fire past Alan Fettis.

For the next 60 minutes, United created the odd half-chance but City were as dominant as they have been at any time this season.

The game was the epitom of one-way traffic, only for City to lose their way and two goals in the final ten minutes giving the scoreline an unfair sheen in favour of the hosts.

Giant striker Jon Parkin encapsulated City's transformation in form and fortune perfectly.

Match-winner and darling of the home fans on Tuesday, the luckless striker could easily have got five goals at the Abbey Stadium but for a mixture of misfortune and poor finishing.

His profligacy started on 17 minutes when he superbly volleyed Darren Edmondson's cross but was denied by a fantastic reflex save from Shaun Marshall in the Cambridge goal.

Ten minutes later and Parkin was put in the clear by Lee Bullock. Rejecting the chance to take an early shot, Parkin rounded the 'keeper but dwelt just too long, enabling United defender Terry Fleming to recover and clear the ball off the line.

The misses continued for Parkin - heading over Peter Duffield's flick from a good position, missing a difficult bouncing ball after Edmondson centred and then showing good feet in the box only for his goalbound shot to hit an unsuspecting Cambridge defender.

And the misses continued for his team-mates too. Lee Nogan flashed a header just the wrong side of the post before Stephen Brackstone, breaking superbly from midfield, latched on to a cross from the left but with just the 'keeper to beat put his shot the wrong side of a post.

Such was City's dominance that even though they remained 1-0 down at the break a win never mind just the draw was still at the forefront of Minstermen minds.

However, the second half followed pretty much the same pattern as the first and unfortunately for Parkin so too his form in front of goal.

Latching on to a bouncing ball in the United area, Parkin shaped to lift the ball over Marshall but scuffed his attempted lob then, after chasing down the loose ball, screwed his cross behind the goal.

City continued to pepper the Cambridge box with crosses, and turned the home defence goalwards time and again.

To Parkin's credit, the young striker refused to buckle as the misses stacked up and the taunts from the home crowd grew louder.

Just prior to the hour mark he showed tremendous strength to drive into the Cambridge box before firing in a snap shot that Marshall did well to push away.

But it was to prove his last contribution as moments later Parkin was substituted.

Given his lack of luck in front of goal, coupled with the taunts of the home supporters, it was an understandable decision.

But he had been City's biggest goal threat and had caused the home defence all sorts of problems. Thereafter, City seemed to lose their way while United slowly edged forwards.

On 82 minutes and with the game on a more even keel, Cambridge grabbed a decisive second when Shane Tudor's deep free-kick was powerfully headed home by substitute Adam Tann.

Two minutes later and City, still licking their wounds, conceded again when from Tudor's corner the Minstermen were slow to clear the danger and Dave Bridges bundled the ball home from six yards.

Cambrige must not have been able to believe their good fortune.

In the City camp, heads are probably still scratching now as to how they didn't win the game, never mind lost it.

The fact it was by three goals served merely to add insult to injury.

Fact file:

Cambridge United: Marshall, Fleming, Goodhind, Angus, Murray, Youngs, Wanless (Tann 60m), Bridges, Tudor (Nacca 85m) Kitson, Riza (Chillingworth 67m) Subs, not used: Brennan, Rush.

Goals: Kitson 13m, Tann 82m, Bridges 84.

Bookings: Bridges 40m (foul), Tudor 80m (dissent). Sent-off: None.

City: Fettis 6, Edmondson 7, Smith 7, Brass 7, Hobson 7, Cowan 6 (Potter 87m), Brackstone 6, Bullock 6, Duffield 6, Nogan 6, Parkin 7 (Wilding 61m, 6) Subs, not used: Howarth, Wood, Wise.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Wilding 90m (dissent). Sent-off: None.

REF: Mike Thorpe (Ipswich)

Attendance: 4,204

Man of the match: Chris Brass. Committed and solid as ever. Always reassuring to see him in defence.

Updated: 12:29 Monday, September 23, 2002