DAZED and confused boss Terry Dolan is still reeling after York City suffered their heaviest defeat of the season with a 3-0 reverse at Cambridge United.

Dolan insisted City did not deserve to lose the game, especially by three clear goals.

And the City boss refused to point the finger at giant striker Jon Parkin, who worked tirelessly but suffered a torrid time in front of goal and squandered a stack of chances.

Instead he criticised the referee's assistant for waving play-on when United striker Dave Kitson opened the scoring on 13 minutes, despite the United striker looking comfortably offside.

The Minstermen then dominated the next hour but Dolan accepted his side then paid the price for getting frustrated by conceding two quick goals in the final ten minutes of the match.

Parkin, match winner against Darlington on Tuesday, could have had a hat-trick at the very least, but Dolan is backing the giant striker to bounce back on Saturday against Oxford United.

"Football has a nasty habit of kicking you in the you-know-whats when you are least expecting it," said the City boss.

"We are all wondering how we lost that.

"We lost 3-0 because they got two late goals which made it look a convincing victory.

"It was nowhere near a convincing victory and we are scratching our heads wondering why we haven't scored a goal.

"It all started with one of the assistant officials allowing the first goal when their player was at least two yards offside.

"We had 11 attempts on goal in the first half and eight of them fell to Jon Parkin.

"Unfortunately, not one went in and then he had another couple of chances in the second half.

"Let's just say he had one of those days.

"The harder he was trying the worse it was getting so we decided to give him a breather."

Dolan said it was a steep learning curve for the young striker, who is still only 20 years old.

"Things just haven't gone his way. But I'm sure he will be looking forward to next Saturday, as all the players will be.

"He worked hard but it just didn't happen for him.

"For his best chance, the keeper has made a fantastic save but then he's gone round the keeper as well but not quite hit it hard enough and it's got cleared off the line

"It's all experience and it is the other side of the game for strikers."

Dolan said the game had at least provided his side with an important lesson.

"What the players have to realise is that while the game is still at 1-0 and things aren't going our way from the point of view of taking chances then we still have to keep perservering and not get frustrated.

"We got a little bit frustrated and it was a bit unfortunate they got two late goals from set-pieces."

He revealed: "The assistant set everything rolling in the first-half with a strange decision.

"I had a word with him at half-time and he asked me in for a chat.

"But I said 'what was the point?', it's all done with by then and its a waste of time.

"At least we have got a free-week now. There are no midweek games for a while so we can have a rest for a day or two and then start preparing for Oxford."

Updated: 12:15 Monday, September 23, 2002