YORK City fans were given a sample of what to expect at Bootham Crescent for the forthcoming season last night - if only in the pre-match build up and not actual result.

Chairman John Batchelor had promised an overhaul of match days at the club to create a unique atmosphere and the visit of Middlesbrough saw the 1,322 spectators treated to the first tentative run through.

With pre-match interviews with players and coaching staff, plus more interaction with the fans, Bootham Crescent could well be the place to be. But before the fans are lured in, the bait needs to be a City side that is winning regularly.

Last night may have failed to produce that - a strong Middlesbrough line-up winning 2-0 after strikes from Joseph Desire-Job and Dean Windass - but the match served its purpose for City chief Terry Dolan and his players.

Mike Basham and Lee Bullock both gained valuable game time after their respective ankle operations, the team was given more time to gel and Dolan was able to run the rule over four potential new signings.

Goalkeeper Jon Kennedy, given special permission by Sunderland to play, looked solid between the sticks, James Okoli showed his versatility by playing both right wing back and centre back, Chris Kamara displayed some nice touches and Brazilian striker Rogerio Carvalho put in a bustling performance.

Despite lacking match fitness and only being able to speak a little English, Carvalho made his mark on the game and Middlesbrough, if not on the scoresheet.

The 22-year-old is certainly not your stereotypical Brazilian flair player - his first touch is not the greatest - but he possesses all the qualities of a good old fashioned English centre-forward.

Strong in the air and in the tackle, he is deceptively quick for a big man and is not afraid to go for goal.

Twice in the first minute he had shots blocked by the covering defence.

Boro 'keeper Mark Crossley denied him once from distance, but he then had to rely on the covering Mark Hudson to deflect Carvalho's effort wide after the powerhouse forward shook off Jason Gavin.

Lee Nogan and Graham Potter also went close for City, but it was Boro and Cameroon international Job who always looked the more dangerous.

Job had two efforts well-saved by Kennedy before he finally found his mark, steering home Szilard Nemeth's past the stranded Sunderland man.

City had the better of the chances after the break with Carvalho firing wide and Basham heading straight at Crossley, before Middlesbrough's second choice netminder kept out Potter's brilliant curling free-kick and then Tom Cowan's follow-up effort.

As both sets off supporters drifted away, York were made to pay for their failure to convert their chances when swift thinking from Windass saw the former Hull City man curl in a quick free-kick as Kennedy was still organising his wall.

Updated: 12:24 Thursday, August 01, 2002