YORK City midfielder Aidan O'Kane admits he doesn't want the season to end after taking a career gamble that's come up trumps.

As the campaign draws to a close, the young Irishman is revelling in a rare run of first-team starts.

The 22-year-old is poised to make it four on the trot and only his tenth League start in total against Bristol Rovers tonight.

Just like City, O'Kane's first season in English football is ending on a high after long periods of frustration.

He made a blistering start in City colours at the beginning of the campaign, making his debut in the 3-0 win at Torquay then helping the Minstermen to two more wins in their next three League games.

It was the sort of run that sparked hopes of a momentous season for both the team and O'Kane, who was brought to the club to give City's midfield some much needed balance on the left.

However, as City's season stuttered and stalled so too O'Kane, who was left languishing in the club's second string during winter's darkest days.

O'Kane admits they were difficult times but believes the future for both him and the club is suddenly looking brighter.

"It started well but then I was out of the side and I've been biding my time all year," he told the Evening Press.

"It's been frustrating playing reserve team football but hopefully now I can get a bit of a run until the end of the season and then hope it continues into next season.

"This is what I've needed. Coming in for the odd game is hard and playing reserve team football is difficult. It's hard to lift yourself.

"But hopefully, this run will help and I can maintain it at the start of next season."

O'Kane reckons his and City's end of season flourish has fully justified his gamble to quit his job in Northern Ireland and make a play for a professional career in England.

After getting through a successful summer trial spell with the Minstermen, the former part-time player with Cliftonville quit his job as a civil servant to take up manager Terry Dolan's offer of a full-time professional contract.

"I left a full-time job so it was a bit of a risk, but I've no regrets about that now and hopefully this will continue on to bigger and better things," he said.

"I was training just twice a week before but the fact it's full time training is bringing my game on a lot and I'm training with better players too."

As he prepares for tonight's visit of the Pirates, O'Kane reckons City are looking to take their recent improved run of form right up to the final whistle of the season.

"It would be nice to keep the run going and the boys are playing well at the minute," he said.

"Hopefully, we can make it six points from our last two games as well and continue it.

"It was a very good result on Saturday and it was nice to get three points to take us over the points total we got last year."

Updated: 12:00 Tuesday, April 16, 2002