IF York City could learn how to start playing at the beginning of a match rather than after the half-time interval, they could easily become a force to be reckoned with in Division Three.

Terry Dolan's men were second best throughout the first half of tonight's North Riding Senior Cup final against Middlesbrough at Bootham Crescent, but in the second half - just like they did against Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday - they made a good fight of it.

However - just like on Saturday - they were unable to get on the scoresheet, though they are getting closer.

Indeed, as the clocked ticked down, Peter Duffield - given a 90-minute run-out as he seeks full match fitness - inexplicably fired over from close range after Boro 'keeper Marlon Beresford had parried Aidan O'Kane's shot.

It was the kind of effort he would normally have put away with his eyes shut and his legs tied behind his back, although, as he pointed out afterwards, it's better to get them out of the way in these games rather than in a more crucial League encounter.

He wasn't alone in missing a golden chance, either, as fellow striker Lee Nogan saw Beresford block his low shot after racing clear just minutes later.

York-born Boro boss Steve McClaren was away on England duty, as were a number of his star names such as former City favourite Jonathan Greening, but his mixture of first-teamers and fringe players were able to fend off City's spirited efforts, scoring the all-important goals in a first half they dominated.

They went ahead on 23 minutes when Brazilian teenager Arthur Bernhardt firmly headed home Luke Wilkshire's cross from the byline, and they doubled their lead ten minutes later when Brian Deane headed down to Mark Hudson who hooked the ball home.

Just before half-time Bernhardt rifled home from the narrowest of angles but the strike was ruled out as the ball was controversially adjudged to have crossed the goalline.

The Minstermen came more into it after the break after switching from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 but still had to wait until the hour-mark to get their first shot in on goal, when the impressive Michael Proctor ended a fine move with an 18-yard effort which was comfortably saved by Beresford.

That signalled an improvement in City's passing and all-round game and, although Boro could have gone further ahead as Wilkshire and Phil Stamp were both superbly denied by Russ Howarth, the Minstermen's second-half display would suggest it is only a matter of time before they find the net.

In addition to the two glaring misses, Lee Bullock twice blasted shots at Beresford, Jason Gavin's last-ditch tackle denied Duffield, and the busy Richard Cooper's cross-shot went between Bullock, Proctor and the far post.

Indeed, City got so close that when John Fielding's 68th-minute header from Graham Potter's corner hit the side-netting, many of the 948 crowd rose to their feet thinking it was a goal and Status Quo began to rock all over the tannoy.

Unfortunately, both the cheers and the Quo were premature.

City Match Facts North Riding Senior Cup final

Tuesday, August 14, 2000

York City 0, Middlesborough 2

York City

Howarth 7, Fielding 6, Basham 7, Hobson 6 (O'Kane, HT 7), Edmond- son 7, Potter 6, Cooper 6 (Nogan, 77), Brass 6 (Richardson, 85), Bullock 7, Proctor 7, Duffield 6.

Subs not used: Collin-son, Hocking, Smith, Wood.

Booked/sent off: none.

Middlesborough

Beresford, Stockdale, Parnaby, Vickers, Gavin, Wilkshire (Downing, 74), Summerbell, Okon, Bernhardt (Stamp, HT), Hudson (Ormerod, 74), Deane.

Subs, not used: Close, Bennion.

Booked/sent off: none.

Scorers: Bernhardt 23mins, Hudson 33mins

Evening Press Man of the Match: Michael Proctor

Showed his undoubted potential. Ran with the ball well and his touch was good and passing were excellent..

Match Stats

York City

Half-time 0

Corners 0

Shots on target 7

Fouls committed 7

Middlesborough

Half-time 2

Corners 7

Shots on target 6

Fouls committed 7

Attendance: 948

Referee: Richard Hewitt (Scarborough)

City's next match: v Torquay United, at Plainmoor, on Saturday, August 18, 2001. Kick-off 3pm

Updated: 12:51 Wednesday, August 15, 2001