YORK City stretched their unbeaten run to nine games and on current form few would bet against them going the rest of the season without tasting defeat.

In a game not helped by some fussy, frustrating and inconsistent refereeing, this wasn't one of City's better displays of their recent revival but once again they never looked like losing and probably had the clearer sights of goal.

And while all 17 points in the Minstermen's unbeaten run have been carefully accrued and gratefully received, this was a particularly pleasing point. Given results elsewhere, it was a priceless one.

The end has always justified the means since City hit rock bottom just a few weeks ago and it was that sort of game that required just such an uncompromising, gritty performance for City.

It wasn't a particularly dirty game, but there were still almost 30 free-kicks awarded, not including off-sides.

Occasionally, it threatened to spark into life but just as one side threatened to get the upper hand the whistle would go and and burgeoning tempo was crushed.

Leyton Orient had the better of the opening proceedings as City, never truly on top of their game, seemed content to contain.

Indeed, in the first 20 minutes or so City seemed determined to prove their defensive resolve at a cost to their attacking wiles.

By doing so, they defended too deep and handed Orient the impetus and but for some alert goalkeeping from Alan Fettis to bravely claim at the feet of Chris Tate, Billy Beall and Carl Griffiths it could have proved a dangerous ploy.

A rare error from Matt Hocking allowed Griffiths a free run at goal but with time to pick his spot the Orient skipper hit a firm drive straight at Fettis.

Former City junior Tate in particular was proving a thorn in the Minstermen's side, winning headers and dropping deep to link up Orient's attacks.

It would be fair to say that, just as at Cheltenham a few days earlier, City's goal then came like a bolt out of the blue.

Nick Richardson had flashed a firm header just inches wide on 16 minutes but that had been City's only sight of goal until Lee Nogan's spectacular lob.

Picking the ball up some 35 yards out, Nogan looked to be running up a blind alley but as the ball sat up nicely the former Darlington hitman lifted it up and over Scott Barrett and in off the post.

Unlike at Cheltenham, however, City's joy was short-lived.

The busy Beall picked up the ball on the edge of the City area and faced by a white wall simply put his head down and tried to charge his way through before seeking solace in the floor.

There was contact of sorts - there had to be given Beall's tactics - but it didn't look a penalty.

It was more a case of Beall making contact with any one of a number of City players than the other way around.

Still, after some deliberation referee Lee Cable pointed to the spot and Griffiths slammed the ball beyond Fettis.

The game, never really flowing, degenerated from that point although City's wing-backs, Richard Cooper and Graham Potter, both blazed promising chances over just before half-time.

The second half in particular was disappointing, probably more for Orient than City, who occasionally creaked and occasionally flickered but seemed happy for a point.

Indeed, apart from the replacement of referee Cable, who had suffered a thigh strain, with assistant Phil Sharp, the second half produced scant incidents of note.

Lee Bullock had Barrett at full stretch to turn away his accurate side-footer while Nick Richardson crumpled under a robust challenge - some would say a determined shove - from Brendan McElholm that failed to interest Sharp.

At the opposite end, Fettis earned his corn with a smart save to deny Beall's sharp shot but with the City defence looking increasingly reassured Orient's goal threat was by now minimal.

So too the excitement so that when the end finally came the final whistle was as welcome for fans as the point was for City.

Other Division Three results and table on Page 19.

A brace by Kieron Darlow saw City's youngsters win 2-1 at Halifax Town in the Football League Youth Alliance Northern Section division one.

City: Alan Fettis 7, Richard Cooper 7, Barry Jones 7 (Gary Hobson 73mins), Matt Hocking 6, Mark Bower 6, Graham Potter 7, Lee Bullock 7, Chris Brass 8, Nick Richardson 7, Lee Nogan 8, Colin Alcide 5 (Alex Mathie 90mins).

Subs, not used: Russ Howarth, David McNiven, Neville Stamp.

Goals: Nogan 24mins.

Booked: Hocking 61mins (foul), Nogan 63mins (dissent), Hobson 80mins (foul), Alcide 88mins (foul). Sent off: None.

City man of the match: Lee Nogan. Spectacular goal and led the line superbly with his tireless running.

Leyton Orient: Scott Barrett, Matthew Joseph, Simon Downer, Dave McGhee, Matt Lockwood (Brendan McElholm 22mins), Sasha Opinel (Ahmet Brkovic 82mins), Andy Harris, Wim Walschaerts, Billy Beall, Chris Tate (Steve Watts 62mins), Carl Griffiths.

Subs, not used: Ashley Bayes, Aaron McClean.

Goals: Griffiths 30mins (pen).

Booked: Tate 27mins (foul), Watts 80mins (foul). Sent off: None.

Attendance: 4,085. Referee: Lee Cable (Woking) replaced by Phil Sharp (St Albans) 50mins.

Half-time: Leyton Orient 1 City 1.

Shots on target: Leyton Orient 3 City 4.

Corners: Leyton Orient 3 City 5.

Fouls committed: Leyton Orient 9 City 19.