York City 2, Southend United 1

That chant rang around Bootham Crescent at regular intervals against Southend, none more so than when referee Steve Baines blew for full-time with City leading 2-1.

The scoreline could have been a lot higher in the visitors' favour, but Fettis was in undeniably good form.

With Russell Howarth breathing down his neck for the number one spot and a nervous make-shift back four in front, Fettis rose to the challenge to deny Southend time and time again.

In the first 45 minutes alone he had made four world-class saves to keep the Minstermen in touch, when in all reasoning Southend should have had the match sewn up.

The pacy Mark Rawle suffered more than most to the brilliance of Fettis, while Barrington Belgrave, Kevin Maher and Tes Bramble also had efforts beaten away.

It was York who were first out the traps though, with Christian Fox forcing Darryl Flahavan into a sprawling save after just 19 seconds.

Southend quickly regrouped and with Carl Hutchings prompting them forward down the right flank, they began to test the City back four.

With so many defensive players injured or suspended - Graham Potter, Darren Edmondson and Mike Basham absent and the returning Gary Hobson only on the bench - the back line was always going to find life a struggle.

But after only seven minutes the alarm bells were ringing with a poor clearance from Matt Hocking almost letting the visitors in.

Chris Smith, Mark Maley and Fettis were next to put forward their entry to Aunties' Sporting Bloomers as they let the ball bounce through as Bramble chased. Fortunately Fettis reacted quick enough to put the ball wide.

There was no such luck after 14 minutes when Rawle did manage to chalk up one effort, his looping header from Maher's long ball forward giving Southend the lead.

One thing York have not been short off is fighting spirit and they showed this to pull level immediately.

Fettis' clearance found Richard Cooper, and the right-midfielder played a delightful through-ball towards Lee Nogan.

Leon Cort, brother of Newcastle striker Carl, looked to have the danger covered, but as he slipped on the edge of the box, Nogan dispossessed him and took the ball around Flahavan to fire the ball into the empty net.

Southend hit back but Fettis was in no mood to concede a second, making a number of vital stops, including an unbelievable one-handed save from Maher, while Rawle should have added a second but despite having two stabs at it he could not get past Fettis.

The York defence might have been suffering a rough time against the Southend attack, but Nogan and Michael Proctor ensured the Shrimpers backline did not have a rest.

Nogan, who did not stop running until a calf injury forced him off in the second half, toyed and tormented Cort throughout, while Proctor made Phil Whelan use all his experience to stop him.

Lee Bullock and Fox were also on hand to push Southend further back, with Bullock forcing Flahavan into action after Nogan put him through.

The second half saw both sides push for the victory, but encouragingly for City their defence looked to have developed some understanding.

Belgrave did test Fettis' reactions early, but it was City who looked the livelier in attack.

Cooper could have made it 2-1 only to take the ball too close to Flahavan after being released by Proctor, while Nogan almost profited from a slip by the Southend 'keeper only for the covering defence to save the day.

However, City finally got just reward for their efforts when on-loan Sunderland striker Proctor got the decisive second.

Mark Maley and Cooper exchanged passes from a throw-in before Cooper whipped in a delightful cross. Proctor shimmied to lose his marker before rising high to send a looping header into the net.

Southend pushed forward in droves, caretaker boss Rob Newman throwing on his attacking substitutes, but Fettis was in defiant mood.

In the dying minutes Fettis had to beat out a Belgrave cross, and with the 'keeper on the floor Hocking managed to get a head to Jason Harris' shot.

With time up the chant for Fettis went up around the ground again, and while the song will probably never make it in the charts it would be sold out in York.

Fact file:

York City:

Scorers: Nogan 15min, Proctor 64min

York City: Fettis 9, Smith 6, Stamp 6, Maley 7, Hocking 6, Cooper (Hobson 90) 7, Brass 6, Bullock 8, Fox 7, Nogan (Salvati 86) 8, Proctor 7.

Subs (not used): Russell Howarth, Leigh Wood, Aiden O'Kane.

Bookings: None

Sent-off: None

Southend:

Scorer: Rawle 14min

Southend:Flahavan, Hutchings, Searle (Webb 88), Whelan, Johnson, Maher (Harris 83), Bramble, Rawle, McSweeney (Beard 75), Cort, Belgrave. Subs (not used): Daniel Gay, Daniel Kerrigan.

Bookings: None

Sent-off: None

Attendance: 2,270

Ref: Steve Baines (Chesterfield)