DEFEATS are always difficult to swallow but this one must leave a sizeable lump akin to an everlasting gobstopper lodged in the throat of York City.

In a remarkable match - the epitomy of a ding-dong, see-saw battle if ever there was one - City deserved much better; a point at the least if not all three.

Away from home and against a side gunning for promotion, they took the lead twice, scored four times in total, dominated much of the first half and continued to play some purposeful, possession football in the second that belied the swamp-like conditions.

That they also refused to buckle when they went 5-3 down and came within a whisker of snatching a point with a Herculean effort that proffered hope of one last final twist in City's favour merely added to the disappointment.

Perversley, and all the more galling, it was a hefty dose of misfortune for Rochdale that swung the game in their favour.

Forced to use all their substitutes in the first half as injuries bit, Patrick McCourt's introduction just minutes before half-time suddenly gave a distinctly average Dale a cutting edge.

Up to then, City were 2-1 up and seemingly in control.

Three minutes later and flying winger McCourt played a decisive hand in Dale's second equaliser on the stroke of half-time then put the City defence on the rack for the opening 20 minutes or so of the second as the pendulem swung decisively back across the Pennines.

And just as it never rains but pours, so it could be said the conditions also conspired against the Minstermen.

As the rain continued to fall by the bucket-load, the pitch - already verging on a mud-bath in areas - took a turn for the worse in the second half, particularly in City's penalty area.

City's defence, so composed and resolute for much of the first, suddenly struggled to find their feet never mind locate the ball as the conditions, both directly and indirectly, played a decisive hand in Dale's three second-half strikes.

And yet on the most miserable of nights it was City who savoured the most delightful of starts on 13 minutes,

Graham Potter's perfectly delivered free-kick from out wide - whipped in with pace and precision - found the head of Chris Brass, who firmly planted the ball past Steve Banks.

City's joy had barely subsided however when within three minutes Dale restored parity from the penalty spot.

It was a clumsy and unneccessary challenge from Darren Edmondson on Matt Doughty, who was going away from goal.

But it seemed little more than a barge and the Dale midfielder certainly didn't need much persuading to go down.

Kevin Townson promptly sent Alan Fettis the wrong way with his spot-kick but there wasn't long to wait for the third goal of the evening.

Within five minutes of Dale's equaliser City regained the lead with a classy goal worthy of the entrance fee alone.

Mike Basham knocked a well-flighted ball down the line for the ever-willing Michael Proctor to chase.

Outstripping Dale defender Richard Jobson, the City striker cut in from the by-line and picked out Peter Duffield.

The diminutive dynamo had only the smallest of gaps to aim at but found it with a precise side-foot at the near post.

City continued to pass and probe and were by far the more enterprising side - until McCourt's arrival on the scene.

His first contribution in stoppage time saw him slice open the City defence with superb slide pass to pick out Townson, who slotted the ball past Fettis with a smart finish.

With barely enough time to restart the game, it looked a decisive blow and so it proved.

As McCourt's pace and directness continued to unsettle the City defence the second half was only minutes old when Dale took the lead for the first time.

David Flitcroft won possesion in midfield and fed Lee McEvilly. The burly striker shrugged off an unsteady Edmondson, cut inside and fired home from the edge of the area with an angled drive.

Within a blink of an eye, City got back on level terms as Potter's corner was met by another thumping header, this time from Lee Bullock.

Breath had still to be drawn when Dale regained the initiative.

Flitcroft's free-kick dropped awkwardly at the feet of Fettis and as the ball spun up off the sticky surface it was only half-cleared to Jobson, who lashed home from six yards.

McCourt crashed a shot against the cross-bar before Dale added their fifth with no shortage of help from the pitch.

Wary of the conditions, Matt Hocking's back pass was over-hit and from McCourt's corner Jobson thumped a header in at the far post.

Townson clipped the post with a curling effort but it was City who continued to pass and probe the better.

On 82 minutes, Proctor smashed the ball home from the edge of the area with a superb shot into the top corner.

It threatened a grand-stand finish and City were not found wanting.

Richardson and Edmondson both went close with efforts from distance but a deserving equaliser remained elusive.

Rochdale:

Scorers: Townson 16 (pen), 45, McEvilly 51, Jobson 53, 76

Banks, Evans, Jobson, Griffiths, McAuley (McCourt 42m), Flitcroft, Ware (McEvilly 45m), Oliver (McLoughlin 29m), Doughty, Townson, Jones

Subs, not used: Gilks, Colman

Bookings: none

Sent-off: none

York City:

Scorers: Brass 13, Duffield 21, Bullock 52, Proctor 82

Fettis 6, Edmondson 6, Hocking 7, Basham 6 (Mathie 59m, 6), Stamp 6 (Maley 46m, 6), Richardson 7, Brass 7, Bullock 7, Potter 7, Duffield 7, Proctor 7. Subs, not used: Howarth, Wood, Emmerson.

Bookings: Edmondson 16 (dissent), Brass 45 (foul), Bullock 57 (foul), Duffield 61 (dissent)

Sent-off: none

Attendance: 2,383

Referee: Graham Frankland (Middlesbrough)

Updated: 09:52 Wednesday, February 06, 2002