YORK City chief Terry Dolan was left cursing late defensive lapses yet again after the Minstermen fell victim to a Kidderminster Harriers' sucker punch.

City seemed set for at least a point until the 81st minute when Harriers' striker Colin Larkin sprung City's offside trap and coolly slotted the ball past Alan Fettis.

The defeat comes just four days after City lost 2-1 at Exeter City courtesy of an 88th minute penalty from the Grecians Paul Buckle.

"For the last 20 minutes I was screaming at the defenders to concentrate and not give anything away and if it has got to be 0-0 it has got to be 0-0," explained the City boss.

"We would have taken that but then we got caught. A couple of occasions before they scored we had got away with it when people were trying to play off-side when they have not been told to play offside."

Despite the defeat, City remain nine points clear of the relegation trapdoor after bottom club Halifax Town suffered a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Luton.

And while disappointed not to have taken at least a point from Saturday's encounter, Dolan refused to be too downcast.

"Although they caught us with a goal at the end, over the 90 minutes they were no better than us and that has got to give us some hope. For the first half-an-hour we played some excellent football on a far from ideal pitch.

"I was very pleased with the performances of Leigh Wood and Stephen Brackstone. It is good experience for them. We had the better chances in the second-half but we didn't take them.

"If you are missing the likes of Michael Proctor and Peter Duffield then a lot of your cutting edge is also missing. That was fairly evident."

Dolan revealed he is hopeful top-scorer Proctor, who has missed City's last two games with a hamstring problem, should be fit for tomorrow's home clash with Lincoln City.

Sunderland have made a reported £1m bid for Luton left-back Matt Taylor. Luton manager Joe Kinnear wants 12-goal Proctor, on loan with City from the Black Cats, as part of the deal.

Updated: 11:48 Monday, March 25, 2002