MANAGER Terry Dolan was left "baffled, bemused and bewildered" two-times over as York City lost 1-0 at Division Three leaders Plymouth Argyle.

The City chief was left dumbfounded at the fact City, coming so soon after they lost 2-1 at second-placed Luton, were once again left with nothing to show for a promising performance against high-flying hosts.

But he was left equally dumbstruck by the performance of referee Phil Prosser after a series of bizarre decisions from the man in the middle.

"Annoyed, angry, baffled, bemused, bewildered - that is how I feel," said Dolan.

"We didn't deserve to lose the game and we have now played the top two teams in the division in successive games and got nothing.

"Indeed, we have now played Luton twice and Plymouth twice this season and we have shown we are every bit as good as them.

"They are both going into the Second Division so we have to take credit and positives from that.

"However, I'm baffled about what went on out there on the pitch. I have always said I will never be critical of officials until I have the perfect team.

"But I just don't think it felt like there was a football match being played out there."

Tewkesbury official Prosser provided plenty of controversy as he dished out four yellow cards to City players in a whirlwind ten minute second-half spell.

Those yellow cards came in a match that could never be classed as dirty and included a case of mistaken identity.

City skipper Chris Brass received a booking for kicking the ball away when the offence was committed by striker Alex Mathie.

Prosser did aid City's cause by sending off Argyle's David Worrell for a second bookable offence eight minutes into the second-half.

But the referee - who has now sent off 11 players this season - also played a decisive role in denying City a chance of an equaliser when he inadvertently blocked Graham Potter's goal-bound shot.

To add insult to injury, Plymouth's winning goal - courtesy of a Potter own-goal on the stroke of half-time - came from an Argyle free-kick that was harshly awarded against Jon Parkin.

"There were seven bookings including a sending-off and yet there wasn't a dirty tackle in the game," said Dolan.

"I was forced to take Gary Hobson off in the second-half to prevent him from being sent-off when he hadn't even made a foul. You cannot account for that.

"It was as if the man in the middle was there only so everyone could see him."

Having seen Plymouth reduced to ten men Dolan admitted City hadn't rammed home their advantage.

"Once they had a man sent off it was clear they were going to get men behind the ball," he said.

"We just didn't have that final bit of quality although to be fair to Plymouth they got some great blocks in."

Hobson's exit gave youngster Stuart Wise the opportunity to get his second senior run out, following his debut at Luton a week last Saturday.

Despite the defeat, City remain in 21st position as all the clubs below them all lost.

Another nail was driven into Halifax's coffin as they were beaten 2-1 by a last minute goal by Rochdale at The Shay, while Torquay were defeated 1-0 at Scunthorpe and Leyton Orient crashed 3-0 at Luton.

City reserves are in action tonight against Lincoln City at Bootham Crescent (kick-off 7pm).

New teenage midfielder Stephen Brackstone, signed from Middlesbrough, is expected to get a run out while central defender John Fielding, another of City's promising younger players, is also expected to take another step on his road to recovery after a long spell out through injury.

Updated: 11:41 Wednesday, March 06, 2002