ON a day which was all about passion, York City players were not found wanting.

Amid the distressing backdrop of recent off-field events, the true fans of City had risen to the challenge by turning out in force and proving they are still proud to be York.

The gauntlet then had been thrown down to the players and in many ways they passed the acid test.

But in a strange irony, the very thing that everyone wanted to see probably cost them the three points.

No one could doubt the commitment and endeavour shown by the City players as they were roared on from the terraces.

Richard Cooper in particular, detonating mini-hand grenades all over the park, epitomised the City spirit and iron will to respond to the City faithful with a series of near-the-bone challenges.

But in their desire to maintain a frenzied tempo and show that all-important passion the Minstermen forgot about the need for quality.

In their attempts to swarm forward quickly, they rarely strung more than two or three passes together.

At the other end and as the game entered its final third, clearances became increasingly hurried and lashed.

All the time, Torquay, by no means a side verging on the spectacular, were able to rise above the whirlwind of emotions encircling Bootham Crescent to stay more neat and purposeful throughout.

To be truthful, City played with their hearts, not their minds and come the final whistle looked emotionally as much as physically drained.

Given the frantic pace that the game started it is perhaps no wonder but it wasn't until the 20-minute mark that the game really sprung to life.

City goalkeeper Alan Fettis was alert to claim at the feet of jack-in-the-box Chris Brandon and hurl the ball beyond the half-way line.

Torquay defender Troy Douglin missed his header, enabling Michael Proctor to race into the inside right channel before squaring for strike partner Lee Nogan.

His shot was blocked by recovering United defenders, but the ball ran kindly for City into the path of Lee Bullock, who was able to bundle the ball home at the far post.

Galvanised by the goal, City started to get the upper hand.

Receiving a short free-kick from Graham Potter, Proctor showed great awareness to take a touch, look-up and spotting Kevin Dearden off his line, arch a delightful shot over the Gulls 'keeper only for the cross bar to intervene.

City's progress was halted on 37 minutes when a fan strode on to the pitch to shake some of the City players' hands.

He was escorted from the pitch but the delay had the effect of knocking the Minstermen from their stride and it was United who finished the stronger.

Indeed, but for a brave block from Fettis to deny Alex Russell's point-blank effort it could have been honours even at the break.

In the second-half, City started strongly with Proctor leading the charge as time and again he sought to take on the United defence single-handedly.

Nogan too continued to work feverishly as the Reds looked to press home their greater desire.

But for all their efforts, a Cooper blast from the edge of the area that had Dearden at full-stretch was all that City could muster.

United, in contrast, showed greater patience and having let City punch themselves out slowly took a grip on the proceedings.

Fettis produced another fine save to tip Brandon's dipping effort just over the bar before Kevin Hill directed a far post header straight into the City shot-stopper's arms.

By now, every City header, pass and clearance seemed to land at a yellow shirt. It was somewhat ironic then that Torquay's equaliser should stem from a rare missed opportunity from City.

Darren Edmondson surged in from the right and picked out Potter on the edge of the area only for Potter's goal-bound shot to clip the heels of an unsuspecting United defender.

The ball was cleared to Richard Logan, who played in substitute Marcus Richardson behind the City defence.

Richardson, who'd been on the field for only two minutes, out-paced Mike Basham and carefully slotted the ball past Fettis.

Torquay had gate-crashed the party but the point was no more than the party-poopers deserved.

City Match Facts - Nationwide League Div 3

Saturday, January 12, 2002

York City

Scorer: Bullock 22m

Fettis 7, Edmondson 6, Hocking 7, Basham 6 (Smith 85m), Hobson 7, Potter 6, Cooper 7, Richardson 6, Bullock 6, Nogan 6, Proctor 8 Subs, not used: Howarth, Mathie, Stamp, Duffield

Bookings: Cooper 25m, Hocking 75m

Sent-off: None

Torquay United

Scorer: Richardson 78m

Torquay: Dearden, Holmes, Hazell, Woods, Douglin, Hill, Preece (Richardson 78m), Russell, Fowler, Logan, Brandon.

Subs, not used: Northmore, Goodridge, Rees, Richardson, Tully

Bookings: Douglin 56,

Sent-off: None

Man of the Match:

MICHAEL PROCTOR

Worked tirelessly throughout and always looked the most likely to provide that missing spark for City.

Attendance: 3,445

Referee: Phil Joslin (Nottingham)

Updated: 12:06 Monday, January 14, 2002