York City chief Terry Dolan hailed the performance of the fans and the players after the Minstermen held First Division Grimsby Town 0-0 in the third round of the FA Cup.

Ahead of what promises to be a make or break week for those supporters with aspirations of playing a part in City's future, a large away-day following at Blundell Park made their mark.

Of the 5,052 crowd, 1,212 City fans accounted for almost a quarter of the total attendance, roaring on the Minstermen from the first minute through to the last.

City chief Terry Dolan said: "The fans were fantastic.

"Apart from the game last Saturday, that was really their first opportunity to let people know about their feelings and they made their feelings clear.

"They want to see a club remaining at York City, as does everybody.

"That is out of our hands to a certain degree, but the fans were fantastic and never stopped."

City defender Darren Edmondson also heaped praise on the supporters.

He said: "They were superb, magnificent.

"Our fans dominated theirs and you couldn't hear their fans really.

"They know the club is struggling, they are prepared to get behind us and that lifts us.

"We have all got to work together to get the club up the division and the fans can really play their part."

Dolan was also delighted with his players.

"We are probably just slightly disappointed we didn't win it at the first attempt.

"We would have settled for it before the game but I felt in the first-half in particular we had the better chances but their 'keeper has made some excellent saves," he said..

"The best chance has just gone an inch wide of the post by Lee Nogan.

"If you look at the statistics, Alan Fettis has not had one save to make."

Edmondson said: "It sums up our season. In four FA Cup games we have produced four great performances.

"When we go back to the League we underachieve.

"We have got to transform these performances into the League and we can start to climb the table.

"If we had taken our chances Grimsby would have had no qualms about us winning."

The only other disappointment for the City boss was an injury picked up by skipper Chris Brass.

"He's got a hamstring injury but we don't know how bad it is.

"He did it just before half-time but he had full stretch during the break and he's gone back on.

"But then he's stretched his leg again and felt it tighten up so as a good pro he's come off rather than make it worse."

With a replay now to squeeze into an already congested fixture list, Dolan added: "We are going to be playing two games a week for the rest of the season.

"With having a smaller squad we are going to have to keep our fingers crossed we can keep everyone fit."

The replay will be staged at Bootham Crescent on Tuesday, January 15, kick-off 7.45pm.

Updated: 12:10 Monday, January 07, 2002