ONE man stood in the goal-mouth at the end of a titanic encounter and milked the cheers of the crowd.

His team-mates had mobbed him, York City mascot Yorkie bowed down in front of him in sheer reverence and his name rung around Bootham Crescent not for the first time this season.

But while it was 'Super' Alan Fettis who inevitably took the plaudits for his two saves in the penalty shoot-out, it is the Minstermen as a team who were the collective heroes.

Against a side a division above them, York City stood tall to firstly hold Colchester to a 2-2 draw after two hours of football, but then finish off the job 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out.

Everyone of them - from the starting 11 to the three substitutes who came on during the blood and thunder encounter - was a hero in their own way.

It was not pretty, but any win against a side from a division above takes something extra special.

Fettis certainly deserved the applause at the end, with some outstanding saves in normal and extra time, but goals from Chris Brass and Graham Potter - plus an immense work-rate from Chris Smith and Matt Hocking in the centre of defence among others - saw City through

On paper, before and after the game, there should have only been one winner.

Colchester had 21 corners, including four on the bounce in the first half, and 11 shots on goals.

City were perhaps lucky at times as they rode their luck -- but that is the undeniable magic of the FA Cup.

Skipper Brass, an inspiration in attack and defence, gave his side the lead in the eighth minute after Bob Bowry gave away a needless free-kick on the right of his own box.

Potter swung in a teasing cross and Lee Nogan rose at the far post to nod the ball back across to Brass who powered his header home.

The U's, shocked into life, then started their siege on the City box, with four corners in just under three minutes.

But despite the pressure there was no way through for Colchester with Richard Cooper blocking one shot and Fettis producing an outstanding reflex save from Scott McGleish.

The Essex boys continued to push, but with Smith and Hocking forming an impenetrable wall in front of Fettis, City seemed to have overcome the worst.

City, who lost Nogan with a calf injury shortly after half an hour, seemed at ease soaking up the pressure then hitting back on the counter-attack.

Boss Terry Dolan was forced into another change at the break with Neville Stamp joining Nogan in the treatment room - Mark Maley entering the fray.

But it was Colchester half-time substitute Dean Morgan who almost had a dramatic entry into the match. However, as Thomas Pinault's cross fizzed around in the box, neither he nor Gavin Johnson could steer it home.

Colchester were looking increasingly threatening, with Fettis beating out a Micky Stockwell volley and Brass sliding in just ahead of McGleish to knock the rebound out.

Cooper, Nick Richardson and Michael Proctor did have chances for City, but Colchester 'keeper Andy Woodman remained unmoved.

And hopes City were going to go through to face Reading the easy way evaporated after 72 minutes of doggedly defending their lead.

Substitute Alan White swung the ball in and the City defence and Fettis were caught flat-footed as McGleish rose to end his goal drought.

The Minstermen regrouped immediately and thundered back at the visitors. Proctor quickly set the alarm bells ringing before Cooper's ball found Darren Edmondson. The right-back charged at the United defence before unselfishly squaring the ball to Potter, who had time to take aim and then fire the ball past Woodman.

Unfortunately for the home fans, Colchester were not done and with the game moving into stoppage time Karl Duguid managed to poke home the ball after a goal-mouth scramble.

Neither side was set to give an inch in extra time with Brass and Stockwell both seeing efforts go over the bar.

McGleish shot wide from six yards, before Lloyd Opara thought he had settled it. Morgan's crisp shot was parried by Fettis and Opara followed up to slot the ball home, but the young substitute, on for Stockwell, was flagged offside.

City seemed on the rack as Duguid try to snatch something for his side, but it was not be as the game headed into the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

The Minstermen's nerve - and more vitally that of Fettis - prevailed to the delight of their fans.

City will be unable to celebrate for long with a League trip to Darlington on Saturday and the visit of Reading in the second round on December 8, but for now they will enjoy a rare break to look back on their moment of glory.

Updated: 12:46 Wednesday, November 28, 2001