MANAGER Terry Dolan admitted a lack of quality in the final third cost York City dear last night as the Minstermen fell foul of Scunthorpe United's cross-fire.

United, propelled by the twin-engines of Peter Beagrie and Lee Hodges on the flanks, dashed City hopes of a third successive home win with two second-half goals.

To rub salt in the Minstermen's wounds, on-loan Sunderland defender Mark Maley was dismissed near the end after picking up a second yellow card.

Dolan refused to be too downcast in defeat, believing City had more than matched their in-from opponents for much of what was an entertaining encounter.

However, he conceded City failed to turn promise into something more tangible.

"We can't fault anyone for effort and I thought for maybe 70 minutes of the game we were a match for Scunthorpe," he said.

"I felt it was very even in the first-half and we coped with them quite well, to say they're sixth from top of the league.

"Unfortunately, we have come away 2-0 losers and just that lack of quality in vital areas has cost us again.

"We got into areas where we can hurt them but the quality has not been good enough."

With the game evenly poised at half-time, Dolan reckoned the turning point came just minutes into the second-half when Kieran Darlow, making his first senior start following the late withdrawal of Graham Potter due to illness, saw his stiff volley superbly saved by Tom Evans in the Scunthorpe goal.

Barely a minute later, former City striker Martin Carruthers put United in front before The Iron sealed the three points with an Alex Calvo-Garcia goal seven minutes from time.

"Kieran has hit a brilliant shot and the 'keeper has made a great save and I think you could say that would probably have changed the game had it gone in," said the City manager.

With Aidan O'Kane and Neville Stamp also ruled out alongside Potter through injury, Dolan turned to Darlow in a bid to keep "the shape of the team".

"Unfortunately, three left-sided players were ruled out in the space of two days," explained the City boss.

"Kieran did well. It was his first game this season and his first game for a long, long time."

City defender Darren Edmondson said: "We are disappointed but we are also angry with ourselves. We were not creating enough."