WIN your homes games and pick up what you can on your travels and teams will prosper is an oft-heard mantra in footballing circles.

Having not won now in five games, last night's 0-0 draw may look at first hand to be a disappointing result for York City then, particularly as the Minstermen had more than enough sights of goal to end that trend.

But make no mistake, this was a pleasing point backed by yet another pleasing performance from the Minstermen against arguably the best side they have faced this season.

Slick, strong and organised, Plymouth were quick to get behind the ball when possession was lost and were even quicker to spring forward when it was regained. On this evidence they should be there or thereabouts come the final reckoning.

That City more than matched them should therefore provide further cause for optimism among the red ranks.

Indeed, for long spells in the second-half City outplayed an in-form Pilgrims team so that come the final whistle the plus points far outweighed the negatives.

City's first clean sheet in four attempts was one of the more obvious but there were also a number of fine individual performances.

Up front, both Lee Nogan and Michael Proctor worked tirelessly while City's full-backs Graham Potter and Darren Edmondson, in particular, were full of vim and vigour.

Spare a thought too for Mike Basham. The former Barnet defender has had his critics this season and while he caused a couple of anxious moments again last night the sight of a centre-back picking out players with 40-yard passes was a delight.

The re-emergence of Christian Fox should also be a sight for sore City eyes. The midfielder oozes class, remains calm and collected in possession, rarely wastes a pass and his vision remains a cut above.

Certainly, this was not a dour scoreless stalemate. Both sides could have won it, both sides could have lost it.

Plymouth just shaded the first-half with Martin Phillips down the right proving the biggest thorn in City's side and it took a couple of important interventions from Edmondson to divert his deep crosses from danger.

Phillips also had perhaps the clearest sight of goal on three minutes but just six yards from goal failed to make clean contact with Lee Hodges' knock-down and could only nudge the ball into the arms of Alan Fettis.

City were not without their moments with some quick passing of their own. Proctor poked an effort straight at Romain Larrieu then just failing to direct his header goal-wards after another patient build-up from the Minstermen.

But it was Argyle who possessed the greater thrust, Hodges slamming a stinging drive straight at Fettis before Kevin Wills sliced through the City defence only to fire over from a good position.

But if Plymouth had largely controlled the tempo in the first-half, the second proved a different matter as City zipped from flank to flank.

Both Chris Brass and Potter went close with fizzing efforts from distance and it took a fine reflex save from Larrieu to usher Edmondson's snap-shot from six yards around the post in the game's best chance.

The introduction of striker Ian Stonebridge with less than 15 minutes to go livened things up for the Pilgrims and a couple of smart turns and drives from the ex-Tottenham youngster threatened to break the deadlock.

Fettis also had to be alert at the death to keep out a similar effort from the ever-dangerous Michael Evans.

But neither side could complain at the result and nor could the crowd complain at the standard of football on show.

Those odd dissenting voices that bemoaned City's desire to retain possession with a backward pass rather than an aimless punt forward were probably the very same who whined at just that tactic last season.

City have improved immeasurably from then and are continuing to improve. Their good intentions should be acclaimed not discouraged.

York City 0 Plymouth Argyle 0

York City: Fettis 8, Edmondson 9, Basham 7, Hocking 7, Potter 7, Cooper 7, Brass 7, Bullock 7, Fox 7 (Salvati 79m), Nogan 8, Proctor 8 Subs, not used: Howarth, Mathie, Stamp, Richardson Booking: Basham 44m (foul), Bullock 90m (foul) Sending-off: None

Plymouth Argyle City: Larrieu, Worrell, Wotton, Coughlan, McGlinchey, Phillips, Adams, Wills (Stonebridge 76m), Friio, Hodges, Evans Subs, not used: Evers, Beswetherick, Bent, McCormick Booking: McGlinchey 42m (foul), Friio 73m (usc)

Sending-off: None

Man of the match: Darren Edmondson A swashbuckling display from the City full-back. At the heart of City's best moments, his effort and commitment rubbed off on those around him

Attendance: 2,282

Referee: Mark Cowburn (Blackpool)

City's next match: Nationwide League division three at Lincoln City on Saturday, September 29, 2001. Kick-off 3pm