AFTER the Lord Mayor's Show follows the dustcart.

So it proved last night as York City followed their vibrant performance of the weekend with arguably their worst display of the season.

For Carlisle it was their first three-point haul of the season while for City it was their third successive defeat.

But of more concern should be the manner of last night's performance.

In the 4-0 defeat to Hull, City had good cause to feel aggrieved and against Luton City may have lost, but at least played very well.

However, few could argue with last night's result which, if anything, flattered the Minstermen. It could have been 4-0 at half-time and, but for a late rally, City were second best for the most part.

There was barely 30 seconds on the clock when Mike Basham scuffed a back pass giving Richard Foran a clear run at the City goal.

Fortunately for a red-faced Basham, former Shelbourne striker Foran slammed his shot straight at the legs of Alan Fettis.

But the mistake simply set the tone for the rest of the first half.

When Dave Morley somehow contrived to miss the ball and an open goal when City were too slow to close down a quickly taken corner, the clock had still to tick past three minutes.

It was just the start a team lacking confidence needed while hopes that City could grab an early goal and turn the screw on the winless Cumbrians were dashed.

Indeed, City conjured only two sights of the United goal in the first 45 minutes: Lee Nogan heading tamely into the arms of Luke Weaver; and Michael Proctor almost shaving the post with a rasping drive from 22 yards following a rare display of incisiveness from the Minstermen.

City were not allowed to get into a rhythm or find their stride by a frenzied Carlisle, who looked anything but a side without a win this season.

Their passes were as crisp as crackling and their energy seemed to know no bounds. City, in contrast, were like a team suffering a bout of collective concussion.

In particular, Foran and his fellow forward Steve Halliday, propelled by the surging runs down the flanks of Hews and McGill who peppered the City penalty area with crosses from all angles, were leading City a merry dance.

Carlisle finally got the goal their dominance deserved just past the half-hour mark. Hews slipped a delightful ball through the middle of the City defence, Foran outstripped the chasing pack and although Fettis got a leg to his shot he could not stop the ball bouncing in off the bar.

Out-fought and out-thought, the half-time whistle could not come soon enough for the Minstermen.

Not surprisingly, City chief Terry Dolan rang the changes at half-time bringing on Matt Hocking for Basham and Richard Cooper for Nick Richardson.

But the changes had little chance to take effect before Carlisle bagged a crucial second only minutes after the restart.

Mark Birch whipped in a cross from the right and, as he swung his boot, Foran forced a fine reflex save from Fettis. But the City keeper could only push the ball into the path of a loitering Hews, who had the simple job of tapping home from fewer than six yards.

City were given a lifeline just past the hour mark when a dose of good fortune fell their way. A clearance out of the Carlisle defence ricocheted into the path of Proctor who looked to shoot before squaring the ball to the waiting Marc Salvati and the youngster coolly slotted the ball home, in off the post.

City did not really deserve the lifeline but, having been thrown it, there was at least a possibility of getting something for nothing.

Certainly, there was bit a more grit and determination from the yellow ranks and it took a fine tackle from Lee Andrews to deny a driving run from Lee Bullock.

But it was Carlisle who came closest to adding to the scoreline when Halliday found himself one on one with Fettis, but while his lob lifted over the City keeper it also cleared the bar.

It seems its hot or cold with City at the moment. Lukewarm and some points at Bristol Rovers on Saturday will suffice.

Fact file:

Carlise United

Scorers: Foran 33m, Hews 47m

Carlisle: Weaver, Andrews, Rodgers, Morley, Murphy, Hews (Jack 86m), Whitehead, McGill, Birch, Foran, Halliday

Subs, not used: Keen, Willis, Winstanley, Dickinson

Bookings: Foran 72m (unsporting conduct)

Sent-off: None

York City

Scorer: Salvati 63m

York City: Fettis 6, Edmondson 6, Basham 5 (Hocking 46m, 5), Fielding 6, Potter 6 (Fox 83m), Salvati 6, Brass 5, Bullock 5, Richardson 5 (Cooper 46m, 6), Nogan 5, Proctor 6

Subs, not used: Howarth, Stamp

Bookings: Edmondson 68m (foul)

Sent-off: None

Attendance: 2,705

Referee: Graham Laws (Whitley Bay)