TERRY Dolan is looking for bright beginnings after York City were edged out in a five goal thriller at Shrewsbury Town's Gay Meadow last night.

City were made to pay for a slow start in Shropshire after Shrewsbury took a ninth minute lead and left City chasing the game.

Just when they seemed likely to grab an equaliser the Minstermen fell victim to the perfect counter-punch and, despite a late flurry of goals, the game was up.

Boss Dolan admitted City's tendency for starting games in second gear - evident against Crewe in the Worthington Cup and against Leyton Orient last Saturday - was a cause for concern.

"It is something we can improve on," admitted Dolan, who said he had identified the cause of the problem and had made his views known to the players.

Despite the defeat and the fact City missed out on the chance of taking second spot in the Division Three table, Dolan refused to be downcast.

"Nobody is despondent. We passed the ball well again and created chances but we have just got to start right from the start of the game," he insisted.

"I think we contributed to an exciting game although we came out on the wrong side of the result.

"Their keeper pulled off two or three excellent saves which could have made for a different game and result."

Dolan also lamented a lack of luck for City on the night.

He added: "You could say their goals came against the run of play but we made mistakes and were punished.

"But for their second goal when Sam Aiston has broken away we had everyone covering in defence only for him to go and scuff his cross.

"That has caught Mike Basham out and then (Steve) Jagielka has scuffed his shot as well, which has sent Alan Fettis the wrong way.

"You cannot legislate or blame anyone for that.

"Then when we have got back into it with Lee Bullock's goal John Fielding has given Nigel Jemson too much room and it's 3-1."

City still managed to grab a second at the death when Fielding scored his first senior goal on 90 minutes.

But that merely added to the disappointment for Dolan, who maintained City and Lee Nogan had seen a perfectly legitimate goal ruled-out for off-side which would have seen the sides going in at half-time level and could ultimately led to a share of the spoils.

"I thought it was a perfectly good goal but the linesman seemed to think otherwise and there is nothing we can do about it," said Dolan.

In a possible fresh injury blow for City, Aidan O'Kane could be a doubt for Saturday's visit of Halifax Town to Bootham Crescent.

The young Irish midfielder was replaced by Scott Emmerson midway through the second-half after getting kicked-on his calf in the opening 45 minutes.

Updated: 09:22 Wednesday, August 29, 2001