FOOTBALL proved itself the cruellest of games for York City and its supporters on Saturday.

After a dream start to the new campaign and a first-half of endeavour and guile, the high hopes fostered through pre-season were reaching a crescendo by half-time such was City's polished performance against would-be promotion candidates.

But if the catchphrase 'a game of two-halves' needed explaining then Saltergate was the place to be for after a carefree lift-off City stalled, stuttered then crashed unceremoniously to a 4-1 defeat.

A more dramatic turnaround in form and fortune - four goals conceded in little over 20 minutes and a sending off for skipper Peter Swan - will surely not be witnessed again all year.

Starts don't get any better than that enjoyed by City - scoring just 43 seconds through summer signing Peter Duffield.

Adding to the pleasure, the goal's making was on the training ground.

Kevin Hulme rolled the ball out wide to overlapping wingback Darren Edmondson who swung the ball in to the far post for Barry Conlon. It fell to young Christian Fox, who whipped it straight back across for Hulme, now charging into the penalty area.

The midfielder could only make half a connection but his scuffed effort bounced up nicely for Duffield loitering on the edge of the six-yard box.

The former Darlington striker stooped to head the ball just inside the post.

The shock sparked a period of concerted pressure from Chesterfield as City were forced into some desperate defending.

However, clear Chesterfield chances were notable by their absence and gradually City, calm restored, set about establishing their own agenda.

Graham Potter, another debut boy for York, flashed a screeching drive just past the far post while Fox floated a delicate chip just over the Chesterfield bar.

The Spireities looked clearly rattled, a side with five new faces that had yet to gel.

A low cross from Potter was cleverly dummied by Hulme but caught Conlon off guard and off balance so his snap shot cleared the bar comfortably.

The City striker, proving a real handful for City old boy Steve Tutill, produced an excellent piece of control to bring down a long ball with his chest before turning and volleying a stinging effort straight at Mike Pollitt.

York had the edge all over the pitch with Steve Agnew and Hulme dominating the proceedings in the midfield while Swan and Mark Sertori won header after header at the heart of the City defence.

Chesterfield skipper David Reeves, already booked for an ugly lunge on City keeper Alan Fettis, vented his frustration by aiming a sly kick at Mark Sertori.

Strangely, especially with what was to follow, referee Mark Clattenburg saw it but let the offence go unpunished.

Gradually, Chesterfield started to show signs of their pre-season form; Reeves' low cross was missed by former City target Luke Beckett before Ian Breckin glanced a near post header just wide of the far post.

Significantly too, impish midfielder Ryan Williams gave a first glimpse of what was to come when he wriggled into space to play in Beckett.

As the York defence looked for the offside flag, the ex-Chester City forward ran clear but dragged his shot across the face of the goal.

It was a bad miss and, sadly, proved a warning that went unheeded.

The confidence instilled after the first-half rolled on into the opening minutes of second - Hulme denied by a superbly-timed tackle by Michael Simpkins when clear on goal.

Suddenly, and inexplicably, the City bandwagon came to a shuddering halt.

Fettis pulled off a marvellous save to push Marcus Ebdon's careful lob over the bar as Chesterfield turned up the heat.

City were wilting and when the equaliser came it was no real surprise.

From a corner, Sertori blocked Steve Blatherwick's goalbound header. The ball could have gone anywhere but was pounced on by Reeves who headed home, despite the best efforts of Darren Edmondson on the line.

City continued to wobble and looked a side struggling to catch its breath.

Williams, largely anonymous in the first-half but now at the centre of everything, had his shot blocked by Swan. The ball ran to Beckett who was denied by the outstretched hand of Fettis only for Sean Parrish to bundle the ball home through a melee of players.

Chances for Chesterfield continued to flow from all angles while City's goal threat had dried up.

Soon it was 3-1 as a dejected York allowed right-back Ian Breckin to march through unhindered, play a one two with Reeves before pushing the ball past Fettis with a gentle curler.

The Minstermen's misery was compounded moments later when Swan received his marching orders.

It seemed a very harsh decision on the City skipper, who had taken root in the Chesterfield penalty area for a free-kick when it was alleged he head-butted Steve Blatherwick.

There was the usual jostling, a few arms were raised as player's tried to steal a yard, but I saw no head-butt, or even the slightest intimation of one, by Swan.

No matter, City were falling apart and 3-1 soon became 4-1. Sertori was adjudged to have fouled Reeves when the decision could easily have gone the other way.

From the free-kick, Williams race forward, played a one-two with Reeves again, before firing home from tight angle.

Such great expectations. Such a great disappointment.

Chesterfield 4, York City 1

York City: Alan Fettis 7, Darren Edmondson 7, Graham Potter 5 (Wayne Hall 80mins), Peter Swan 6, Gary Hobson 6, Mark Sertori 7, Kevin Hulme 7, Steve Agnew 8, Barry Conlon 7, Peter Duffield 7, Christian Fox 6 (David McNiven 75mins)

Subs, not used: Russ Howarth, Lee Bullock, Barry Jones

Goals: Duffield 1min

Bookings: None

Sent-off: Swan 75mins, violent conduct.

Chesterfield: Mike Pollitt, Ian Breckin, Steve Blatherwick, Steve Tutill, Mike Simpkins, Ryan Williams, Marcus Ebdon, Lee Richardson (Jamie Ingledow 88min), Sean Parrish, Luke Beckett (Roger Willis 88mins), David Reeves.

Subs, not used: Steve Woods, Jon Howard, Joel Armstrong

Goals: Reeves 57mins, Parrish 66mins, Breckin 73mins, Williams 79mins

Bookings: Reeves 3mins, foul; Ebdon 40mins, foul; Simpkins 54mins, foul; Blatherwick 86mins, foul.

Sent-off: None

City man of the match: Steve Agnew. A calm head amid the storm. Caught the eye with, as usual, his passing but also his work rate and tenacity.

Fouls: York City 13 Chesterfield 9

Corners: York City 2 Chesterfield 5

Shots on target: York City 4 Chesterfield 5

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Chester-le-Street)

Attendance: 4,745

dave.stanford@ycp.co.uk