At last. After four years of frustration the jigsaw is resembling the shape of something we York City supporters remember.

Long ago we followed a side which chased, harried and gained the respect of teams we ran up against. Then came the dark ages - the days of a bunch of headless chickens pacing up and down the field, often wanting for pace, ideas and mettle.

Now that our new manager has consolidated our pathetic defence, added a sound goalkeeper who doesn't give the Shippo palpitations each time the ball crosses the halfway line in his direction.

I take my hat off to manager Terry Dolan. Somehow he has turned our headlong plummet into the sign of hope for the future.

It is sad that our season has actually started in March- but better late than never.

The Darlington game was never a classic but with ten men and a raucous Shippo, always singing, especially in the second half, I plead with the returning crowds to keep it up and witness the long awaited ressurrection of our club.

I am no fan of chairman Douglas Craig, but if Dolan can maintain and even improve on this current team with its promising youngsters, then we will have a lot to cheer next season and I am sure that the anti-chairman chants will be unheard for as long as the impetus remains.

Now what of the missing piece of the jigsaw? The provision of a regular goalscorer. I am sure that this close season may provide the final piece.