Priest administers last rites to sad City

It's appearance mirrored that of the blackened mood hanging over York City.

At 3pm the ground was bathed in brilliant sunshine and City started like a side riding the crest of a wave rather than one that had suffered three successive defeats. Long-overdue optimism was in the air.

But, by 4.45pm it was four successive defeats and the arrival of the grey mist simply added to the suffering for the City faithful who had long since hurried out of the exits.

The disappointment of defeat was made all the worse by the fact that before Chris Priest's second-half double salvo there was at least hope that City were set for their first point of 2001.

While City's football was never of the free-flowing variety as the match entered its final third at 1-1 the Minstermen were in the ascendancy - but it all turned sour with Priest's double strike.

There was little hint of the heartache that was to follow as City began with promise. Colin Alcide's diving header from Graham Potter's perfectly-flighted free-kick fell just the wrong side of the post before James Turley fired in two efforts from distance that were not a million miles away.

But with pretty much Macclesfield's first attack all City's good work was undone by an all too familiar early goal.

Alcide started and finished the move, carrying the ball out of defence with no shortage of confidence but with no easy option elected to pump the ball forward. It fell at the feet of Priest who sprayed the ball wide to Kieron Durkan.

The winger, who had a spell on loan at Bootham Crescent earlier this season, galloped away into acres of space down the right and fired a low cross into the City area.

John Askey was his intended target but the lone striker could only get a glancing touch, directing the ball on to the shins of Alcide and past a stranded Alan Fettis in the City goal.

It was sickening blow and City's new found belief evaporated as quick as it had arrived.

In possession the players suddenly looked a side who welcomed the ball as much as a heavy dose of flu and were keen to get rid of it at the earliest opportunity.

In such circumstances the confidence of young Turley shone out like beacon. He wasn't afraid to try things and wanted the ball. That hunger and sense of urgency got its rewards as the half hour mark approached.

A quickly taken throw-in from the youngster found Steve Agnew, who cut in from the right, played a neat one-two with Mark Sertori, drew Tony Bullock before lifting the ball over the Macc 'keeper for Chris Iwelumo to nudge home, giving City their first goal of 2001.

But Macclesfield continued to carry the greater thrust, particularly down the right where Durkan, an obvious release, was becoming an ever increasing threat.

Fettis did well to save Gregor Rioch's stiff volley after another Durkan ball into the box before the former Wrexham winger rolled the ball in for Kevin Keen to close in on goal only for Matt Hocking to produce a well-timed challenge.

After Durkan screwed a shot wide early in the second half, City steadied their rocking ship as a succession of corners suggested the tide was turning back in their favour.

Turley's persistence earned a corner and from Agnew's in-swinger substitute David McNiven, on for Sertori, rose above everyone else but missed the ball when the faintest of touches was needed.

But just like the first-half, from a position from where City should have been in front Macclesfield delivered a bolt from the blue.

Keen hooked the ball out wide for Durkan, who finding his path for once barred, played it back to full-back George Abbe whose deep cross looked hopeful more than dangerous but Priest swung his right foot and crashed the ball past a helpless Fettis from the edge of the area.

A determined Iwelumo sparked hope City were not dead and buried when he shoved aside a couple of challenges but the Macc keeper smothered at his feet.

McNiven then tumbled under the challenge of Rae Ingram prompting calls for a penalty. It looked a close call but referee Phil Prosser indicated the contact was made outside the box and City's free-kick came to nothing.

It proved City's last throw of the dice as Macclesfield sealed victory with just six minutes remaining.

Lee Glover and Askey combined well down the left and with Hocking caught in no man's land Glover had time to pick out an unmarked Priest , who side footed home from the edge of the area.

Keen went close to rubbing salt into the open wounds with a delicate chip that had Fettis back pedalling to tip over .

The full-time whistle couldn't come soon enough. The fog had still to arrive but the storm clouds were already gathering.

York City 1 Macclesfield 3

York City Alan Fettis 6, Matt Hocking 5, Mark Bower 5, Darren Pattterson 6, Colin Alcide 7, Scott Jordan 5, Steve Agnew 6, James Turley 8, Graham Potter 5 (Alex Mathie 79mins), Chris Iwelumo 6, Mark Sertori 5 (David McNiven 58mins, 6)

Subs not used: Russ Howarth, Leigh Wood, Marc Thompson Bookings: None Sent-off: None

Macclesfield: Tony Bullock, George Abbey, Danny Adams, Darren Tinson, Rae Ingram (Paul O'Neill 89mins), Kieron Durkan, Kevin Keen, Chris Priest, Gregor Rioch, Steve Wood (Lee Glover 62mins), John Askey (Damien Whitehead 86mins)

Subs not used: Lee Martin, Mike Bamber

Bookings: Adams 47mins (foul), Abbey 62mins (foul)

Sent-off: None

Man of the match: James Turley: Showed some sublime touches and impressed throughout with his enthusiasm and determination.

Updated: 11:33 Monday, January 22, 2001