AT long, long last a chink of light and a glimmer of hope in what has been the darkest of days for York City.

And fully deserved it was too, for the long-suffering fans who sang their hearts out as much as for the players who gave it their all at Spotland.

From back to front, the commitment, effort and significantly, concentration of a compact and unified Minstermen could not be faulted.

It wasn't always pretty, but it was gritty, highly effective and in the end surprisingly comfortable against a side pushing for promotion.

Caution: a heavy dose of realism is still needed.

The win may have lifted City off the bottom but the dark shadow of relegation still hangs over the club.

But in the cold light of day perhaps some good can come from the embarrassment of seeing City propping up the Football League.

On last night's evidence at least the grim thud as City hit rock bottom has wiped away any complacency and finally focused minds as to what is needed to banish the haunting spectre of relegation.

City in their current guise are never going to carve out chances galore, but at least they proved last night the will to win remains and any shortfalls in creativity can be topped up by tenacity.

So stoic was the City defence, marshalled superbly by Matt Hocking and well aided by Barry Jones and Mark Bower in particular that it wasn't until the 34th minute that Rochdale had an effort on goal.

And it would be fair to say the Minstermen had the clearer sights of goal. Midfielder Lee Bullock sent a glancing header over the bar before seeing an up and under from an acute angle cleared off the line by Wayne Evans.

Certainly, a neutral would have had trouble deciphering which team in the first-half was chasing promotion, the other staring relegation in the face.

Rochdale, perhaps surprised by the composure of a side entering the fray without a win in 2001, looked nervous and edgy and struggled to string more than two passes together.

The signs at half-time therefore were encouraging and it made a welcome change to hear the opposition being booed from the pitch.

With those boos still ringing in their ears, it was no surprise that Rochdale upped the tempo after the break.

City were being pegged deeper and deeper back, breaking out only fleetingly to see Wayne Hall fire a shot straight at Neil Edwards in the Dale goal and Bullock have another header tipped over the bar.

But for all the home side's possession, York number one Alan Fettis remained relatively untroubled.

The closest Dale came to breaking the deadlock was when Tony Ellis headed Kevin Kyle's flick-on badly wide from just six yards.

It looked the sort of miss that City have made their trademark in recent weeks but last night the boot was firmly on the other foot.

A dallying Dave Bayliss pondered with the ball a moment too long allowing new recruit Lee Nogan to nip in and send Scott Emmerson on his way.

The youngster still had a lot to do but showed tremendous composure to round the 'keeper and side foot home.

The goal sparked a mini-pitch invasion from the City's ecstatic travelling support, as jubilant as if City had won the FA Cup.

It promised a frantic finale from the hosts but they still failed to deliver.

Kevin Kyle, on loan from Sunderland, blazed over from eight yards before Ellis and Gary Jones tested Fettis with stinging drives.

But if anything, and merely emphasising just how much a goal can do for confidence, City grew more and more composed as the clock ticked down.

When it finally did, the sense of relief was as great as the joy.

City Match Facts

Nationwide LeagueDivision 3

Tuesday, February 20, 2001

York City

Scorers: Emmerson 75mins.

YORK CITY: Alan Fettis 8, Matt Hocking 8, Barry Jones 7, Mark Bower 8, Wayne Hall 7, Marc Thompson 7, Steve Agnew 7, Nick Richardson 7, Lee Bullock 7, Lee Nogan 8, Scott Emmerson 8 (James Turley 90mins)

Subs not used: Russell Howarth, Mark Sertori, Leigh Wood, David McNiven.

Bookings: Nogan (ungentlemanly conduct).

Sendings-off: None

ROCHDALE: Neil Edwards, Wayne Evans, Lee Todd, David Bayliss, Keith Hill (Mark Monington 79mins), Tony Ford (Michael Oliver 23mins), Phil Hadland, Gary Jones, David Flitcroft, Tony Ellis, Clive Platt (Kevin Kyle 16mins)

Subs not used: Phil Priestley, Simon Davies.

Bookings: Bayliss (unsporting conduct), Kyle (foul), Ellis (foul)

Sendings-off: None

Evening Press/Unique Pub Man of the Match

Scott Emmerson

Worked tirelessly up front and showed tremendous composure for one so young to score his first goal in senior football.

Attendance: 2,807

Referee: Colin Webster (Shotley Bridge, Durham)