YORK City manager Terry Dolan has moved swiftly to ease the Minstermen's barren run in front of goal by landing experienced poacher Lee Nogan, the Evening Press can reveal.

Dolan beat off stiff competition from Division Three rivals Darlington and Plymouth Argyle for the services of the former Welsh international, who has signed a contract until the end of the season.

Nogan, 31, previously with Second Division Luton Town, was not signed in time to be involved in today's clash at Scunthorpe.

But he is due to meet up with his new Minstermen team- mates on Monday.

With front-man Chris Iwelumo returning to Second Division Stoke City after today's trip to Glanford Park, Nogan's arrival is particularly well-timed.

"We needed a striker," admitted a delighted Dolan, whose side have managed just the one goal in the year 2001, ironically notched by Iwelumo in the 3-1 defeat at Macclesfield.

"With Chris finishing his time here it would have left us with just David McNiven and Scott Emmerson.

"Lee is experienced and hopefully that will help David McNiven and it also gives Alex Mathie a lot more breathing space to fully recover before he comes back."

Significantly, because Nogan has signed a contract until the end of the season, his arrival does not eat up one of the two remaining loan deals still available to the City manager.

Dolan had to move quickly as Darlington were keen to get Nogan back, possibly on loan, but the player wanted something more definate.

"I was aware there was the possibility that he could be going back to Darlington and he was due to speak to Plymouth tomorrow, so I am delighted he has signed."

In a career spanning three decades, Cardiff-born Nogan has bagged more than 100 goals in around 400 senior appearances.

He began his career with Oxford followed by spells with Brentford, Southend, Watford, Reading, Notts County, Grimsby and then Darlington for varying transfer fees amounting to almost £800,000.

After scoring four times for the Quakers at the beginning of the season Nogan signed for the Hatters in November last year, bagging two goals in ten appearances.

The front-man made two full international outings for Wales, his first cap while he was a Watford player in 1992 as a substitute against Austria, and his second outing from the start against Moldova four years later in his spell with Reading.

Meanwhile, England Under 15s, featuring City defender Chris Hogg, drew 1-1 with Spain in front of 4,400 fans at Rushden and Diamonds last night. Liverpool's David Raven netted the England goal.

Updated: 10:47 Saturday, February 10, 2001