Disappointment and pride in equal measure filled the thoughts of York City's head of youth development Paul Stancliffe as Bootham Crescent's young bucks went out of the FA Youth Cup at Molineux.

First Division Wolves saw off the brave challenge of City's young guns 2-1 on a freezing night in the Black Country to progress to the fifth round.

But City's teenagers did themselves proud with a battling display that deserved at least a replay and probably a victory.

After going in at half-time 2-0 down a Marc Salvati volley early in the second-half sparked hopes of a stirring comeback.

The City youngsters upped the tempo and had Wolves on the rack for long spells.

Home goalkeeper Aaron Kerr was forced to make a number of saves but were unable to force a breakthrough.

Said Stancliffe: "The boys are very down.

"But I asked for a performance, commitment and attitude and they have given me everything."

"People from the Football League and one or two of their coaching staff have come in to the dressing room at the end saying we deserved a result and it is true."

The former Wolves defender admitted City were put under pressure at set-pieces but had more than matched their illustrious hosts in open play.

"We kept the ball moving. We caused them more problems. We looked much sharper. We worked harder to win it back. We worked harder to keep it.

"Unfortunately we didn't get the goals," said the City coach.

Stancliffe was particularly pleased his players had not 'frozen' at Molineux.

"The more the game went on the stronger we got mentally and at half-time we are 2-0 down and I didn't get the feeling in the dressing room that they had thrown the towel in.

"The way they played in the second-half they obviously hadn't."

Updated: 11:37 Wednesday, January 17, 2001