Although York's chances of escaping from the foot of the North Two East table have not been high for some weeks, a morale-boosting win over a sub-strength Bridlington was almost in their grasp at Clifton Park on Saturday.

In the end, they had even a draw snatched away as, in the final seconds, the referee awarded the Seasiders a dubious penalty in front of the posts which enabled them to win 11-8.

It would be an overstatement to say York had the match in their control because, in the second half, they suffered fearful pressure, hardly escaping from their 22 for nearly 20 minutes.

But, in the first half, they enjoyed sufficient superiority to have gained enough points to have made life uncomfortable for Bridlington.

York's pack, with Matt Halifax prominent, dominated the opening exchanges.

They went ahead when Tom Copeland fielded a stray opposition kick just on half way. He kicked ahead and was blatantly obstructed earning a free kick at where the ball landed some 10 metres off the Bridlington line.

At first receiver, Nick Smart burst through several tackles to enable skipper Jeremy Clutton to get the touchdown. The kick was too far out for Kirk Mulder to convert.

Although Bridlington responded strongly Smart soon got York on the offensive and Mulder chipped down to the Seasiders' line.

York tried to get their backs flowing but a loose pass halted the move but Bridlington went offside in front of the posts. Mulder missed the relatively easy kick.

Another York move was spoiled by poor outsides handling and Bridlington hacked through to the York line where York benefited from Bridlington missing a relatively easy penalty kick.

After 30 minutes Stu Davies made a penetrative run from centre and James Arkle was almost through from a penalty.

Gaining another penalty award for offside, York elected to go for goal from a position clearly beyond Mulder's range and sacrificed an opportunity to keep the pressure on Bridlington.

The irony was not lost when Bridlington went up the other end and John Tinsley kicked a penalty from in front of the posts to go into the change-round only two points down at 5-3.

After the interval it was York's turn to feel the heat of battle. Bridlington were relentless in their assaults. York didn't possess the boot power effectively to clear their lines. Only Smart, in a surging foray, got York within sight of the halfway line.

York's marking and tackling were tremendous but time had to tell and eventually a passing move out to the right enabled winger Kevin Brown to elude a rather weak tackle and score an unconverted try in the corner.

At 8-5 behind when they could have been no worse than level, York resorted to rather more desperate measures.

In the last quarter they had two long range penalty attempts when it might have been more rewarding to keep taking the ball to the opposition and repaying some of the pressure Bridlington had inflicted on them.

Ampleforth newcomer centre Alex Hurst was adding his jinking running to Davies' power. If York had used Smart's penetration wider out than first receiver, he could well have made the space for the young centres to finish the job.

Even so, the merits of keeping the ball in the opposition's face was demonstrated when York earned a penalty in front of the posts on the 22. Copeland converted easily and, at 8-8, York had a sight of their first point of the season and might have settled, with regrets, at honours even with only a couple of minutes left.

However, in injury time, the referee blew for an offence and Bridlington took home the winning points but with a demeanour suggesting they were aware that they had a lucky escape.

Updated: 12:36 Monday, January 15, 2001