Two steps backward to go one step forward seems to be the path of progress for an occasional hot, more often warm but sometimes - as on Saturday - an icy cold York City.

Just as hope springs eternal that the Minstermen have turned the corner a result or performance comes along that confirms improvement is going to be slow, consistency hard to find.

Having slain a hat-trick of dragons in recent weeks - finally winning away from home, scoring three in a match and keeping a clean sheet - Ninian Park, yet to endure defeat this season, was always going to provide a stiff test of City's rising credentials.

Unfortunately, this match was over almost as soon as it began as York simply never recovered from an horrific start.

If the game had kicked off at 3.10pm then the result may well have been different for, after falling behind to two goals inside the first seven minutes, City showed more than a smattering of spirit.

A glut of chances were not forthcoming, but City enjoyed enough possession for nigh on 30 minutes until a killer goal on the stroke of half-time put paid to faint dreams of a stirring fight-back.

In such circumstances, the second half was always going to be a non event and perhaps not surprisingly it was Cardiff who always looked most likely to add to their tally.

To be truthful, the final 4-0 scoreline did not flatter the hosts.

Perhaps significantly, Cardiff were able to name an unchanged line-up for the fifth successive game, while York boss Terry Dolan was once again forced to mix and match due to injuries.

It could be suggested that the enforced changes fostered the uncertainty in the City defence that ensured seven minutes of torment and produced Jason Bowen's opening double salvo that all but killed the game.

And it was perhaps something of a surprise to see the returning Barry Jones, expected to be a straight swap for injured right-back Darren Edmondson, playing as one of the prongs alongside Mark Sertori and Matt Hocking in a three-man defence.

But for both goals - the second was a near carbon copy of the first - City's defence were not so much unfamiliar but complete strangers, sluggish and stretched; as far removed from the side that guided City to their first clean sheet in ten games a week earlier as could be thought possible.

For his first goal, Bowen, revelling in a free role just behind the front two, simply found the void left by an advanced Neville Stamp - the old inside right channel - and, played in by Robert Earnshaw, strode unopposed into the City box to tuck the ball past Fettis with his right foot.

Mark Bonner was the provider five minutes later but the result was exactly the same - Bowen, from exactly the same position, picked the very same spot with his right boot again.

It was little short of a disastrous start for City. Goalkeeper Alan Fettis apart, the Minstermen had hardly touched the ball and the simplicity of how Cardiff had carved open City simply rubbed salt into the gaping wounds.

The game already dead, City gradually unfurled themselves and threatened to flex their muscles.

But while possession belonged to City, the Minstermen were too tentative, favouring considered play over conviction.

A series of corners and free-kicks came to zilch as a Lee Bullock long range effort, a David McNiven glancing header and a Graham Potter shot straight at Mark Walton proved the sum of City's efforts.

And while Cardiff were temporarily forced on to the back foot it was fair to say it was the Bluebirds who always looked likely to ad to their tally.

Bowen should have grabbed his hat-trick when, after a defensive mix-up, Earnshaw saw his goal-bound shot blocked bravely by Mark Sertori.

The ball rolled to Cardiff's goal hero but this time his shot cannoned back off the inside of the post and out.

Not long after, Cardiff did grab the crucial third goal to firmly dispel any hopes of a City comeback

Earnshaw seemed to be running out of space as he twisted this way and that down the left-hand side but managed to cut the ball back for Scott Young, who was left simply to poke the ball home.

It could have been worse - Fettis producing a fine one-handed save at full stretch to turn away a fierce Kevin Evans volley - and half-time couldn't come soon enough for City.

In the second half and with Kevin Hulme on for the injured Steve Agnew, City tried to raise themselves but played with hope rather than persuasion.

Neil Tarrant stretched but just missed McNiven's tempting cross before Bullock volleyed over from 20 yards when he should have at least hit the target.

Bullock at last found his range and forced Walton to make a save with a curler but it lacked any real pace to trouble the Cardiff shot-stopper.

It was a swaggering Cardiff that provided much the greater cut and thrust; Bowen flashed a searing effort just past the City upright before Fettis did well to deny substitute Leo Fortune-West's near post glancing effort.

And it was no great surprise when Cardiff got their fourth, and a fine goal it was too.

Bonner chipped the ball forward to Bowen on the edge of the City penalty area.

The Welsh international cleverly chested it down into the path of Earnshaw who gleefully smashed the ball home with a flashing volley.

It was a strike that deserved to win any game but merely compounded a miserable afternoon in South Wales for City.

dave.stanford@ycp.co.uk