DESPAIR turned to joy and back to despair again in pubs across York as England went crashing out of Euro 2000.

Like their counterparts across the nation, the city's fans rode a rollercoaster ride of emotions until finally going down to a last-gasp penalty - but they were trying to put a brave face on England's exit today.

Supporters in the packed Northern Wall, in Fossgate, were ecstatic at half-time after Michael Owen put England ahead just before the break.

Chants and songs echoed around the pub as fans scented victory, but that all-too-familiar feeling soon kicked in as Romania equalised and then scored the winning goal.

The scene was repeated in MacMillans, in Rougier Street, where deflated and dejected England supporters slumped in their seats as the opposition secured their place in the quarter finals.

After the full-time whistle had blown, the city's previously empty streets stayed relatively quiet as hundreds of supporters, many carrying flags or with painted faces, trooped home in surprisingly good spirits.

Inspector Tim Madgwick, of York police said the match passed without incident in the city centre.

"The difference between the crowds after Saturday's game and last night's could not have been more different - from jubilation to dejection," he said.

"But there were no football-related public order problems during the course of the three England games, and the weekend's racegoers actually generated more problems for us."

Aboard HMS York, en route from Scotland to Hull, the captain and crew were determined not to miss the game. They changed course to hug the coastline to bring them within range of the TV broadcast.

After the defeat the vessel resumed its course five miles off shore.

The one consolation was that there were no reports of trouble off the field in Belgium as hundreds of England fans who had travelled to the game reflected the disbelief and demoralisation of the millions who watched it in bars and living rooms across Britain.

As the heavy-hearted England fans left the stadium in Charleroi, most wondered how England had managed to fail to reach the quarter-finals when, with two minutes to go, their place seemed assured.

Supporters walked through the town along the cobbled streets towards the main square almost in silence.

Police maintained a low profile and there appeared to be no signs of trouble.