Fans are often hooked by their first match. In Phillip Hall's case it was hardly surprising.

He paid his first visit to Bootham Crescent in 1997-98 for the visit of Carlisle United and witnessed an astonishing match.

Then at Howden School, he was persuaded by a friend to go to the game and was gripped by the sheer drama that unfolded that afternoon.

"This was my first City match and it was a classic. We were 3-1 down with about 10 minutes to go and we won 4-3, unbelievable stuff," said 17-year-old Phillip, of Church Road, Osbaldwick, who is studying 'A' levels at York Sixth Form College.

The game was straight out of a Boys Own comic script.

City, trailing 3-1 scored three times in a sensational last nine minutes to fire themselves back into contention near the top of the third division table and send Bootham Crescent into a fervour.

It looked plain-sailing for in-form City when Rodney Rowe prodded in his eighth goal of the season.

But by half-time Carlisle, comprehensively outplayed in the opening stages, were ahead.

French defender Stephane Pounewatchy headed in Owen Archdeacon's free-kick then Billy Barr's 20-yard volley flew past Mark Samways in the City goal.

Young rising star Matt Jansen was leading City's defence a merry dance and he forced Samways into a fine save before the interval.

City were then handed numerical advantage when midfielder Andy Couzens was sent off for a second bookable offence - but it was Carlisle to extended their lead.

Jansen, now playing as a lone striker, headed the ball down for Gareth McAlindon to put 10-man United 3-1 up.

There seemed no way back for City and some fans were already heading for the exits when Paul Stephenson fired an 81st minute free-kick through a packed area into the back of the Carlisle net.

At last City had the chance to salvage a point and Minstermen supporters went wild with delight when Stephenson took a Mark Tinkler pass to rocket home a 25-yard equaliser with three minutes left on the clock.

But the great escape was not complete.

Carlisle packed their penalty area to protect their valuable point but it slipped from their grasp in a thrilling finale.

Up stepped midfielder Steve Bushell who skipped past one challenge and sent a left-foot shot crashing past Tony Caig to crown an amazing comeback.

City boss Alan Little saluted his side's never-say-die attitude but even they surprised him.

"When we went 2-1 down I still felt we were going to win the game. When we went 3-1 down I did not give us a cat in hell's chance," said Little.

But Phillip Hall and hundreds of other City fans went home grinning like Cheshite cats after seeing City come from 3-1 down to win a match for the first time in 27 years.

Millennium Match Facts

York City 4 (Rowe 14, Stephenson 81, 85, Bushell 87)
Carlisle United 3 (Pounewatchy 25, Barr 36, McAlindon 78)
Saturday, October 25 1995
Division Two
(at Bootham Crescent)
York City: Mark Samways, Andy McMillan (Gary Himsworth 90), Wayne Hall, Steve Bushell, Martin Reed (Neil Tolson 75), Tony Barras, Graeme Murty, Mark Tinkler, Steve Bull (Jonathan Greening 70), Rodney Rowe, Paul Stephenson.
Carlisle United: Tony Caig, Owen Archdeacon, Stephane Pounewatchy, Billy Varty, Rob Bowman, Billy Barr, Gareth McAlindon, Andy Couzens, Warren Aspinall, Matt Jansen, Ian Stevens (Ross Milligan 69). Subs (not used): Paul Boertien, Tommy Harrison
Referee: David Laws (Whitley Bay)
Attendance: 3,700