Anyone searching for a definition of unremarkable would have found it at Bootham Crescent on Saturday afternoon.

MAKING A SPLASH: City striker Colin Alcide and Brighton goalkeeper Mark Walton squelch to the rain-sodden turf at Bootham Crescent.

Pictures by Garry Atkinson

That the match went ahead was down to the skills of groundsman Bryan Horner after a morning drencher had forced two pitch inspections before match referee Roy Pearson gave his okay.

But that it was playable after such a downpour was the only remarkable thing, for after the fireworks of City's previous home encounter - against Darlington - this was a damp squib of a game in every sense.

It was enjoyable and amiable enough, but nothing to get the pulses racing. The conditions certainly played their part.

The surface was playable but a sodden pitch ensured passes either held up in standing water or skidded off the wet.

As such, attacks by two in-form teams tended to flounder then drown in and around the 18-yard box.

Albion perhaps possessed the greatest thrust in lively wideman Paul Brooker, on loan from Fulham, but for all their neat and purposeful play rarely looked like scoring as City comfortably made it six clean sheets out of seven, including four in a row.

And York fans cannot be too disappointed at their third scoreless stalemate in four games.

Saturday's wet blanket at least stretched City's unbeaten run to nine games.

Anyone suggesting such a run of form was possible at the beginning of only last month would have been laughed out of Bootham Crescent.

To their credit, City started with best intentions.

Terry Dolan plumped for an adventurous three-man attack of Colin Alcide, Mark Sertori and Barry Conlon with wing-backs Peter Hawkins and Darren Edmondson charged with providing the ammunition.

However, neither Hawkins nor Edmondson rarely crossed the half-way line in the opening stages, pegged back by the dangerous Brooker and Martin Ling.

City, seemingly impenetrable at the back but lacking the energetic spark of a Kevin Hulme or the creativity of a Christian Fox, were unable to build up any concerted forward momentum.

When Hawkins did venture beyond the half-way line Brooker simply occupied the space, waited for the ball to come and then advanced sharply.

After one incursion by Hawkins floundered, a covering Scott Jordan picked up a yellow card for the gentlest of tugs as the Albion wideman threatened to launch a swift counter attack.

Another City advance misfired when Conlon sloppily put the ball out as he tried to roll the simplest of passes to Hawkins.

This time the punishment could have been worse than yellow as Brooker's quick pass released Hart scampering into the space left by Hawkins.

The striker rolled the ball back into the path of Brooker, who had advanced dangerously to the edge of penalty box, but thankfully for City an alert Edmondson had come across to divert the danger.

Gradually, the Minstermen showed signs of flickering into life near the Brighton goal.

Steve Agnew delivered a great cross-field pass to the feet of Edmondson, who carefully rolled the ball into the path of Sertori.

The big man's first touch was a good one but hopes of a second strike in as many games were undone by the sudden intervention of a puddle.

On 20 minutes, City had their first effort on goal when Conlon, as has become the norm, tried his luck from range with a blast that threatened but never seriously considered dropping under the bar.

City's best chance fell to Alcide, making his first start since January, on the half-hour mark.

The ball held up in a puddle allowing Hawkins to fire in a great cross.

Alcide dived in front of Danny Cullip but with the ball slightly behind him could only direct his header wide of the upright.

Sertori almost broke the deadlock with a delicate Beckham-esque free-kick that Mark Walton tipped over the bar, while Brighton should have scored just before half-time.

Agnew lost possession to Hart, who advanced into the City box before trying to square the ball for Darren Freeman only for City's colossus, Peter Swan, to move in and clear the danger.

In the second half the heavens opened again as the rain did its best to up the excitement levels.

Legs wilted on the heavy pitch and mistakes prevailed but it remained a match of few chances or incidents.

City enjoyed more possession than they had in the first half but too often passes went astray in the final third.

John Williams, on as a sub for Alcide, hit the pass of the match to release Conlon but, caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross, the Irishman did neither and blazed high and mighty into the David Longhurst Stand.

Brooker continued to threaten for Brighton, zooming past Edmondson before pulling the ball back for Rod Thomas, who screwed his shot wide under pressure from Hawkins.

The final minutes were a frenzy compared to what had gone before.

Paul Watson returned Paul Talbot's clearing header with a thumping left foot shot-cum-cross.

The ball seemed destined for the corner of the net until Alan Fettis, celebrating his recall to the Northern Ireland squad this week, stuck out a hand to push it around the post.

City had their chance to snatch three points too. Swan seemed impeded as he tried to head Steve Agnew's cross goalwards. The ball dropped for Williams, who turned this way and that but failed to find room to hit the target.

Nationwide Division Three Saturday, April 22, 2000

York City 0, Brighton 0

YORK CITY: Alan Fettis 8, Darren Edmondson 7, Chris Fairclough 7 (Martin Reed 77 mins) Peter Swan 8, Mark Bower 7, Steve Agnew 6,Scott Jordan 6, Colin Alcide 5 (John Williams 55mins,6), Peter Hawkins 7, Mark Sertori 7, Barry Conlon 6 (Paul Talbot 70mins, 6).

Subs not used: Russell Howarth, James Turley.

Goals: None

Bookings:Jordan, 9mins, foul

Evening Press Unique Pub Man of the match

Peter Swan: Rock solid display. Showed just why City have moved quickly to tie him to Bootham Crescent for another year at least

BRIGHTON: Mark Walton, Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Andy Crosby, Danny Cullip, Martin Ling (Rod Thomas 60mins), Paul Brooker, Paul Rogers, Charlie Oatway, Gary Hart (Darren Carr 82mins), Darren Freeman.

Subs not used: Warren Aspinall, Scott Ramsey, Mark Ormerod.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Crosby 65mins, foul. Carr 86mins, foul.

Attendance: 3,613

Referee: Roy Pearson (Peterlee) York City Brighton

Half-time 0 0

Corners 2 9

Shots on target 1 3

Fouls committed 7 10

City's next match: versus Chester, at Deva Stadium, today, Monday, April 24, kick-off 3pm

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.