Matt Hocking supersub. How many York City fans would have entertained such a thought two weeks ago?

TELL-TALE SIGNS: The ball nestles in the net, Brighton 'keeper Mark Walton is left on his knees, City striker Barry Conlon throws up his arms, and referee Mick Fletcher points to the centre spot - it all adds up to three points for the Minstermen thanks to the stoppage time goal from Matt Hocking,

But that was the fantasy football reality for the unassuming Hocking who, in a smash and grab finale almost beyond belief, went from zero to hero.

Hocking was the undeserving victim of barrackers and boo-boys in his last appearance in City colours. Such was the indignity of his treatment at Bootham Crescent that not only was he substituted but he was dropped from the next match, manager Neil Thompson desperate to shield him from the snipers.

But now he is the star of the show after his marvellous Matt finish put the gloss on City's first away win of the season and their first on the road maximum haul since beating Macclesfield in last term's run-in to eventual relegation.

City were deep, deep into stoppage time when hit-man Hocking delivered a sucker punch with Tyson clout to floor a team regarded by many to be promotion favourites.

He latched leopard-like on to Chris Fairclough's bludgeoning headed clearance, outpaced a defender and lobbed Seagulls' goalkeeper Mark Walton with the striking awareness of an Owen or a Shearer.

He would been forgiven brandishing two fingers raised to those who slammed him, but the 21-year-old is too polite to countenance such a gesture.

But seldom can a smile have been wider, nor that of manager Neil Thompson, who hared on to the pitch to congratulate City's unlikely hero as he was buried under a melee of his beaming team-mates.

It was ironically a glimmer of quality far removed from the previous 90-odd minutes of muck and nettles dross. Both sides were barely able to muster any moves of wit or guile, the main tactic being the thump, lump, lash and bash so endemic in the basement. But for City there was at least a rediscovered seam of strength and resolve to hold Brighton at bay.

That they succeeded in so doing was largely due the endeavours of captain and man-of-the-match Chris Fairclough, partnered in a trinity of defiance alongside Mark Sertori and Barry Jones. Their efforts even enabled the back-line to accommodate a rare moderate performance from Wayne Hall.

Had City prised a point from their first trip to the Withdean Stadium surrounded by a glade and nature park that would have been success to a degree. But Hocking's have-a-go heroics ensured it was an even better return from the athletics arena, where both ends behind each goal are devoid of fans creating a quite surreal atmosphere.

Until the Hocking stunner neither team merited a win bonus so threadbare was the excitement.

In mitigation City were without the running flair of Anthony Ormerod, who failed a late fitness test. Brighton had no such consolation. They were just cumbersome and lumbering.

Though City had a lucky let-off in the eighth minute when Chris Wilder's whiplash free-kick rattled the crossbar with Bobby Mimms still-footed, Brighton did not make their early dominance count even when aided by City surrendering the ball cheaply.

The presence of Fairclough was so important during this spell, his anticipation snuffing out danger before it could truly flourish. But City had their hearts in their mouths when Gary Hart breezed past Barry Jones spearing in a low centre that whizzed right across the face of Mimms' goal.

Having to play on the counter Kevin Hulme sped through, claiming a penalty when challenged by Keith McPherson, but referee Mick Fletcher contemptuously waved aside the appeal much to the ire of the Seagulls' sweeper. Hulme stayed so aggrieved he was cautioned within minutes for dissent.

Inside 43 seconds of the re-start City criminally wasted a terrific chance to go ahead. Sertori advanced 60 yards with Marc Williams and Hulme up ahead. His pass was wayward to Hulme, whose attempt to usher in Williams on the three on one break was misdirected too, the attack fizzling out.

However, greater conviction was spreading through the green-shirted ranks, Agnew, Dawson and Barry Conlon each wasting half-chances before a late Alamo-type siege from the hosts.

However, that was ultimately repelled by Hocking's matter of fantasy finish.

Nationwide Division Three, Saturday, October 16, 1999

Brighton 0 York City 1

YORK CITY: Bobby Mimms 7, Barry Jones 7, Wayne Hall 6, Scott Jordan 7, Mark Sertori 8, Chris Fairclough *9, Kevin Hulme 6, Andrew Dawson 6, Steve Agnew 6, Barry Conlon 6, Marc Williams 6 (Matt Hocking 87).

Subs unused: Russ Howarth, Martin Garratt, Lee Bullock, Christian Fox.

Goal: Hocking 90min.

Bookings: Hulme dissent 37min; Jordan foul 68; Agnew foul 84; Williams ungentlemanly conduct 87.

Evening Press Unique Pub Man of the match

Chris Fairclough: A colossus in defence, yet again. May be at the veteran stage, but there is no substitute for class, which he showed in abundance to thwart Brighton's muscular attacking approach.

BRIGHTON: Walton, Wilder (Watson 75min), Cullip, McPherson, Hobson, Campbell, Oatway, Rogers, Aspinall (Thomas 75), Hart, Freeman (Ramsay 75).

Subs unused: Crosby, Carr.

Goals: None

Bookings: McPherson foul 34min; Freeman foul 73; Watson foul 83.

Referee: Mick Fletcher (Warley)

Crowd: 5,862

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