NAILS gnawed to the quick. Nerves shredded to snapping-point. Phew, what a torture.

LEADING FROM THE FRONT: City striker Rodney Rowe holds off Blackpool's Phil Thompson

Twice the visit of Blackpool to Bootham Crescent had been KO'd. At the third time of asking it was eventually well worth the wait, but only once referee Alan Wiley signalled a York City victory.

In a switch-back duel, whose sickening lurch would have been right in gaudy tune with the Golden Mile, City rode their second-half luck with knuckles whiter than bleached bones.

As the shrill Wiley whistle sounded a Crescent of golden smiles broke out, even among such a sparse crowd. However, the shower of teeth was more in relief than exultation.City were unconvincing, but were they ever more committed? Throughout a match valley-low in pedigree, City were hill-top high in unadulterated effort.

Buckets of sweat were expended on extending an undefeated run to five games, opening up a five-point cushion from relegation's voracious jaws. But after taking an early lead it was far from a five-star showing from the hosts.

Failing to capitalise on first-half dominance City were hauled back to underpin a second-half rearguard action that stoically, doggedly, desperately, preserved the slender advantage afforded by Marc Williams' fourth goal of the season.

Classy it was not. But critical it was to the hope of staying in the Second Division into the year 2000 at least, though the Minstermen will not want a repeat of such a second-half transformation in their final two games.

From being seemingly brow-beaten Blackpool bluffed their way back and almost clawed a way back to parity. City, however, clung on to bag their first clean sheet for 19 games.

That rare commodity was almost over before it had chance to blossom with early and unnecessary alarm for City and from an unusual source too.

'Gaffer' Neil Thompson allowed the ball to squirm away from him as he checked Junior Bent's first wing-side dash after just three minutes. But goalkeeper Bobby Mimms rescued any embarrassment, blocking Bent's instant angled shot.

The hosts showed far more precision and power with their first incursion.

Andrew Dawson was the provider, slipping a neat pass along the turf to Marc Williams' feet. Backing off by his marker Phil Thompson was fatal for the Tangerines.

Williams turned and thumped a rising 20-yard drive smack into the high reaches of the rigging.

It was just the required rapid start. And initially City responded in kind.

Midfield duo Mark Tinkler and Alan Pouton exerted a firm grip, while at the back Chris Fairclough was again an eminent sentinel. His power in the air was allied to keen anticipation in the challenge to sweep away any danger.

After Alan Pouton broke clear twice in characteristic charges, the latter firing wickedly wide after creating good space, Williams should have doubled his and City's account. But running unchecked to the penalty spot his fierce effort was too straight, stopped by goalkeeper Tony Caig's posterior.

But then City stepped off the tempo and their threat subsided with only Matt Hocking's excellently-timed tackle blunting Phil Clarkson just as he was destined to score.

Blackpool, who had been largely subdued as much by their own mediocrity as by City's mastery, must have imbibed a magic potion at half-time.

They resumed at a far greater lick and forced City to back-pedal much to the annoyance of their fans. Nerves were showing and growing. Two defensive interventions by skipper Barry Jones proved critical to City protecting their lead.

First he reacted to head behind as substitute Chris Malkin closed in. Then within a minute he dived in to divert away a thunderous Brett Ormerod effort.

City were struggling woefully at times to clear their lines as tension riddled their efforts. Only a low drive from Williams provoked a sporadic and half-hearted cry of 'red army'.

Malkin's presence was a constant threat and one of his frequent flicks led to an astonishing escape. Five yards out and directly in front of goal Clarkson was again primed. But he trod on top of the ball.

Mimms then produced the save of the game three minutes from time to fling over a howitzer free-kick from David Bardsley.

Still time for yet more drama with Malkin at the heart of it again. In stoppage-time he hurled himself at Ian Hughes' nod-on, but his thumping fierce header rattled the crossbar.

No wonder fans who hollered and screamed for the final whistle punched the air in delight as time was up.

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