Small change

The first Small to send City skittering to their sixth League defeat in seven outings was Stoke's full-back Bryan Small. His ram-raids down the left did as much to pave the Potters' path to decisive first-half goals.

Then, there was the small gap that divides the successful from the struggling.

The Minstermen largely dominated their table-topping hosts. But the visitors could genuinely claim any good fortune must have been tossed by the tundra-like gale at the former Trentham Colliery all in the direction of Stoke.

Take the leaders' second strike. A stunning finish from David Oldfield, whacked from distance to nestle into the rigging. Yet from closer in a similarly instinctive blast from York's main man Richard Cresswell was swatted into the side-netting.

There's the rub, there's the difference. What a contrast for Little brothers Brian and Alan.

Throughout the game the siblings stood like sentinels separated by never less than 12 yards. But a look at the table reflects the huge gulf in fortunes. One bosses a side top of the rankings, the other bottom of his club's affections. The hardness of the game all in one clan.

No-one rated York's chances of an upset, yet they began with purpose penning Stoke back. However, the lack of a killer pass and a dearth of support for the front two of Cresswell and reinstated Rodney Rowe ensured endeavours petered out on the 18-yard area.

It was from this position that Stoke were at their most dangerous, springing counter-attacks launched by Phil Robinson.

Formerly an accomplished midfielder his regular outlet and target was left wing-back Small. His speed out of the traps tied up both Andy McMillan and Gordon Connelly.

It was no surprise Small initiated the breakthrough. His 30th-minute zoom beyond McMillan produced a steepling, telling cross to the back-post where Peter Thorne guided the ball back across the six-yard box. Richard Forsyth's tap-in was never more simple.

It was a real confidence-cracker for the Minstermen, though soon after Martin Garratt wriggled through only to select the wrong option. He opted to pick out Cresswell crowded by markers when Rowe was unmarked.

No such ill-choice five minutes later. Small this time laid the ball off to Graham Kavanagh and when his cross cannoned off Barry Jones and Kyle Lightbourne the predatory Oldfield swiped a 25-yard thunder-drive into the net.

Who said lightning never strikes twice. Like at Enfield a week before City had been twice unpicked in six minutes. 'Delilah,' the uproarious Stoke anthem, roared from the ground with the gusto of an aria, while the half-time whistle was accompanied by harsh claims of 'what a load of rubbish' from the visiting fans.

City's support was far more voluble and appreciative as right under their gaze their admirable approach play found a greater second-half sharpness.

Stoke's defence and fans now developed their own high anxiety and one flowing City move deserved far better than for Cresswell's volley to bounce just over after first bruising the turf.

City were now as bright as the fluorescent balls used for the first domestic Saturday and Stoke's 'we are top of the league' chant, while true, was not persuasive.

An amazing error from Muggleton almost gifted a way back for City. He fly-kicked a clearance to Rowe two yards away at an acute angle. But the stunned Rowe could not profit, his first touch smothered at his feet.

That luck was out for City was evident twice in a minute.

A pass of surgical precision from Scott Jordan dissected the Stoke defence only for Cresswell's flashing half-volley to crash into the back stanchion. Then as Garratt's nod down was charged on to by Cresswell, Steve Woods' block denuded the shot of sting.

Stoke were cushioned by that two-goal lead, but had York's positive work been rewarded with a goal it would have been revealing to see if the hosts would have been so secure. In that entire second-half the leaders never once exercised Warrington.

At the finish a handshake and pat on the head from Brian to Alan said 'hard luck, kid' just as Ken Dodd's 'Happiness' blared annoyingly from the tannoy.

Minstermen slip to 18th

YORK City's fall at Stoke sent them dropping two places to 18th as the leadership maintained status quo.

Stoke remain just ahead of Fulham, whose surge was stretched to eight wins in nine games when they beat Chesterfield 2-1.

Fulham's hero was Canadian international Paul Peschisolido. He bagged both goals as if to serve notice that he would not lose his place to the Cottagers' new £2million recruit Barry Hayles.

Preston were snarled in a Lancashire derby at Blackpool that produced little thrills and no goals, while Walsall needed a late goal from Argentinian Walter Otta to preserve a share of the spoils at Macclesfield.

The biggest losers of the day were Burnley, humbled 5-0 at Bournemouth.

Down at Northampton, who next visit Bootham Crescent on Saturday, Grant Brebner poached the only goal of the game to maintain Reading's revival.

MATCH NOTES

6min: A slip gives an opening to David Oldfield, but Andy Warrington dives to his left to sweep away the shot.

18min: Crisp Stoke build-up and Graham Kavanagh crashes a shot a yard wide.

25min: York ooze forward through Gordon Connelly and Steve Agnew, whose right-wing cross is just guided off Rodney Rowe's head.

30min: Fine run and cross by Bryan Small is headed back by Peter Thorne. Richard Forsyth taps in. 1-0.

36min: After another left-wing cross is knocked away Oldfield lashes the ball high past Warrington. 2-0.

43min: Richard Cresswell gets ahead of his marker, but flicks Agnew free-kick well wide.

51min: Mark Tinkler loops a header wide from Agnew's cross.

59min: Four-man move from City travels 60 yards before Cresswell's volley into the turf bounces a foot over the crossbar.

62min: Tinkler's 30-yard free-kick is blocked, Scott Jordan rippling the rebound low into Carl Muggleton's grasp.

69min: Muggleton hacks the ball just two yards straight to Rowe. His poor first touch puts it straight to the 'keeper's relieved dive.

74min: Cresswell inches off target as he fastens on to superb through ball from Scott Jordan.

81min: Thorne heads high over after seizes on to long-throw from Kavanagh.

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