Jeepers 'keepers. York City's trio of collisions with Blackpool this season have revolved around net losses for custodians.

However, a looming hat-trick of Minstermen misfortune was only avoided by a stoppage-time execution of exemplary skill by substitute Richard Cresswell.

Never was a goal more eagerly acclaimed. Cresswell's handsome header rescued a point after an off-day nearing seismic proportions.

So frequently did City teeter and totter that they could not even take advantage of the visitors being reduced to 10 men, goalkeeper Steve Banks dismissed with more than a third of the edgy encounter to negotiate.

That the match should have the number one slot as its prime suspect should be of no surprise given this term's Roses' engagements.

The first League meeting four months ago saw City's last man standing Mark Samways crippled by injury, reducing his agility to deny eventual goalscorer Andy Preece.

Then, when the two sides encountered each other again at Bloomfield Road in the Auto Windscreens Shield, a two-hour tussle went to the wire of respective home and away net-minders Banks and Andy Warrington head-to-head in a penalty shoot-out.

Banks scored, Warrington's spot-kick sailed into the night sky, the Tangerines triumphed.

But it was Banks, who grabbed less savoury notices third time around at Bootham Crescent where he was sent off for a tackle on Rodney Rowe that would have graced Twickenham.

Yet despite his dismissal - Banks' slot between the posts taken by striker and Blackpool debutant Mike Conroy - City had to wait agonisingly to time added on to retrieve a point.

The football folklore that 10 men are always more difficult to break down than 11 flared into curious evidence again. It almost makes you wonder why more teams simply don't start with one man less.

But the fact that City could not pierce the Blackpool 10 was as much down to their own incompetence for long spells as it was to ill-starred luck at vital moments.

As an attacking unit the hosts veered in the first-half from anonymous to atrocious. Improvement followed after the interval, but even so, for a large part of a one-way second-half, progress lurched from the constipated to congested.

Shorn of natural wingers City have no choice but to persevere with a front three supposedly supplied by a middle trio. Gary Bull apart, the front-line lacked movement, menace, magic.

The middle meanwhile - Mark Tinkler, Steve Bushell, and Alan Pouton - are a match for anyone on their day. But in the last two outings all three have not enjoyed the same day together.

Only Pouton offered any inventive spark. His first-half display was marred by errors, but he never allowed himself to give up the ghost.When the tempo increased in the second-half his corkscrew running, full of twists and turns, had Blackpool defenders retreating.

He even supplied the pass of the day, a glorious chip locating City's other substitute Neil Tolson only for his rippling volley to cannon back off the crossbar.

Tolson was also denied minutes later, his fierce header tipped on to the frame of the upright by stand-in 'keeper Conroy, who fielded several long-range efforts with a competence belying never donning the gloves and number one shirt before.

But in truth Conroy was let off the proverbial hook. When width was demanded City too often contracted into the middle ground, where Blackpool bodies stood resolutely.

By the time Conroy changed from front-line to back-line City were playing their other sideline game - catch-up.

Barely had the match started when recalled Andy Warrington was left unprotected as Conroy flicked on for Preece to notch his 13th goal of the season. Apart from a smart block soon after Warrington was barely extended again.

But City continued to be sucked in, and suckered into, a jammed central strip of the pitch. Frustration inevitably brought the first spring cries of "Little out''. Then, the move of the match.

The ball switched from left to right before reaching the industrious Bull. His clipped cross was the best delivery all afternoon, Cresswell rising to head his second goal in three games. It was the only keepsake of an otherwise drudge-game.

LITTLE PRAISES TENACIOUS CITY

Relieved York City boss Alan Little saluted his tensed-up charges for prising a point from football's most puzzling headache.

City were careering to their third defeat on the bounce when substitute Richard Cresswell struck to rescue a share of the spoils at home to a Blackpool side whose goalkeeper Steve Banks had been sent off.

The point lifted the Minstermen three places up the table and back into the top half of the Second Division.

But Little was grateful that City had stuck to their task to reap what he termed was a deserved reward.

"We merited at least the draw because there was an awful amount of application put into the performance, especially in the second-half," said Little.

"When your opponents have a man sent off everyone expects you to go and win by three or four goals, but that just never happens."Once their goalkeeper went, Blackpool put nine men behind the ball 35 yards out from goal and defended well."

Adding that ''it's never easy'' to break down a team with a stand-in 'keeper, Little spoke from first-hand experience.

He recalled that as a player with Halifax Town he stood in for the injure Paddy Roche at Darlington for the entire second-half - keeping a clean sheet to eke out a draw.

Little said: "We were poor in the first-half especially up front where there was very little movement. But I changed it with the two substitutes to get something out of the game and we did.

"I don't think if there had been a genuine goalkeeper between the sticks he would have been able to stop Cresswell's header. It was a great goal."

Man of the match Alan Pouton echoed the difficulty City experienced in trying to make their numerical advantage count.

"It's so frustrating. You hear the crowd yelling to get the ball in the box and then when it does and it comes to nothing there's a great sigh," said the midfielder.

"Then they say to pass it around and when you do they shout 'get it into the box'.

"Blackpool were ever so difficult to break down, especially with them getting the lead after their first attack. But we kept plugging away and at least we got what I felt was our due reward."

RED EYE - A FAN'S VIEW

Robert Bruce, 14, from Clifton Green

Five words to sum up the day: Bang go the play-offs

High light: Richard Cresswell's equaliserLow light: Blackpool's openerBall ace: Alan Pouton

Match ache: Andy Warrington - did not look confident

Foe's kit: Not as bright as their home strip tangerine

Scoff 'n' sup ratings: Did not have anything

Chant/rant of the day: Numerous chants from the Cresswell fan club in the Popular Stand

Referee - red, yellow, gold card? : Yellow. Was red until sending off Blackpool's 'keeper

Match rating - bliss, kiss, miss, hiss? : Miss

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