FALLING Premiership attendances have been consuming widespread attention this week and it would appear that York City are currently bucking a national trend.

Twelve clubs who have been Conference outfits for the last two seasons are also reporting a fall in their early average attendances compared to their final figure for last season.

But Billy McEwan's men have seen crowds rise by ten per cent on last season's average of 2,331, which was perceived as a terrific figure considering the on-pitch tribulations.

Tuesday night's 2,927 crowd has bumped the Minstermen's 2005/06 average up to 2,561 - the division's fourth best - with each of City's first six visiting opponents Crawley Town (91), Woking (86), Cambridge United (238), Altrincham (185) and Dagenham and Redbridge (65) all bringing modest away followings to KitKat Crescent.

City are just one of five Conference clubs currently enjoying an increase on last season's final average, with Canvey Island up a whopping 39 per cent.

Leaders Exeter City (22 per cent), Forest Green Rovers (16 per cent) and Burton Albion (4 per cent) are the other three clubs enjoying rises, while Accrington Stanley have suffered most from the alleged growing apathy towards attending football matches.

Attendances at the Interlink Express Stadium have dropped by 25 per cent compared to last season's average despite Stanley currently flying high in third place in the table.

Aldershot - the Minstermen's hosts today - have also suffered a 19 per cent loss of supporters although the second-bottom Hampshire club's fans have more reason for disenchantment courtesy of their team's poor start to the season.

The Minstermen currently boast the Conference's fourth-highest average attendance behind Exeter (4,069), Cambridge United (2,790) and Hereford (2,648).

Last season, the KitKat Crescent club were the sixth best-supported team behind Carlisle (5,512), Exeter (3,335), Hereford (3,068) Aldershot (3,043) and Barnet (2,515).

For City supporters who cannot commit to attending every home match but would like to see most, the mini-season ticket still represents good value.

Anybody buying one will be entitled to admission for ten KitKat Crescent Conference clashes of their choice for the price of eight games.

There are still 16 home fixtures left and the under-12s season ticket is also still available at £29.

The full prices for the mini-season tickets are: Main Stand - £128 adults, £80 OAPs, U16s and students; Popular Stand - £112 adults, £72 OAPs, U16s and students; David Longhurst Stand - £104 adults), £64 OAPs, U16s and students; Family Stand - £112 adults, £80 (OAPs), £40 U16s and students.

For the second time this season, Clayton Donaldson was involved in a debate surrounding the identity of a York City goalscorer during Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Dagenham and Redbridge.

Andy Bishop was initially credited with City's 36th-minute deadlock breaker but the management and playing staff have since confirmed that Donaldson got the decisive touch and the match DVD has supplied conclusive evidence of the 21 year-old striker's third goal of the season.

Referee Graham Salisbury did, however, add after the match that he would have disallowed the goal for offside if he had felt the ball had hit the former Hull City forward.

Clearly, Donaldson was too quick for the Belper official, who also failed to spot a blatant foul in the penalty box on the same player later in the match.

Donaldson will also be in no mood to give away another goal after agreeing that Joe O'Neill could be credited with his hat-trick strike at Southport when both players appeared to kick the ball at the same time.

DARREN Dunning has joined David McGurk at the top of the Evening Press Player of the Month standings for September.

The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder collected our man-of-the-match award during the 5-0 defeat of Altrincham and was also our readers' choice as star man in the 1-1 draw with Dagenham and Redbridge on Tuesday night, collecting three and two points respectively for each accolade.

Dunning and last month's winner McGurk are being chased by Mark Convery, who was our man of the match against Dagenham and the second-highest rated player against Altrincham.

Striker Joe O'Neill also picked up a point for his performance with Emmanuel Panther topping our readers' poll to also receive two points.

Against Dagenham, as well as Convery and Dunning, Bishop (two points) and McGurk (one point) also received recognition for their efforts.

McGurk is still a four-point leader on our Player of the Year contest, which is based purely on Evening Press ratings.

To be in with a chance of presenting the September Player of the Month award, please e-mail us your man-of-the-match vote to dave.flett@ycp.co.uk or send it to Player of the Month, Sports Desk,76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

Latest Evening Press Player of the Month for September standings: Dunning 8, McGurk 8, Convery 6, Dudgeon 2, Peat 2, Bishop 3, O'Neill 1.

Latest Player of the Year standings: McGurk 12, Convery 8, Dunning 8, Donaldson 7, Dudgeon 5, Bishop 4, O'Neill 4, Peat 3, Panther 2, Hotte 1.

STATS ATTACK

Goals: O'Neill 4, Bishop 3, Donaldson 3, Dudgeon 3, Convery 2, Stewart 1.

Goal assists: Dunning 4, Bishop 3, Convery 3, Donaldson 2, O'Neill 2, Mansaram 1, McGurk 1.

Bad boys: Bishop two yellows, Donaldson two yellows, Hotte one red, Dunning one yellow, Mansaram one yellow, Merris one yellow, O'Neill one yellow, Palmer one yellow, Peat one yellow.

Updated: 08:57 Saturday, September 24, 2005