IT is a revealing statistic that York City have only conceded three goals this season in the first 87 minutes of matches.

Equally as significant is the fact that the Minstermen's defence has only been breached three times from open play in their opening nine games.

Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Aldershot, confirmed in the 88th minute by a second goal direct from a free-kick, was therefore symptomatic of the two frustrating factors that have prevented Billy McEwan's men from making an even more encouraging start to their 2005-2006 campaign.

City's youthful team remain vulnerable to late goals and susceptible to conceding fouls in dangerous positions, although pint-sized midfielder Darren Dunning was puzzlingly penalised for climbing on Gary Holloway in the incident that led to Aldershot's winner.

Goalkeeper Chris Porter will also be disappointed to have been beaten twice from dead-ball strikes by man-of-the-match Nick Crittenden and former Welsh international Darren Barnard.

Defeat, however, cannot just be attributed to the two most disappointing features of an otherwise impressive first six weeks of the season.

The Minstermen failed to display the fast-moving, attractive football that has characterised so many of their games and Aldershot produced a performance that belied their second-bottom position going into the fixture.

Terry Brown's men defended with determination that made a mockery of their status as the Conference's leakiest back four.

But the Minstermen should still have taken at least a point from Hampshire after Clayton Donaldson had levelled the scores on 64 minutes and substitute Bryan Stewart then failed to convert an excellent chance before Barnard clinched victory.

Aldershot had earlier taken a deserved lead into the interval after City managed just one attempt on Nikki Bull's goal in the opening 45 minutes - a tame header by Donaldson that was comfortably gathered by the home 'keeper.

At the other end, Porter was tested by Crittenden and Andre Boucaud from distance before a clumsy challenge by James Dudgeon on 20 minutes gave Stephen Reed a set-piece chance two yards outside the penalty box.

Left-footed Reed's first effort was blocked by Mark Convery but referee Fred Graham - with his first hint of harshness towards the visitors - decided the former Darlington midfielder had encroached.

Crittenden then stepped up for the retake and curled a right-footed effort that beat an unsuspecting Porter after striking the inside of his right-hand post.

Aldershot continued to look the most likely after the break with Crittenden and Tim Sills both going close before McEwan implemented a tactical change on the hour.

Emmanuel Panther, so often the starting cog in City moves, was well shackled by the Aldershot midfield and, in a bid to increase his team's creative options, McEwan sent on youngster Stewart with instructions to bring impetus down the left flank.

The 4-3-3 system was replaced with a 4-4-2 formation, as Joe O'Neill dropped deeper on the right and, four minutes later, Donaldson - now operating in a more central role - raced clear of the home defence to collect Andy Bishop's measured pass. He then rounded Bull before finishing confidently from a narrowing angle.

The 21-year-old striker went on to perform an outrageously audacious back-heel on 80 minutes that released Stewart.

Stewart had added an extra dimension since his introduction with his skill and purposeful running but his finishing remains unreliable. He will no doubt gain composure with more experience but he allowed Bull to smother his shot.

Stewart then dragged a second chance across the face of goal three minutes later before Essex official Graham awarded the controversial free-kick at the other end.

Barnard, making his first appearance of the season after injury and had only been on the pitch 12 minutes, curled the free-kick over City's wall and Porter could only palm the 20-yarder on to the underside of the crossbar, the ball bouncing down into the net.

The final result meant City had conceded two goals in a match for the first time this season and also represented the first time the young side have gone two games without a victory.

Uncompromising Tamworth will be hoping to extend that run tomorrow night.

Match facts

Aldershot 2, (Crittenden 20, Barnard 88)

York City 1, (Donaldson 64)

City ratings:

(Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire)

Porter 6

Price 6

McGurk 7

Dudgeon 6 (Palmer 90)

Merris 7

Convery 6

(Stewart 60m, 7)

Panther 6

Dunning 7

Bishop 6

O'Neill 6

Donaldson 7

Subs (not used): Hotte, Yalcin, Afandiyev.

Star man: Donaldson - well-taken goal and ingeniously created a chance for Stewart that should have given City a second

Aldershot: Bull, Reed, Heald, Guyett, Hamilton, Crittenden, Watson, Boucaud (Barnard, 76), Deen (Holloway, 58), Sills, McPhee. Subs: Weait, Scott, Sullaiman.

Yellow cards: Convery 20, Dudgeon 53, Holloway 67.

Referee: Fred Graham (Essex). Rating: Could have been influenced by a sizeable home crowd as he appeared to favour Aldershot.

Attendance: 2,470.

Weather watch: Mild and dry.

Game breaker: Stewart's excellent 80th-minute opportunity to put City in front. Eight minutes later, Aldershot were more clinical with Barnard's free-kick.

Match rating: Probably the poorest spectacle City have been involved in this season.

McEwan's verdict: "We never strung four passes together in the first half and some players looked totally out of form until we changed it but we dominated the game in the second half and had a great opportunity to win it."

Player watch: Chris Porter

Shots faced: 6

Shots saved: 4

Shots saved ratio: 66.7 per cent

Kicks to own player: 12

Kicks to opposition: 25

Kick success rate: 48 per cent

Throws to own player: 2

Throws to opposition: 0

Throw success rate: 100 per cent

Crosses caught: 10

Crosses punched: 1

Crosses dropped: 1

Free-kicks won: 0

Free-kicks conceded: 0

Yellow cards: 0

Final summary: Like any goalkeeper, Chris Porter will be disappointed to have conceded two goals directly from a free-kick.

His handling was generally reliable apart from one dropped cross in the first half and his kicking normally found distance and direction.

Updated: 11:18 Monday, September 26, 2005