LAST night's Nationwide Conference results served up a bittersweet cocktail for York City fans.

The threat of relegation was finally lifted with Forest Green's defeat. But that small spoonful of sugar was not enough to obscure the sour medicine of a 6-0 thrashing by Carlisle. This must rank as one of City's worst defeats. The club's hard-working and passionate directors have been distracted by fights to save the club and its ground this year.

Those battles won, they can now concentrate on developing a plan to bring matching success on the field next season.

Updated: 10:43 Wednesday, April 13, 2005