Forest Green 1, York City 1

On Saturday, the only feasible reason for Wiltshire official Roger East to point to the spot and offer Forest Green Rovers an undeserved chance to cancel out Andy Bishop's first-half goal seemed to be for the most minimal of contact between Chris Porter and home striker Charlie Griffin when the York City keeper made a hash of his punch from a hopeful Des Lyttle cross.

That would have been harsh, but it was even more baffling when it emerged later that Mr East whistled for a spot-kick because of a handball by Paul Groves.

It was an infringement that went largely undetected by most observers at The Lawn and, unless City's captain has become an excellent master of disguise, could surely not be described as deliberate.

Griffin, however, accepted the opportunity to earn his side a point by converting firmly into Porter's bottom right-hand corner on 72 minutes.

That was the home team's first shot on target, having only managed their first goal attempt of any kind - a Griffin header that bounced wide - just a minute earlier.

The Minstermen had controlled proceedings until then, looking composed on the ball and passing sensibly on a quagmire of a pitch that has suffered from unlikely rain downpours in each of Forest Green's last seven matches.

There was also a strong wind to contend with in this apparently monsoon-like corner of Gloucestershire.

But City adapated to the conditions well and the only criticism that can be levelled at their performance for the first 70 minutes is that they could have perhaps been more adventurous in their search for a second goal that would surely have killed off the challenge of their lacklustre hosts.

A one-goal advantage, though, is always perilous and, even allowing for a team's dominance, can be thrown away by a goalkeeping error or an unfavourable refereeing decision.

A combination of both cost City's new boss Billy McEwan the chance of starting his managerial career with a victory.

In a game of few chances, Darren Dunning's hopeful 30-yard effort bounced tamely wide after eight minutes and Bishop's low drive was blocked after an indirect free kick, awarded when home keeper Steve Perrin puzzlingly picked up a back pass.

But Bishop did beat Perrin on 35 minutes and took his goal tally for the season into double figures.

A perfectly-weighted through ball by teenage midfielder Byron Webster released the 22-year-old striker.

Although he appeared to dally slightly and made his shooting angle more acute than looked necessary, his eventual deft finish into Perrin's bottom right-hand corner carried all the confidence of a forward who has netted five times in his last five games.

City almost doubled their lead two minutes into the second half when Kevin Donovan tricked his way past two Forest Green defenders with some excellent footwork before floating a cross to the far post only for Dave Merris to head wide.

A rare foray into City's box then led to worthwhile penalty appeals from the home team when Griffin seemed to have his heels clipped by Groves but, on this occasion, referee East waved aside the protests.

Otherwise, Groves and on-loan defensive partner Jon Maloney once again appeared unflappable and impenetrable.

Merris again went close on 65 minutes when his 20-yard drive was pushed over by Perrin before Forest Green mustered their first attempt on Porter's goal with Griffin heading wide after an inswinging free kick from Darren Davies.

Moments later, a less dangerous centre from Des Lyttle, punted aimlessly into the City box, lured Porter off his line but the City keeper punched weakly, collided into Graeme Law and the loose ball was handled by Groves.

Griffin netted a lucky 13th goal of the season and his penalty served as a fillip for the home team during the final stages.

The Gloucestershire village side had their second shot on target two minutes from time although Mark Beesley's poorly-struck 20-yard effort almost lacked the power to reach Porter's goal.

Scott Rogers then sliced another attempt wide from a similar distance but a home victory would have been a travesty.

Match facts

Nationwide Conference

Saturday, February 12, 2005

at The Lawn

Forest Green 1, Griffin 72 (penalty)

York City 1, Bishop 35

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

Law 7

Maloney 7

Groves 7

Davies 7

Donovan 7

Dunning 7

Webster 8

Merris 7

Bishop 7

Paul D Robinson 7, (Yalcin 77)

Subs not used: Stockdale, Smith, Paul Robinson, Grant.

Star man: Wesbter - tidy and busy performance from the quickly maturing teenager.

Forest Green: Perrin, Lyttle, Garner, Richardson, Searle, Rogers, Matt Gadsby (Danks, 56), Beesley, Davies, Rapley, Griffin. Subs not used: Williams, Beswetherick, Appleby, Roberts.

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire) Rating: Generally good aside from mysterious penalty decision.

Attendance: 870.

Weather watch: First rain, then sunshine, then more rain and a stiff breeze throughout.

Game breaker: Before referee East pointed to the spot Forest Green looked unlikely to get anything out of the match.

Match rating: City coped better in difficult conditions and should have taken maximum points against a poor home team.

Player watch: Graeme Law

Shots on target: 0.

Shots off target: 0.

Blocked shots: 0.

Passes to own player: 11.

Passes to opposition: 5.

Crosses to own player: 0.

Crosses to opposition: 5.

Pass success rate: 52.4 per cent.

Dribbles ball retained: 2. Dribbles ball lost: 0.

Dribble success rate: 0 per cent.

Headers: 9. Tackles: 8. Offsides: 0.

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 10.

Free kicks won: 0. Free-kicks conceded: 0. Bookings: 0.

Final summary: Graeme Law made a solid return to the starting line-up. He made a healthy eight tackles and managed five crosses into the box although none found a team-mate. His distribution, otherwise, was reasonably reliable.

Updated: 10:48 Monday, February 14, 2005