York City player-boss Chris Brass has admitted that his team's next two games are vital after results on Saturday left the Minstermen just four points above the Division Three relegation drop zone.

City, whose home match with Yeovil was rained off at 1.30pm, dropped to 19th at the weekend with second-bottom Macclesfield - the next visitors to Bootham Crescent on Sunday, April 4 - now four points behind after a 4-1 victory at Kidderminster.

Brass' men also travel to Bristol Rovers this Saturday and the Pirates lie just one point behind in 21st spot.

The City boss said: "We are playing two sides that are down there with us next and it is vital that we get something out of them.

"All nine games between now and the end of the season are big ones and we were looking forward to Saturday's game after having a good week's training following a good result against Torquay.

"We wanted it on but it was not possible and now we must keep the spirits high and approach the Bristol Rovers game with the same confidence as we had last week."

Saturday's postponement also means Brass' four-match suspension will now be extended another seven days to include this weekend's trip to the Memorial Stadium.

City's player-boss had hoped to watch Doncaster v Darlington after the Yeovil match was called off but could not get out of York in time.

Match referee Graham Laws admitted that the decision to postpone Saturday's match with Yeovil was not even a marginal one.

The pitch quickly became unplayable after a freak 20-minute rain-storm started at 1pm. Laws called the game off after a pitch inspection half-an-hour later.

Strong gales also caused Third Division matches at Mansfield and Northampton to be abandoned but the Tyne and Wear official confirmed that the fearsome winds buffeting Bootham Crescent on Saturday would not have caused a postponment without the rain.

He said: "It was not even a marginal decision. It was a clear-cut one that unfortunately we had to make.

"When we arrived at 12.30pm the pitch was fine and there were terrific playing conditions but, at 1pm, we had a torrential downpour of rain which, within 15 to 20 minutes, made the pitch totally unplayable.

"You can play in wind but there was heavy surface water throughout the whole pitch that made playing impossible. We even discussed the possibility of delaying the kick-off to try to get the game on in view of the travelling Yeovil support but, unfortunately, there was too much water and the pitch will be unplayable for some time to be honest."

City's next scheduled home game is against Macclesfield on Sunday, April 4 but the reserves are due to entertain Doncaster on Wednesday afternoon.

Laws is becoming somewhat of an unlucky omen at Bootham Crescent with the fixture representing his second successive postponement.

He said: "The last time I came was against Lincoln and that was rained off as well so I'm sure the club are hoping they do not get me again. I love coming to York - it's one of my favourite clubs but I am not very lucky when I am here."

York City juniors won 1-0 at Wrexham on Saturday in the Football League Youth Alliance Northern section division threewith an 85th-minute goal.

Updated: 10:19 Monday, March 22, 2004