THIS outgoing year will always be remembered as the year York City's supporters assumed control of their football club and, yesterday, Chris Brass's team gave their fans the best possible end to an historic 12 months at Bootham Crescent.

City produced a professional performance to end a four-month wait for an away win, with a brace from assistant manager Lee Nogan securing a 2-1 victory at Rochdale.

Nogan's second goal spared the blushes of boss Brass who conceded a penalty for the second successive match, this one providing Rochdale with a second half equaliser.

But the Minstermen, who have failed to hold on to leads at Cheltenham and Torquay in recent away games, displayed the grit and determination that epitomises their manager to conjure up a winning goal.

The City boss will now be hoping that two victories from the club's three Christmas fixtures points towards a New Year in which his side will acquire the winning habit again.

If City are to mount a play-off challenge - and they go into January just two points off a top-seven place - then some of the draws that hampered progress in October and November must be turned into victories.

However, given the emphasis on survival as the first priority at the start of the season, it is a testimony to Brass and his players that promotion is even being contemplated going into 2004.

City's first away win since August 23 at Huddersfield should certainly remove any psychological barriers caused by an 11-match run without a victory on the club's travels.

It was also achieved against a Rochdale team who appear to be in a false league position.

Only Alan Buckley's 20th-placed side and big-spending Hull have taken maximum points at Bootham Crescent this season and in Leo Bertos, Kevin Townson and Patrick McCourt, Rochdale have three talented performers whose ball trickery causes constant concern.

Gareth Griffiths is also a towering presence at the back but, yesterday, it was City who fought and ran harder on their way to victory.

Centre-back Richard Hope returned to City's three-man defence and stretched his unbeaten partnership with Brass and Chris Smith to an eighth league game.

Further upfield, goalscoring midfielder Lee Bullock was preferred to on-loan signing Jon Shaw in attack but it was the modest Nogan who hogged the limelight.

City's player-coach enjoyed a 100 per cent strike rate, netting from his only two chances in a clinical afternoon, and more displays of that nature could even force Brass to abandon his search for a proven marksman.

Nogan's first goal, however, was only the game's deadlock breaker because of two excellent saves from Mark Ovendale.

The City goalkeeper produced a brilliantly instinctive one-handed stop to deny Andy Bishop after five minutes with Brass reacting quickly to block a second goal attempt.

Ovendale then beat out Paul Connor's firm shot on 22 minutes to keep City on level terms.

York created little in the opening stages but remained prudent and patient in possession and went ahead with their first chance on 28 minutes.

Dave Merris won the ball on the left and fed the ball to Darren Dunning, whose excellent low cross bounced dangerously across the six-yard box and found Nogan at the far post.

The experienced striker did the rest, sidefooting into the roof of the net.

Frustrated home fans, who have seen their side win only three times at Spotland this season, booed their players off the pitch at half-time and Buckley responded by introducing lively duo Townson and McCourt.

Both players gave Rochdale a fresh attacking impetus and Simon Grand headed over from a McCourt corner on 47 minutes.

The home side were then offered a route back into the game two minutes later when Brass was adjudged to have pulled an opponent to the ground for the second successive game.

On this occasion, the infringement was an off-the-ball incident from another McCourt corner and surprised the majority of the 2,764 crowd.

Townson placed the spot-kick low to Ovendale's right but was ordered to retake the penalty after a team-mate encroached into the area.

The Rochdale striker remained unruffled, however, and sent his second effort straight down the middle as Ovendale dived to his right.

City's response was spirited and, within minutes, Bullock went close with a header after Edmondson's cross.

Dunning then fired a free-kick high and wide before Nogan netted his second on 77 minutes.

Some nimble footwork by the recalled Mitch Ward released Edmondson for a raid down the right and the City captain's low centre found Nogan, who took one touch before firing an accurate shot in off home goalkeeper Neil Edwards' right-hand post.

It was the striker's sixth goal of the season, moving him ahead of Bullock as City's top marksman and provoking rapturous applause from the travelling faithful when he was replaced by Shaw four minutes later.

Edwards made his only save of the afternoon seconds later when Brass' long punt from inside his own half proved City's only other on-target effort aside from Nogan's goals.

Referee Michael Ryan then played almost six minutes of stoppage time during which Shaw escaped further censure than a yellow card when he bloodied Griffiths' nose with a flailing elbow.

The on-loan Sheffield Wednesday forward then saw a deflected shot loop over the bar with an unmarked Bullock screaming for a square pass.

Ryan's whistle moments afterwards saw the away supporters begin their New Year celebrations prematurely.

And they will all no doubt be hoping that 2004 will bring a happy resolution to the uncertainty concerning the club's future home ground.

Nationwide League Div 3

Sunday, December 28, 2003

at Spotland

Rochdale 1 - Townson 49 pen

York City 2 - Nogan 28 76

City ratings:

Ovendale 8

Edmondson 7

Smith 8

Brass 7

Hope 7

Merris 7

Ward 7

Cooper 7 (Brackstone, 86)

Dunning 7

Bullock 8

Nogan 9 (Shaw, 81)

Subs not used: Fox, Porter, Davies.

Star Man: Lee Nogan - two cool finishes secured vital win.

Key: 10 Faultless, 9 Outstanding, 8 Excellent, 7 Eye-catching, 6 Good, 5 Average, 4 Below-par, 3 Dud, 2 Hopeless, 1 Retire

Rochdale: Edwards, Evans, Griffiths, Grand (Donovan, 84), Simpkins, Bertos, Beech, Doughty (McCourt, 46) McLare, Bishop (Townson, 46), Connor. Subs not used: Gilks, Warner.

Yellow cards: Edmondson 22, Smith 36, Simpkins 40, Evans 43, Grand 61, Beech 65, Shaw 90.

Red cards: None

Referee: Michael Ryan (Lancashire). Rating: Keen to take centre-stage

Attendance: 2,764

Weather watch: Blustery with intermittent showers

Game breaker: Nogan's second goal dented Rochdale's confidence

Match rating: Good footballing contest on a well-conditioned pitch

Updated: 08:51 Monday, December 29, 2003