A SECOND successive defeat for York City and on the surface the Minstermen's spectacular start to the season is in danger of becoming a distant memory.

Those who predicted doom and gloom at the start of the campaign will no doubt be feeling rather smug.

But the 'told you so' brigade should refrain for the time being. These are still the earliest of times and even in defeat City's stock continues to rise.

True, Rochdale were much the sharper team in the first half and made City pay for a lack of concentration and some poor defending. Few could have begrudged the visitors their 2-0 advantage at the break.

But as disappointing as City were in that opening period as impressive they were in the second.

Too little, too late it might have been, but that City were so very disappointing in the first half but still ended the game feeling aggrieved says much.

It certainly makes for a refreshing change to seasons past when losing City sides have shrugged their shoulders and accepted their fate while wishing for the final whistle to blow.

On Saturday, it was heartening to see City players take responsibility, demand the ball, carry the fight and show genuine determination to put right their first half misdemeanours.

Such attitude and character counts for much in Division Three and will be worth more than a few points this season.

Clutching at straws? Maybe.

But City will also point to four gilt-edged opportunities that had just one hit the jackpot would have changed the complexion.

The first came inside the opening minute when from Mitch Ward's inswinging free-kick Lee Bullock's glancing header was cleared off the line by Rochdale's Paul Connor.

Five minutes later came City's second golden opportunity. Dave Merris charged down a defensive clearance and the ricochet put Lee Nogan in the clear.

The impressive Matthew Gilks raced quickly from his line to narrow the angle and Nogan could only place his shot wide of an upright.

In between, Dale also squandered a good opportunity when Michael Simpkins centred from the left and Leo Bertos screwed his far post effort into the side netting from close range.

It should have been a warning to City but it went unheeded.

On 15 minutes, Simpkins was given far too much room from the left to centre again and Kevin Townson was able to steal in through a static City defence to nod home past Mark Ovendale.

Less than five minutes later and Dale doubled their advantage.

Once again Simpkins was the source, his cross this time met perfectly by Bertos, who side-footed home with a sharp half-volley from ten yards.

Their early gusto quickly punctured by Rochdale's double whammy, City showed plenty of perspiration thereafter but little in the way of inspiration.

The intention to pass and move was evident but it was all rather forced and when City did find themselves in good positions balls were flung into the box in hope rather than expectation.

The second half was to prove a different story, even though it began very much like its predecessor with City cursing their ill-fortune in front of goal.

Richard Hope was left thumping the ground in frustration when, from another Ward centre, his towering header was clawed out from under the crossbar by Gilks.

Seconds later, Nogan soared head and shoulders above his marker only for his header to smack back off the crossbar.

Undeterred, City rolled forward almost relentlessly, their head of steam only temporarily quelled by the sendings off of Stuart Wise and Connor.

The Dale striker clearly upended the City defender with a reckless lunge but Wise did himself no favours by reacting and the two went head to head like fighting stags.

Fortunately, the dismissals failed to knock City from their stride and within minutes the Minstermen were back in the game with a well-worked goal.

A nap hand of City players were involved in the one-touch build-up before substitute striker Aron Wilford collected the ball on the edge of the area.

With his back to goal, Wilford turned sharply and drilled a low drive into the bottom corner.

City continued to press but found Gilks in impressive form, the Dale 'keeper producing two smart saves to deny headers from Bullock and Chris Brass.

Nogan and Bullock both went close again as City not so much knocked at the door but gave it a right hammering. It was not enough.

"Winners bounce back" declared Brass in his programme notes.

City will have to, but their second half showing suggested they are already on the rebound.

Match stats:

Goals: (Wilford 73); (Townson 15, Bertos 19)

City: Ovendale 5, Downes 5, Wise 5, Brass 6, Hope 7, Merris 5, Ward 5, Dunning 6, Bullock 8, Nogan 6, George 5.

Subs: Cooper for Downes (82m), Brackstone for Ward (79m), Wilford 7 for George (70m)

Star Man: Lee Bullock, shone with late runs

Rochdale: Gilks, Evans, Burgess, Grand, Simpkins, Bertos, Betts, McClare, Doughty (Griffiths 82m), Connor, Townson (McCourt 90m)

Subs, not used: Edwards, Beech, Duffy

Yellow cards: Simpkins 64m, Griffiths 80m, Betts 90m (all Rochdale)

Red cards: Connor 69m (Rochdale), Wise 69m (City)

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire) Rating: Let the game flow

Attendance: 3,982

Weather watch: Sunshine through the clouds

Game breaker: First minute goal line clearance to deny Bullock proved an 'if only' moment

Match rating: Plenty of entertainment

Updated: 09:12 Monday, September 08, 2003