ONE win does not make a season.

But York City and player-chief Chris Brass would be forgiven for not leafing through a few recipe books today in preparation.

For come the end of this campaign, some large portions of humble pie may well be needed for those who have been so quick to write City off.

Had the doom and gloom merchants been at Brunton Park on Saturday then no doubt they are now retraining their sullen sights elsewhere.

On this evidence, City looked a more than useful side and if the controversial dismissal of the gaffer might just steal the headlines it shouldn't rob the team of its thunder.

Certainly, a change in management and flood of new arrivals has done little to diminish the spirit, grit and determination that saw City flirt with promotion last time out.

Even without their inspirational leader for almost an hour, City gritted their teeth and dug in valiantly.

Backs to the wall it might have been, particularly in the second half when the red shirts were virtually coated in brick dust, but it merely underlined the fact there are no passengers or dead weights in this Minstermen squad.

Every player, young, old, new or otherwise, played his part and made a telling contribution.

A clear desire to succeed, mixed with a hefty dose of cohesion and concentration, will prove invaluable as the season progresses.

But, just as importantly and in a significant change to seasons past, allied to City's united front is a healthy sprinkling of class, guile and style.

Mitch Ward looks a real gem in the midfield maelstrom.

Cushioning a high ball with his head then threading a pass out wide to the feet of Darren Edmondson looked a simple gesture but said everything.

Last season, the bouncing ball may not have been cosseted but belted back from where it came.

It must be hoped Christian Fox's injury is not too serious because the young midfielder looked reborn until an Adam Rundle lunge curtailed his involvement.

Taking his lead from Ward, Fox passed carefully but also looked to break forward beyond his forwards whenever the opportunity arose.

Teenager Stuart Wise also caught the eye in defence, particularly in the second half when he took control of the backline in the absence of his boss.

Stepping out of the shadows, Wise seemed to thrive on the extra-responsibility and looked a seasoned pro rather than a first-year rookie.

Dave Merris also looks a real find at left-wing-back. The youngster was given a grilling by Brendan McGill but stuck to his task and impressed with his surging runs forward.

But for a bit more composure in front of goal, Merris could well have marked his debut with a goal but slammed his close-range effort against the bar.

By then, 18 minutes in, City were already 2-1 up in a remarkable opening to the opening day.

Just 58 seconds were on the clock when Lee Bullock bundled City into the lead, after his initial diving header and Fox's follow-up were parried by Matt Glennon in the Carlisle goal.

If management was looking a cake walk for Brass, reality returned just three minutes later when Paul Raven took advantage of a static defence to head home Paul Simpson's free-kick from 12 yards.

Despite the setback, City continued to make positive progress and just eight minutes later their patient approach was rewarded as assistant player-coach Lee Nogan produced a sweet-half-volley, spinning marker Raven to latch on to Bullock's flick header, and fire home from 16 yards.

City continued to look the more accomplished of the two sides with their assured distribution, although the dismissal of Brass and Steve Livingstone changed the complexion.

Certainly, Carlisle dominated possession in the second half and tried to take the game to City.

But for all their new intentions, the Cumbrians forced just one save from Mark Ovendale, who did well to tip Simpson's low drive around a post. City threw a red blanket across their penalty area and on the hottest of days stifled the life out of Carlisle.

But it wasn't just the Cumbrians left to get hot under the collar. Even at this early stage, the bookies, having priced City at 40-1 for the title, must also be feeling the heat.

Match stats:

Carlisle 1 (Raven 4)

City 2 (Bullock 1, Nogan 13)

Ovendale 7 - Experience told

Edmondson 7 - Spirit never in doubt

Wise 8 - Grew in stature

Brass 6 - Saw red

Hope 6 - Solid if unspectacular

(Wood 63m 7 - Fine challenges)

Merris 7 - Very promising debut

Ward 8 - Class shone through

Fox 8 - Great runs and fine passing

(Cooper 60m 6 - Got stuck in)

Dunning 6 - Chased and harried

Bullock 7- Scored one, made one

*Nogan 8 - Never stopped running

Subs: Porter, Downes, Smith

Carlisle: Glennon, Birch (Rundle HT), Raven, Kelly, Murphy, Foran (Wake 84m), Billy, Simpson (Baldacchino 69m), McGill, Livingstone, Farrell

Subs: Maddison, McDonagh

Yellow cards: Dunning 34, Billy 34, Hope 61, Baldachinno 90

Red cards: Livingstone (Carlisle), Brass (City) both 34

Referee: Alan Butler (Notts) - Got his one big decision badly wrong

Attendance: 7,261

Weather watch: More Caribbean than Cumbrian

Game breaker: Dismissals took sting out of City's tail

Match rating: Plenty of incidents but weather and red cards drained good intentions

Updated: 09:48 Monday, August 11, 2003