AFTER the reprieve that everyone was hoping for so to the result.

The 3-1 win over struggling Swansea, City's first victory of 2003 and their first in six attempts, was just what the doctor ordered after the most fretful of weeks.

The size of the home crowd was also richly encouraging and for anyone still believing this football club isn't worth saving what else is going to generate an army of 4,500 smiles in York on a freezing cold Saturday afternoon?

Having said that, City threatened to prolong the agony of recent days with a disjointed first-half performance.

The Minstermen may have been 2-1 up at the break but Swansea had every right to feel aggrieved having played some smart football that belied their lowly status.

To be fair, if the events of recent weeks hadn't left the players drained then the last few days must have done - just 48 hours before they were contemplating the dole queue.

Their weariness and hesitancy was perhaps also reflected in the crowd and atmosphere.

No doubt most supporters arrived at Bootham Crescent hoping for a celebration or fearing a wake.

In the end, they got neither and rather like a condemned man given a stay of execution it was as if no-one quite knew whether to laugh or cry.

The almost surreal mood was enhanced by the fact in the opening 20 minutes or so City threatened to reproduce exactly their performance at Torquay just seven days earlier.

Just as at Plainmoor, City were fortunate not to get caught cold by an early strike - John Williams toe-poking Leon Britton's cross home at the far post only to be adjudged offside.

And in a carbon copy of events at Devon, City took the lead after Michael Reddy was hauled down - Alan Tate tugging his shirt in the penalty area - and Peter Duffield swept home the resultant spot-kick.

Just as against the Gulls, City's lead was also to prove short-lived.

Six minutes after Duffield's spot-kick Swansea were level when former City man Williams centred from the right and Jon Parkin sliced his attempted clearance horribly, so horribly in fact the ball went behind him, beyond Alan Fettis and into the far corner of his own net.

In truth, it was no more than plucky Swansea, who stretched City time and time again with some neat passing and switching of play, deserved.

City continued to live dangerously at the back, with Williams and Kevin Nugent both squandering some decent chances for the visitors, while flickering only briefly in attack.

But in the one major and oh-so significant change to the performance at Torquay, City didn't concede despite some concerted Swans' possession and pressure.

And having remained steadfast and resolute, they were duly rewarded just before the break when Duffield pounced to put City back in front.

Parkin's long throw from the left bounced in the Swansea six-yard box and with Swans' 'keeper Roger Freestone slow to react Duffield nipped in to nod the ball home.

If City were fortunate to be in front at the break, the second half proved a different story as the nervousness of both the crowd and players was washed away.

It took a fine save from Fettis to deflect Nugent's shot up on to the City crossbar but after that early scare the Minstermen took control.

Reddy, in particular, seemed to find an extra spring in his step, propelling City forward time and time again down either flank.

Lee Nogan, with a diving header, and Graham Potter with a side-foot volley from the edge of the area, saw chances go begging as the Minstermen pressed consistently.

Just eight minutes from time Reddy, City and the crowd, who had now cranked up the atmosphere enough to numb the cold, got their reward.

Potter threaded the ball down the left for Reddy, who cut inside the full-back and rammed the ball home from 12 yards.

There was no way back for Swansea and the grimaces of the first half, and indeed the last week, were now firmly dispatched.

Fact file:

York City: Fettis 7, Cooper 7, Parkin 6, Hobson 6, Cowan 6, Potter 7, Brass 7, Bullock 7, Reddy 8, Duffield 8, Nogan 7 Subs (not used): Collinson, Jones, Smith, Fox, Wood Bookings: Duffield 37m Goals: Duffield 8m (pen), 41m, Reddy 82m

Swansea: Freestone, Howard, Tate, Smith, Evans, Williams, Reid (Mumford 74m), Britton, Phillips (Jenkins 56m), Thomas (Richards 64m), Nugent Subs (not used): O'Leary, Watkin Bookings: Tate 7m, Evans 26m, Britton 67m, Smith 67m Goals: Parkin (og) 14m

REFEREE: Alan Butler (Nottinghamshire)

ATTENDANCE: 4,611

Man of the match: Peter Duffield. Two more goals for the hitman but also worked hard for the cause.

Updated: 09:59 Monday, January 20, 2003