NOT the happiest of starts to the new year for York City, but even in defeat admiration for this spirited team continues to grow.

Off-field problems disclosed after the match by manager Terry Dolan put the disappointing result and patchy performance in context.

City were already 3-1 down before a sense of urgency took hold but, given what the players had endured in the previous 24 hours, the fact they were still scrapping and fighting to the end is testament to the character and commitment of these Minstermen.

A tad more luck in front of goal and it could have been a different outcome. City certainly had enough chances in the final half-an-hour to repair the damage and salvage a point.

Maybe it was a case of too little too late, of shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted, but knowing what we do now means it is hard to criticise the players, who were nothing if not totally committed.

That they displayed any stomach for the fight against such an unsettling backdrop means it should be pats on the backs rather than finger pointing.

And while the off-field distractions are taking their toll, it should not be forgotten Scunthorpe United are a good side.

Strong, organised and very competitive, they rarely give an opposition player time and space and when they have possession themselves they move the ball forward quickly.

In Steve Torpey and Martin Carruthers they have perhaps one of the best strike partnerships in the division - as City know to their cost.

Both scored at Glanford Park earlier in the season and again yesterday to make it five successive wins for the Iron over City.

Carruthers, who failed to find the net once during an unsuccessful loan spell at Bootham Crescent three years ago, has now scored in each of his last four games against City.

It was Torpey though, perhaps fortunate to still be on the field after a niggly kick-out at Chris Smith, who opened the scoring yesterday after just 14 minutes.

Tom Cowan over-stretched as he tried to make a tackle and upended Wayne Graves just inside the area.

There was no real dispute it was a penalty, and there was no real dispute from Alan Fettis as Torpey rammed his spot-kick home.

Minutes later Torpey had a chance to double his and United's tally when he raced on to Smith's short back pass but was this time denied by Fettis, who stuck out a leg to deflect the ball on to the post.

City, who prior to Torpey's penalty had looked bright and sharp, now looked out-of-sorts but still managed to grab a surprising, in more ways than one, equaliser as the half-hour mark approached.

The game was just settling into a lull when Darren Edmondson latched on to Andy Dawson's wayward header, drifted inside a couple of challenges before driving the ball home from 18 yards.

Having not scored in more than 100 appearances for City prior to the Minstermen's last outing, Edmondson has now bagged two in two.

The feisty wing-back is in danger of becoming prolific.

But if Edmondson's strike was a belter, Carruther's blast to restore Scunthorpe's advantage just before half-time was even better.

Lee Bullock got caught in possession in midfield by Matthew Sparrow, who rolled the ball out wide to Carruthers, hogging the right touch line.

The former Aston Villa front-man had plenty of options but cut in from the flank before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 25 yards that flew into the far top corner of the net.

A goal down at the break, it was certainly not all doom and gloom for City, who were by no means being outplayed. All that was needed was a bit more va-va-voom.

But instead of moving up a gear after half-time City stalled on the grid and a series of misplaced passes ensured the Minstermen had hardly got out of their half when Scunthorpe added a third on 50 minutes.

It was a goal stunning in its simplicity; Lee Featherstone crossed from the left, Torpey nodded the ball down and Graves lashed it home from 18 yards.

The goal at least woke City from their second-half slumber and their hopes of mounting a fightback were boosted just past the hour mark when Featherstone received his marching orders for hauling back Lee Nogan when the City striker raced on to a long punt from the quick-thinking Fettis.

Potter, Duffield, Parkin and Edmondson all went close as City threw caution to the wind but none went as close as Gary Hobson, who had one effort blocked on the line then moments later saw another close-range stab deflected on to the post.

Duffield too was denied by the woodwork with a dipping shot from 25 yards that clipped the crossbar while Potter arrived with impeccable timing to meet Jon Parkin's low cross but hit his first-time effort too close to United 'keeper Tom Evans.

Try as they might, City could not break through.

But, in the circumstances, that they were trying at all was more than enough.

Fact file:

City: Fettis 7, Edmondson 7, Smith 6 (Cooper 75m), Hobson 8, Cowan 7, Potter 7, Fox 8, Bullock 7, Nogan 6 (Wilding 82m), Duffield 6, Parkin 6.

Subs, not used: Collinson, Wood, Jones.

Goals: Edmondson 26m.

Bookings: Parkin 45m, Fox 90m.

Sent-off: None.

Scunthorpe: Evans, Stanton, Jackson, Byrne, Dawson (Brough 46m), Sparrow, Graves, Kilford (Calvo-Garcia 75m), Featherstone, Carruthers (McCombe 65m), Torpey. Subs, not used: Collins, Parton.

Goals: Torpey (pen) 14m, Carruthers 37m, Graves 50m.

Bookings: Torpey 7m, Byrne 25m, Jackson 45m, McCombe 70m.

Sent-off: Featherstone 63m.

REF: Mark Cowburn (Blackpool)

ATTENDANCE: 4,554

Man of the match: Christian Fox.

Full of running and some careful passing, rarely wasted possession.

Updated: 10:47 Thursday, January 02, 2003