YORK City chief Terry Dolan was full of praise of his squad after they emerged from their week from hell with a battling 1-1 draw against Lincoln City last night.

Richard Cooper, back from a ten-month injury nightmare, struck the equaliser ten minutes from time after on-loan Steve Watts had given the visitors an early first half lead.

However, having seen his squad have to deal with the fact they are playing for nothing with the club going into adminstration, Dolan could find no fault with his charges - not even after a sluggish first half.

Dolan said: "I think the first half summed up everyone's feelings. The players and staff are all emotionally drained with what is going on, but it is full marks to everybody for the way they fought back in the second half.

"The players are a good bunch, but it doesn't make it an easier with what has gone on this week.

"Thanks to the weather of the Vale of York this week we have had three days where we have had to train indoors because the pitches have been frozen. When you think of this happening and all the off the field events, then I've nothing but admiration for everyone of those players.

"We talked about one or two things at half-time as we weren't moving the ball quick enough and we weren't switching it quick enough, but in the second half we went out and did it.

"Maybe it took 45 minutes to blow the cobwebs out of our system both from a physical and a mental point of view because I tell you it is not easy.

"We are always positive and always expected that we could get an equaliser and maybe the winner.

"Our passing in the second half was excellent. We had to make changes with Stuart Wise and Stephen Brackstone coming off, so we had to alter things a little bit, but Christian Fox came on and got hold off the ball in the second half and showed his passing ability."

Dolan was also pleased to see former Nottingham Forest trainee Cooper mark his return to action with a sensational left-footed volley from outside the box.

Such was Cooper's delight he braved the cold to take off his shirt in celebration.

"It was brilliant for young Richard," added Dolan. "I did say to him though that he wasn't in the Premiership so there was no need to take his shirt off, but I was only joking. He was just showing his delight. Just being back in the team was enough for him, but to get the equaliser capped a magnificent second half performance from us."

Updated: 10:43 Saturday, December 21, 2002