WHAT a difference 12 months makes.

When the club's off-field saga hit the headlines this time last year, York City were a team struggling with form and confidence. Only the slightest thing needed to upset the cart and if they had conceded an early goal then, they would have struggled to come back.

However, while the club's financial plight has worsened since then, the resolve, spirit and battling attitude of the players has gone from strength to strength.

The class of 2002/3 are made of sterner stuff. They have ridden out the troubles once before and they are determined to do the same again, but this time by taking City into Division Two.

Having endured the week from hell - with firstly the farcical ending to the Bootham Crescent Holdings annual general meeting, and then seeing the club put into administration - City can be forgiven for their below-par first half display.

Steve Watts' first goal on-loan for Lincoln after seven minutes did little to ease the pressure felt by all the Minstermen squad, and the Imps could really have been three goals to the good just after the break.

But as they shook off the shackles after the break, the City squad grew in confidence and fully deserved a share of the points. Richard Cooper's stunning left-footed drive from outside the box sending the crowd and bench into raptures.

A quiet opening to the match saw City struggle to get out of the blocks. And matters were not helped as first Stuart Wise slipped as he tried to intercept Stuart Bimson's ball to Peter Gain, but then allowed Watts to pick up the pass from the Lincoln midfielder and drift across the box. With the slightest of openings Watts pulled the trigger to send the ball past Alan Fettis.

City's main problem in the first half was getting the ball into the box, with too many wasted opportunities. However when they managed to get the crosses in they always looked a threat, with Lee Bullock heading against the top of the bar, Alan Marriott punching clear from the head of Peter Duffield and saving from Michael Reddy and Bimson scrambling the ball clear.

But five minutes before half-time, Lincoln should have scored after a comedy of errors. Darren Edmondson's attempted clearance was blocked by Gain with the ball rebounding to an unmarked Watts. The Orient striker squared the ball to Richard Butcher who stepped back across Wise, but with just Fettis to beat he fired high.

Immediately after half-time, Butcher found Dene Cropper running through, but this time the feet of Fettis stopped a possible second goal.

As the half wore on City grew in confidence, with replacements Christian Fox and Cooper picking the passes in midfield and Edmondson and Reddy supplying the ammunition.

But when Duffield somehow hit the post from six yards out from Reddy's cross, it seemed it would not be City's night.

However, the Minstermen continued to push and probe and they found the equaliser ten minutes from time. Edmondson swung the ball in, only for Ben Futcher to head the ball clear. There seemed little but the ball fell to Cooper, who struck the ball sweetly with his weaker left foot and it flew past a helpless Marriott.

City weren't quite finished, with only a despairing last-ditch tackle from Simon Weaver denying Lee Nogan a late winner.

Fact file:

York City: Fettis 6, Edmondson 8, Cowan 8, Parkin 7, Bullock 6, Nogan 7, Duffield 6, Potter 6, Brackstone 5 (Fox 32 7), Wise 5 (Cooper 51 7), Reddy 6. Subs (not used), Collinson, Hobson, Wood.

Cautions: None. Sendings off: None

Lincoln City: Marriott, Bailey, Bimson, Weaver, Morgan, Futcher, Butcher, Sedgemore (Willis 75), Cropper (Yeo 59), Gain, Watts (Dykes 78). Subs (not used): Pettinger, Cornelly

Cautions: None. Sendings off: None

REF: Paul Danson (Leicestershire)

ATTENDANCE: 3,411

Man of the match: Darren Edmondson. Tough call between him and Tom Cowan, Edmondson got the nod for his tireless workrate and willingness th attack

Updated: 12:39 Saturday, December 21, 2002