EVERYBODY knows what too many cooks are supposed to spoil.

But without wanting to over-egg the pudding, another handful of Lee Cooks wouldn't go amiss for York City.

City manager Terry Dolan had admitted his team had lost their spark in recent weeks and the loan signing's twinkle-toes certainly provided it at St James Park.

The Watford winger looked a real gem, mixing style with substance to shine almost as bright as the Devon sunshine.

He capped his debut with a superbly taken goal and was only denied a second by the woodwork.

But in so many other ways Cook made his mark to leave a lasting impression.

Cook was the catalyst for all City's best moments. His ability to prise open the Exeter defence with some superbly weighted passes in behind was just one plus.

His pace and ability to carry the ball also helped City to turn defence into attack in the blink of eye, so relieving the pressure on the visitors' rearguard.

And more simply, Cook, with his directness, unpredictability and determination to take on an opponent, was a joy to watch.

Every time he had the ball at his feet he had the Exeter defence back-pedalling and the watching crowd on the edge of their seats.

In doing so, he swept away the growing fear that City had become too reliant on the size and muscle of Jon Parkin to make an impact.

Cook's presence and confidence seemed to lift his team-mates too, although this was certainly no one-man show from the Minstermen.

The defence of Chris Smith, Chris Brass and Gary Hobson deserve praise for remaining concentrated and resolute throughout, particularly under some considerable pressure from the home side in the second half.

In midfield, Lee Bullock had perhaps his best game of the season, constantly looking to break from the centre of the park, while Stephen Brackstone continues to show no shortage of class.

Up front, Lee Nogan and Peter Duffield are finding goals hard to come by, but the duo dovetailed well and work as always relentlessly and intelligently.

But while his team-mates deserve top billing, it was Cook who was the real star of the show and in effect the decisive difference between the teams.

Exeter played some pleasant football at times, but most of it was outside the City penalty area and a lack of a cutting edge was all too apparent inside the first ten minutes.

The lively James Coppinger cut in from the right and inside both Graham Potter and Chris Brass but - with the goal at his mercy - fired his shot straight at Alan Fettis.

Moments later and Steve Flack fluffed an open goal after pinching the ball from Fettis' grasp and then rolling it wide of the empty net.

Slowly, City warmed to their task with Cook pointing the way.

A delightful chip in behind the Exeter defence put Nogan in the clear but as the City striker poised to shoot Michael Simpkins got in a decisive block.

As half-time approached, Cook picked up the ball just inside the Exeter half, burst forward then threaded the ball through the Grecians' defence for top scorer Duffield, who sliced his shot horribly wide.

It looked a costly miss but seconds later it was all forgotten as Cook ghosted past a floundering Neil Whitworth and lashed the ball into the roof of the net - not so much a spark as an exploding stick of dynamite.

After the break, City continued to press with both Duffield and Cook just inches away from latching on to Darren Edmondson's superb cross.

Exeter had plenty of possession and forced plenty of pressure from free-kicks and corners.

But while Fettis came and claimed more crosses than an 'A'-Level exam paper only once did the Grecians actually force a save from the City 'keeper, and that was in the final minute when veteran front-man Don Goodman headed tamely into his arms.

In any case, with the fleet-footed Cook as an outlet, letting Exeter creep forward almost played into City hands.

A superb pass from Smith sent the young winger on his way and after cutting in from the left Cook was desperately unlucky to see his low drive cannon back off the inside of an Exeter upright.

Duffield too was only denied a return to goal-getting ways by a superb save from Kevin Miller after City's top scorer burst through the Exeter defence.

The misses, unfortunate though they were, made for an anxious last ten minutes but, in reality, City never really looked like throwing their slender lead away.

Cook had provided the recipe for success and the long journey back to North Yorkshire tasted all that much sweeter because of his telling ingredient.

Fact file:

Exeter City: Miller, Hiley (McConnell 49m), Simpkins, Whitworth, Power, Coppinger, Ampadu, Walker, Roscoe (Sheldon 46m), Goodman, Flack (Cronin 46m). Subs (not used): Fraser, Gaia. Bookings: Ampadu (39min, foul).

York City: Fettis 6, Edmondson 7, Smith 8, Brass 8, Hobson 8, Potter 6, Bullock 7, Brackstone 7, Duffield 6 (Mazzina 90), Nogan 6 (Parkin 71m), Cook 8 (Wood 15m). Subs (not used): Howarth, Okoli

Goal: Cook 43min Bookings: Edmondson 4m, Cook 50m (both fouls).

REF: Phil Crossley (Kent)

ATTENDANCE: 3,187

Man of the match: Lee Cook. The decisive goal, but contributed in so many other ways too.

Updated: 11:25 Monday, October 07, 2002