BEFORE kick-off, the talk was that this clash with Scunthorpe would be an acid test of York City's promotion credentials, a chance to gauge whether the Minstermen's promising start was the real deal.

The Iron may have suffered a disappointing start to the season but any side featuring the likes of Andrew Dawson, Alex Calvo-Garcia, Steve Torpey, Martin Carruthers and Peter Beagrie are likely to be in the mix come the end of the campaign.

Defeat then would suggest City failed, the talk of promotion and play-offs is premature and it is back down to reality with a bump.

But in terms of general performance City were the better team and as an attacking force the Minstermen emerged with flying colours.

The statistics of a richly entertaining game tell the story - City had twice as many shots on target as the home team, probably double the amount off-beam, while racking up nine corners compared to Scunthorpe's six.

What proved City's undoing were yet more defensive lapses and costly individual errors, the first coming with less than 50 seconds on the clock.

Scott Jones scuffed his clearance only as far as Steve Torpey, who released Martin Carruthers in the inside right channel.

Carruthers fired goalwards and Torpey stuck out a boot as the ball was bundled past Marlon Beresford, although the final intervention may have come from a City defender.

It was a disastrous start for the Minstermen but, in another cause for comfort, unlike seasons past when City have had a tendency to buckle beyond repair after falling behind, there was no sense of panic.

Dilligently, the team dusted themselves down, regrouped and set about repairing the damage.

Lee Nogan went close but, after taking the ball beyond Tom Evans in the United goal, a heavy first touch saw the ball run out for a goal-kick before City finally got back on level terms on 25 minutes.

With the giant Jon Parkin the obvious focus of Scunthorpe's attention, Stephen Brackstone's corner was allowed to drift to the far post where Peter Duffield stooped to score his fourth goal in as many games.

Having done so well to get back on level terms, the game looked there for the taking only for City to relax their grip.

Peter Beagrie had already fired two warning shots across the City bows with a long-range effort that crashed against the bar and another from distance that licked the paintwork.

But those warnings went unheeded as with just five minutes to go before the haven of half-time, the Iron regained the lead.

A simple ball forward released Carruthers but as the ex-City loanee poised to shoot Chris Smith produced an immaculate tackle that appeared to divert the danger.

The ball ran loose to Matt Sparrow only for Jones to intervene and inexplicably miscue his clearance back into the danger zone where Carruthers was on hand to rifle home.

It was another poor goal to concede but yet again City refused to wallow in self-pity and in the second-half were for the most part dominant.

Their passing, probing and switching off play were yet more plus points, while in defence Torpey and Carruthers were finally brought under some sort of control.

All that was lacking was the end product as Smith had a header cleared off the line, Nogan saw a goal-bound shot deflected wide and Parkin, Duffield and Brackstone all went close from distance.

Half-chances became golden opportunities in stoppage time - some eight minutes worth - but a Parkin thunderbolt was deflected wide, Duffield headed over from six-yards and substitute Lee Bullock's soaring header fell the wrong side of the post.

The reaction of the 670 travelling fans summed it up best.

Against Macclesfield on the opening day of the season, City played poorly against a mediocre team and were booed from the pitch despite scraping a point.

On Saturday, City left Glanford Park pointless but the applause was considerable.

Match facts:

York City: Beresford 6, Edmondson 7, Smith 6, Jones 5 (Wise HT - Rogeriro 67), Hobson 7, Cowan 7, Brass 6, Brackstone 6 (Bullock 83), Nogan 7, Parkin 7, Duffield 7 Subs (not used): Fettis Mathie

Bookings: Brackstone 62m (foul) Goals: Cowan 68m, (foul)

Scunthorpe: Evans, Stanton, Cotterill, Jackson, Dawson, Beagrie (Barwick 90m), Sparrow (Brough 54m), Graves, Calvo-Garcia, Torpey, Carruthers Subs (not used): Collins, McCombe, Wheatcroft

Bookings: Carruthers 45m (unsporting conduct), Torpey 59m (foul) Goals: Torpey 1m, Carruthers 40m

Attendance: 3,540

Man of the match: Jon Parkin - Worked tirelessly, whether up front or in defence

Referee: Eddie Evans (Manchester)

Updated: 09:14 Monday, August 26, 2002