JOHN Batchelor's pledge that Bootham Crescent will be an exciting place to be this season was realised in just 20 second-half minutes on Saturday.

From 3-0 up and coasting, it went to 3-3 in little more than a blink of an eye before a wonderful goal finally sealed the win. Basically, the Minstermen took their fans on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that no fun-fair could ever hope to match.

Certainly, after this seven-goal thriller the tag of 'the grinders' can be consigned to the dustbin and any more repeat performances will see City looked upon as more maverick than their chairman.

In fact, perhaps 'the teasers' is now a more appropriate City moniker.

It is too much to suggest it is all part of a masterplan to attract the crowds back to Bootham Crescent.

But after a late, late goal at Macclesfield to salvage a point, a second-half fightback against Shrewsbury and now a cake-walk to catastrophe and back again versus Torquay, it is almost as if City are enjoying taking their supporters to the edge of despair before hauling them back from the brink.

The fact City are enjoying their football again - even if it is with a sadistic streak - is significant.

In recent seasons, playing at home has looked more of a burden than an advantage.

Bootham Crescent may not yet be a fortress where teams fear to come but City, having now gone seven games unbeaten at home, no longer resemble a rabbit trapped in the headlights whenever they take to the pitch.

Perhaps it was the stifling heat, but City made the ball do the work with some confident passing, both short and long.

Given the baking temperatures, the first half was a surprisingly lively affair and for all City's new-found confidence Torquay refused to sit back for a point.

Early efforts from Kevin Hill, Tony Bedeau and Jason Fowler suggested United were going to be nobody's pushovers. But it was City who drew first blood, with their first shot on target.

Gary Hobson's ball forward was knocked down by Jon Parkin and Peter Duffield volleyed goalwards from the edge of the area.

His shot was low and accurate but seemed to lack pace until Torquay's debutant goalkeeper Jamie Attwell let the ball slip under his body.

Despite the setback, the visitors continued to pass, press and pepper the City goal. The Minstermen too were not without their moments and finished the half strongly as from Scott Jones' corner Tom Cowan just failed to keep his near post header down.

Although the football of the first period was easy on the eye, there was little to suggest the match was about to turn into the humdinger that it became.

Torquay made a substitution at half-time and changed their formation as Neil Prince was withdrawn and Marcus Richardson was sent on to join Howard Forinton in attack.

It appeared rather too little too late for the visitors as within less than ten minutes of the restart City looked home and dry.

Lee Nogan doubled City's advantage on 49 minutes when his shot from the edge of the area looped over Attwell, hit the crossbar and bounced down over the line.

Minutes later Parkin made it 3-0 when he latched on to Chris Brass's through-ball and side-footed it past the luckless Attwell.

Torquay looked down and out but clambered up off the canvas to deliver a telling blow of their own - Sean Hankin's free-kick from the edge of the area sailing over the City wall and beyond the out-stretched arm of Marlon Beresford.

Eight minutes later a mistake by Darren Edmondson saw Alex Russell provide a decisive pass for Richardson to make it 3-2.

Four minutes later Matthew Hockley volleyed home at the far post from Howard Forinton's cross.

While letting slip a three-goal lead should hardly be encouraged, at least it provided City with the opportunity to emphasise their new-found steel. Having been pegged back to 3-3, it would have been all too easy for City to have capitulated.

But after drawing breath, City regained the initiative with a well crafted goal.

Brass and Nogan combined well down the right before the City skipper chipped over a delightful cross to the far post where Parkin arrived with impeccable timing to head home.

Another encouraging sign was that having got back in front City refused to sit back and continued to push forward.

Duffield fired over before substitute Alex Mathie almost added a fifth after a fine solo run but rolled his shot the wrong side of the post.

York City:

Beresford 7, Edmondson 7, Smith 7 (Okoli 50m, 6), Jones 7, Hobson 7, Cowan 7, Brackstone 7, Brass 8, Duffield 7, Nogan 7 (Mathie 90m), Parkin 7 (Wilding 84m). Subs, not used: Collinson, Fox. Goals: Duffield 15, Nogan 49, Parkin 53, 73 Bookings: Jones 26m (foul). Sent-off: None

Torquay:

Attwell, Hockley, Hazell, Woozley, Hankin, Bedeau (Ashington 87m), Fowler, Russell, Prince (Richardson HT), Hill, Forinton. Subs, not used: Dearden, Benefield, Douglin. Goals: Hankin 56, Richardson 64, Hockley 66. Bookings: Hankin 20m (foul), Fowler 62m (foul). Sent-off: None.

REFEREE: Mike Ryan (Preston)

ATTENDANCE: 3,203

Man of the match: Chris Brass. Set up two of City's goals and was a calming influence in the midst of Torquay's fightback.

Updated: 09:31 Monday, August 19, 2002