THE season starts here for York City, for just how the Minstermen bounce back from this rude awakening should tell us much about their character and stomach for the fight.

It was not as if City were steamrollered by Hull, for while they deserved their win a 4-0 scoreline certainly flattered the Tigers.

Indeed, City had at least a nap-hand of good chances to score and on a different day the spoils of battle could have been shared.

But if the truth be known Hull seemed to enjoy a vital edge all over the park and packed just that much more power.

It must be hoped this will be a salutary lesson for City then, who have perhaps been finding their feet in recent weeks.

They've made a decent fist of it and shown the basement need not always be biff-bang wallop. There is a place for assured distribution.

But there is also a time for donning the hard hats and digging in and on Saturday City looked a side short of steel to complement the guile.

Although there had been little to separate the two sides up to that point, it was always going to be difficult once City fell behind on 23 minutes.

Lee Philpott's inswinging free-kick lacked real venom but three City heads seemed to miss the ball, which dropped at the far post allowing Nick Mohan to scuff his shot home.

With their tails up, the Tigers looked like a side clicking into gear and for a while the danger signs were flashing for City.

But from being on the rack and reeling, City regrouped and managed to get more than a foot-hold in the match.

Lee Bullock started the ball rolling with a long range effort from 30 yards that Matt Glennon could only turn around the post at full stretch.

Bullock's blast proved the catalyst as suddenly City surged forward in numbers; Lee Nogan screwing a good chance wide after another neat build-up involving Bullock and Darren Edmondson before Nick Richardson sent a raking effort skimming just over the bar from Richard Cooper's cross.

The Tigers had a couple of chances to add to their tally, Julian Johnsson flashing a shot at the second attempt just wide and Mohan directing another far post header the wrong side of the upright.

But City's late flurry, in which possession was cherished, the passing precise and the movement sharp gave good reason for hope come the start of the second half.

Certainly, as the second 45 minutes got underway there was little to indicate of what was to come.

Nogan created some space to fire in a useful effort, then put Michael Proctor in the clear only for Glennon to race from his line to snuff out the danger.

But just as City suggested they were up for the fight the match took a decisive turn for the worst.

Theodore Whitmore, withdrawn to a midfield role at the start of the second-half, picked up the ball just inside City's half, played a neat one-two with Lawrie Dudfield, then pierced through the City defence like a hot knife through butter.

Edmondson did well to make up lost ground, stuck out a leg and certainly seemed to win the ball, but at the same time the City defender appeared to pull Whitmore's shirt and it was that offence which referee Phil Richards deemed a penalty.

Dudfield made no mistake from the spot, coolly sending Alan Fettis the wrong way.

Despite the body blow, City could have been on level terms by the time the Tigers started rubbing salt in Minstermen wounds.

Hull were certainly grateful to Glennon for two brilliant saves to deny two point-blank headers in as many minutes from Bullock and then John Fielding before Gary Alexander piled on the misery on 73 minutes.

Dudfield too easily burst down the left and from the by-line centred for the ex-Southampton striker, who was given far too much time to turn and shoot past a helpless Fettis.

City continued to probe; Bullock pulling his shot wide when put in the clear by impressive substitute Michael Evans and a blistering effort from Neville Stamp was superbly saved by Glennon again.

But the game was up for the Minstermen and but for some woeful finishing from Whitmore, after Ben Petty's shot cannoned off the post, and substitute David Lee, it could have been worse.

Deep into stoppage time Lee made up for lashing at the ball and missing just six-yards out when he curled a 30-yard free-kick over the City wall and beyond the dive of Fettis. It was the icing on the cake for Hull, the final nail in the coffin for City.

Fact file:

Hull City:

Scorers: Mohan 23m, Dudfield 60m (pen), Alexander 73m, Lee 90m

Hull: Glennon, Edwards, Holt, Whittle, Mohan, Dudfield, Johnsson (Pe-tty 80m), Philpott, Be-resford, Alexander Lee (80m), Rowe (Whitmore 39)

Subs, not used: Musselwhite, Matthews

Bookings: Alexander 25m (foul)

Sent-off: none

York City:

York City: Fettis 6, Edmondson 6, Basham 6, Fielding 7, Potter 6, Cooper 6 (Evans 76m), Brass 7, Bullock 6, Richardson 5 (Stamp 60m), Nogan 6, Proctor 7

Subs, not used: How-arth, Hocking, Wood

Bookings: none

Sent-off: none

Attendance: 9,737

Referee: Phil Richards (Preston)