YORK City striker Alex Mathie is out to make up for lost time and make good from team-mate Peter Duffield's misfortune.

As revealed in the Evening Press, the luckless Duffield has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a third leg break inside 18 months.

It is a cruel blow for the player and City but opens the door for former Newcastle and Ipswich poacher Mathie to stake a claim for a regular run in the side.

Like Duffield, Mathie has suffered a miserable run of injuries during his Bootham Crescent career.

Much of last year was spent on the sidelines or the bench and this season Mathie has made just one start.

Speaking to the Evening Press, Mathie admits the City faithful have rarely seen him at his best but the 33-year-old is desperate to grab the opportunity that might have come his way at home to Bristol Rovers tomorrow, had the match not been called off.

"It is always disappointing when someone gets injured and particularly for Duffs," he explained.

"Everybody at the club is really sad for him because he had done so well since coming back in and scored a few goals.

"But that's football and we have to get on with it.

Mathie, who has made 14 substitute appearances and scored two goals this season including a priceless winner against Leyton Orient last month, admits the fact City are now lining up with three strikers is another reason for optimism.

"The way the gaffer is playing now, with three up front, will suit me better," he said.

"The fans really haven't seen the best of me since I first arrived here and I played my first six games.

"In those games I thought I did well but since then I've been injured and have never really been back to my normal self.

"To be fair to the gaffer, he has stuck by me and given me time to recover and so I've just got to go on now and prove to him and the club what I can do."

The midweek game against Carlisle United was postponed because of a water-logged pitch.

Updated: 08:45 Friday, March 01, 2002