WHEN a team is embroiled in a relegation battle a meagre point never seems quite enough to quench the fear of the unthinkable.

And true enough, a win and three points would have cast a massive safety net for York City over last night's opponents, Halifax Town.

However, make no mistake, this solitary point should still represent a massive step closer to survival for the Minstermen.

For while this result does not decide a thing, Halifax are rapidly running out of games to save themselves.

And the simple fact City managed to eke out a result after such a tepid first half performance must augur well for the run-in.

Too many times this season City have played well and got nothing. On other occasions they have looked too accepting of their fate when the chips have been down

Not any more. While it is not quite welcome back to the 'grinders', there's no shortage of grit and graft in the City ranks to make sure points are picked up when performances are downtrodden.

Crucially too - perhaps more important than any other factor - good fortune is starting to shine on City after a season when Lady Luck has been a stranger to the men in red.

City's equaliser had more than a slice of good fortune about it and Halifax, just like Southend on Saturday, would argue if any team deserved the win it was them.

But for the brilliance of Alan Fettis they surely would have done.

The City shot-stopper made a couple of fine stops in the first half to keep Minstermen hopes alive and then produced a breath-taking save in the latter stages of the second to maintain parity.

That the best that could be said of City's first half performance was that they were only 1-0 down says it all.

Halifax took the lead with their first real attack on 12 minutes.

Having needlessly given away a throwing, City were made to pay as from Marc Richards' hopeful flick Ian Fitzpatrick raced clear.

There was a hint of offside, but with the City defence nowhere to be seen Fitzpatrick, whose first shot was superbly saved by Fettis, still had time to lash the ball home at the second attempt.

Buoyed by their good fortune, Halifax upped the pace and pressure and for a time the Minstermen struggled to get possession, never mind retain it.

They were not without sights of goal. Michael Proctor fired in a volley that Barry Richardson grabbed at the second attempt, while Peter Duffield went close with a couple of efforts from range.

But it was all rather stilted and with the towering Jon Parkin joining Duffield and Proctor in attack the long launch forward to no-one in particular became a too regular, too easy get-out.

In contrast, Halifax continued to look more chipper and incisive and but for those two fine stops from Fettis to deny first Fitzpatrick, and then Richards from close-range, could have been home and dry by the half-time whistle.

Just before referee Howard Webb's blast on his blower, City squandered their best chance for an equaliser.

Mike Basham's well-flighted free-kick picked out Graham Potter at the far post but his side-foot volley was straight at Richardson.

Either side and it would surely have been a leveller but at least City didn't have long to wait.

Half-time saw manager Terry Dolan haul off Chris Smith in favour of Lee Nogan with Parkin dropping into defence.

The sight of Nogan on the pitch was enough to lift the spirits, but his energy and running produced something altogether more tangible.

With the long ball no longer an option, suddenly there was some zip and direction to City's passing.

From a neat build-up that had Nogan at its heart City earned a corner. Halifax could only half clear the danger, enabling Potter to return the ball at the second attempt.

Halifax skipper Graham Mitchell stooped to intercept but could only watch in horror as he misdirected his header inside his own post.

From impoverished to polished, City were suddenly a side revitalised and it seemed only a matter of time before a winner would be forthcoming.

Chris Clarke made a vital interception to deny Duffield, Proctor glanced a header just the wrong side of the upright, and Mark Maley's thunderous blast was seemingly heading for the top corner until Steve Swales threw his body in front of the ball.

Credit to Halifax who regrouped for a concerted final flurry. But for a fingertip save from Alan Fettis to deny Scott Houghton's 25-yard dipping effort the Shaymen could well have taken all three points.

Instead it was just the one, which was exactly the point for York City and their fans.

Fact file:

Halifax Town

Scorer: Fitzpatrick 12 min

Halifax: Richardson, Woodward, C Clarke, Mitchell, Swales, Harsley, Bushell, Houghton, Wright (Kerrigan 70m), Fitzpatrick, Richards

Subs, not used: Crookes, Middleton, Midgley, Jones

Bookings: Swales 75 (foul)

Sent-off: none

York City

Scorer: Mitchell (og) 48min

York City: Fettis 8, Maley 7, Hocking 7, Smith 6 (Nogan 46m, 7), Basham 6, Potter 7, Brass 6, Bullock 7 (Richardson 89m), Duffield 7, Proctor 7, Parkin 7

Subs, not used: Howarth, Wood, Mathie.

Bookings: Potter 27 (foul), Parkin 63 (foul).

Sent-off: none

Attendance: 2,818

Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)

Updated: 10:27 Wednesday, February 13, 2002