THOSE fortunate enough to be at Bootham Crescent on Saturday are probably only now catching their breath.

Great goals, controversy galore, penalty saves, frayed tempers, chances in abundance, passion and endeavour; this game had it all save for the appearance of lady luck.

Defeats are always hard to swallow, especially when City deserved better, much better. Sometimes you give everything and get nothing.

But comfort comes in the confirmation City, playing football the right way, are a team worth watching again.

And comfort must also come in the way City refused to let their 4-0 hammering at Hull just seven days earlier hang heavy like a noose around their neck.

Having had a tongue-lashing from City boss Terry Dolan for being too 'powder-puff' against the Tigers no one could doubt their commitment against Luton.

And if they can just rid themselves of costly lapses in concentration then a place in the top half of the table and possibly beyond is surely not implausible.

The football in the first-half was as free-flowing as it was frenetic with chances for both sides but it was City who were perhaps the more incisive, epitomised by their opening goal on 32 minutes.

Michael Proctor, who'd earlier seen one goal bound shot hit the back of Lee Bullock then just failed to pick out Lee Nogan having drawn the keeper, made amends with a smart turn to evade the lunge of Luton's Russell Perrett.

With referee Graham Salisbury playing a good advantage, Proctor was able to advance down the left before this time finding Nogan and the former Hatter made no mistake, firing home from 12 yards.

It was a fine goal but having got their noses in front, City were punished for some slack defending just ten minutes later.

Kevin Nicholls, taking possession from a quickly taken throw, was given far too much time to cross. Mike Basham inexplicably let the ball bounce allowing Carl Griffiths to ghost in and nod into the corner of the goal.

The goals did little to ease the pace as Carl Emberson in the Luton goal produced a wonderful save to deny Nick Richardson before Darren Edmondson bravely blocked a Liam George effort.

If the first-half was enjoyable and pleasing on the eye, the second was pure thrills and spills. Rarely can 45 minutes have been packed with so much incident.

It began on 51 minutes when Graham Potter clearly pushed Stuart Douglas in the back and Luton were awarded a penalty.

Alan Fettis produced a magnificent save to deny Steve Howard's spot-kick only for referee Salisbury to order the kick to be retaken for encroachment.

Howard was then involved in an spat with his owner players about who should have the retake before grabbing the ball and seeing his second spot-kick saved again, this time by the legs of Fettis.

The drama wasn't over however as Nogan picked up the lose ball, fed Proctor who crossed for debutant Marc Salvati to prod home only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. It looked a harsh decision.

The atmosphere stoked to boiling point, Howard pole-axed Richardson then threatened a bout of fisticuffs with his own players and was immediately hauled from the action by Luton boss Joe Kinnear.

But City's misfortune continued when Edmondson saw a long range effort cannon back off the bar before a sense of justice was restored when Douglas also had an effort for Luton ruled out for offside.

City continued to show the greater cut and thrust and looked odds on to regain the lead their play deserved when after some terrific work to steal possession by Nogan, Proctor released Chris Brass clear on goal.

The City skipper steadied himself but Emberson pulled off another fine save and had luck with him too as the loose ball just evaded Proctor's lunge.

But it looked a costly miss and alas so it proved.

Christian Fox had been on the pitch just four minutes and after eight months on the sidelines his lack of sharpness enabled Luton sub Ian Hillier to steal possession on the edge of the area before the youngster lashed the ball home with unerring accuracy.

It was tough luck on City but if proof were needed it wasn't going to be City's day it came just ten minutes from time as Edmondson's free-kick was met perfectly by the head of John Fielding only for the ball to thump the crossbar for a second time.

City continued to press but even with more than seven minutes of added time you could sense it just wasn't meant to be.

That the City faithful directed their frustration at the officials at the final whistle and not the City players merely emphasised how well the Minstermen had performed. They'll play worse, a lot worse, and win this season.

York City:

Scorer: Nogan 32 min

York City: Fettis 8, Edmondson 8, Basham 6, Fielding 8, Potter 7, Evans 6 (Salvati 46m, 7), Brass 8, Bullock 8, Richardson 6 (Fox 69m, 6), Nogan 8, Proctor 8 Subs, not used: Howarth, Hocking, Cooper

Bookings: Potter 51m (foul), Brass 85m (foul)

Sent-off: none

Luton:

Scoreres: Griffiths 42m, Hillier 73m

Luton: Emberson, Skel-ton, Perrett, Boyce, Johnson, Forbes (Man-sell 46m), Nicholls, Spring, George, Griffiths (Douglas 46m), Howard (Hillier 57m) Subs, not used: Oven-dale, Dryden

Bookings: Johnson 23m (foul), Griffiths 40m (dissent), Emberson 90m (unsporting conduct)

Sent-off: None

Attendance: 3,247

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Preston)