THE Minstermen are confident tomorrow's match with Torquay United will go ahead despite the flooding that has hit the city.

Head groundsman Bryan Horner admitted he feared the worst when much of Bootham Crescent was waterlogged at the beginning of the week.

However, the relative lack of rain in recent days has certainly eased matters and the introduction of a 'Vertidrain' machine yesterday has ensured the pitch is almost certainly playable.

Like a mechanical fork, the machine aids drainage by puncturing the surface with its 10inch-long spikes enabling more water to drain from the pitch.

"We have got drains every 4.8metres running the length of the pitch but some are on high points and can only take so much so it can take a couple of days for the water to draw off," explained Horner.

"The sheer volume we have had has meant the water has just been sat there this week.

"We couldn't actually do much, we just had to let the water pull through the drains, but now we are trying to help it with the Vertidrain and the water is going away.

"It's certainly drier than what it was a week last Saturday when we played Hull City, so providing there is no more rain I can't see there being a problem.

"I'm certainly happier now than I was on Monday."

City manager Terry Dolan has delayed naming his starting line-up for tomorrow's clash with Darren Edmondson facing a late fitness test.

"I am waiting on Darren but it is 60:40 against him at the moment," conceded Dolan.

Edmondson missed last Saturday's 4-0 drubbing at Cardiff with a calf-strain and his steely determination was sorely missed by City.

With Kieron Durkan now having returned to Macclesfield after his loan stint and Steve Agnew, regardless of his hamstring injury, missing tomorrow due to suspension, Marc Thompson and Alex Mathie are both recalled to the squad.

However, while striker Mathie is certain to be on the bench Dolan will wait until the 11th hour before naming his starting Xl.

The City manager was still remaining tight-lipped about speculation linking him with a move for Stoke City striker Chris Iwelumo.

If he is a target then the Minstermen are likely to face stiff competition with Third Division rivals Kidderminster Harriers believed to be keeping tabs on him.

Dolan's interest may have been sparked by the fact tomorrow's game could be the last for current on-loan striker Neil Tarrant.

The Aston Villa striker still has another week of his loan deal to run but with next week's FA Cup taking place on Sunday Dolan admitted he intends speaking to John Gregory at Villa Park today.

Even if Tarrant's loan deal can be extended for another month, Gregory maybe unwilling to see the youngster cup-tied.

Looking back to the Cardiff defeat Dolan echoed Kevin Hulme's claim that City had to be more ruthless.

"We were beaten by a better team but they didn't have to be that good to beat us," he said.

"The thing that disappointed me more than anything was we didn't show enough determination or steel.

"I have said to the players this week in some respects we are too nice and sometimes our football reflects that. I don't want us to be nice anymore."

Much to his relief, Dolan was yesterday able to put his squad through their paces at the club's Wigginton road training complex for the first time this month.

"It's been something like 11 days since we last trained on grass," he said.

Dolan received another boost with defender Gary Hobson receiving the all-clear to step up his training after a midweek visit to a knee specialist.

York City's intermediates will have home advantage should they reach the third round of the FA Youth Cup having been drawn to face Huddersfield Town.

The clash with the Terriers depends on the City youngsters overcoming Darlington in their second round replay at Bootham Crescent on Tuesday, kick-off 7pm.

York City v Torquay United file

York City

Possible: Alan Fettis, Barry Jones, Mark Sertori, Matt Hocking, Neville Stamp, Marc Thompson, Lee Bullock, Kevin Hulme, Graham Potter, Neil Tarrant, David McNiven

Subs (from): Russ Howarth, Scott Jordan, Colin Alcide, Wayne Hall, Alex Mathie, Darren Edmondson

Injury news: Peter Duffield (broken leg), Peter Swan (knee), Chris Fairclough (calf), Gary Hobson (knee), Christian Fox (knee)

Suspended: Steve Agnew

Torquay United

Probable: Ryan Northmore, Steve Tully, Jimmy Aggrey, Alex Watson, Jason Rowbotham, Paul Holmes, Khalid Chalqi, Kevin Hill, Mark Ford, Eifion Williams, Tony Bedeau

Subs (from): Stuart Jones, Lee Russell, Wayne Bradley, Jules Mendy, Habib Sissoko

Injury news: Brian Healy (knee), Chris Brandon (stomach), Robbie Herrera (hamstring)

Suspended: Ryan Ashington

Match Facts

THIS fixture has been drawn nine times in the last 12 meetings at Bootham Crescent.

Torquay have made 17 previous league trips to York, winning twice and drawing ten times.

The clubs first met at York in September 1958 when Terry Farmer scored the only goal of the game for City.

Terry Eccles was the match-winner in a 1-0 victory in 1979/80 and in 1992/3 Nigel Pepper (penalty) and Ray Warburton were on the mark in a 2-1 scoreline.

The Gull's successes here were 2-1 in 1964/5 and 3-2 in 1983/4 when they were the only visiting club to beat City at home in the fourth division.

Players to have represented both clubs include Trevor Wolsten-holme, Tommy Spratt, Eddie Rowles, Micky Cave, Andy Provan, Sean Haslegrave, Alan Hay, Alan Pearce, Tom Kelly and Paul Baker.

Referee: Tony Leake (Darwen)