The clash of FA Cup fall guys was far from a classic, but York City regained their steady foothold on the League front after their banana-skinned pratfall at Hereford.

After their knockout fate the Minstermen were desperate for a quick chance to rectify their cup blunder. They achieved that at the expense of Carlisle, similarly stunned by non-League opposition, but unlike last night's visitors having no back-up in solid Division Three form.

It was not all plain sailing for City. After a stirring opening led by goal-scorer John Williams City should have buried the points way out of the Cumbrians' clutches.

But once Williams hobbled off to a hamstring injury City's potency dissolved and the flurry of early chances missed could have proved fatal had not the City defence re-affirmed its solidity.

Carlisle, under mounting venom from their own fans, were unable to make impression against City's staunch back-line. Goalkeeper Bobby Mimms was genuinely tested just once, so pivotal were Chris Fairclough and Mark Sertori in the centre, with Barry Jones and Wayne Hall fierce-tackling on the flanks. Back to their we shall not fold meanest they were the bedrock of an undefeated League run stretching seven games. While not yet pretty, four wins from the last five games has a promising ring about it.

City got off to the best possible start and from a most welcome source, Williams. Recalled for namesake Marc as one of two changes from the FA Cup Williams flashed a fierce shot off a defender from Anthony Ormerod's cross.

From Hall's corner bizarrely Williams was left completely unhindered at the near post to head in from three yards. It was just the start City desired and it could not have been more timely either for the much-maligned Williams, whose first six weeks as a Minsterman have been far from distinguished.

Carlisle looked a pitiful force in defence as was shown twice in the space of 30 seconds midway through the first-half. A break from a Carlisle corner shepherded a pass to Williams, who exquisitely freed Ormerod. The youngster should have celebrated his comeback on a second loan spell after rounding 'keeper Michael Ingham. But as he slid at the ball just six yards out he drilled it high over the crossbar when he could have passed it over the line.

Then Barry Conlon carved through the centre of defence, the chance to score evaporating as he dithered over when to pull the trigger.

City then lost Williams, curtailed abruptly by a tweaked hamstring forcing his replacement by Matt Hocking. It was a sad exit for the striker, who, until then, was showing his best form in a City shirt.

If Carlisle were a shambles at the back they at least tried to pose a threat at the other end where they amassed a cluster of corners. However, City's rigid rearguard stretched every sinew to block , challenge and snuff out any danger.

The game was turning into a stroll in Brunton Park stroll for the visitors, who would let Carlisle huff and bluster forward and then snap out on the counter. One such raid came agonisingly close to a scintillating goal for Scott Jordan. He intercepted a pass in the centre-circle, advanced purposefully to drive a 25-yarder, which dipped over goalkeeper Ingham, but clipped the top of the crossbar.

City were given a sharp reminder soon after the second-half opened when substitute Richard Tracey, on for ineffective ex-City striker Paul Baker, headed just wide with his first touch of the ball.

It served to show that one goal is hardly an advantage on which to breathe easy, though a fierce low skimmer from Jordan was grabbed gratefully by Ingham and then Hocking's poor first touch closed an opening created by Jones's 50-yard pass.

Carlisle finally exercised Mimms in the 77th minute with a shot from Scott Dobie, the City 'keeper diving low to his right. In another rare incursion by Carlisle Tracey was a fraction off glancing in Richard Prokas' flick ten minutes from time.

But City initiated protect and preserve mission strengthened by Kevin Hulme's presence in front of the back four and the fearless tackling and tidy distribution of Christian Fox. The final whistle drew a chorus of boos - all reserved exclusively for the hosts.

Nationwide Division Three - Tuesday, November 2, 1999

Carlisle Utd 0 York City 1

York City: Bobby Mimms 7, Barry Jones 7, Wayne Hall 7, Scott Jordan 7, Mark Sertori 7, Chris Fairclough *8, Anthony Ormerod 6 (Marc Williams 88 min), Kevin Hulme 6, Barry Conlon 6, John Williams 7 (Matt Hocking 28, 6), Christian Fox 8.

Subs unused: Russ Howarth, Andrew Dawson, Lee Bullock.

Goals: John Williams 9min.

Bookings: None

Evening Press Unique Pub Man of the match

Chris Fairclough: Another towering performance laced with class and composure. Head and shoulders above the rest.

CARLISLE: Ingham, Bowman, Brightwell, Whitehead, Barr, Clarke, Anthony, Soley (Hopper 72min), Dobie, Baker (Tracey 46), Harries (Prokas 76).

Subs unused: Pitts, Gregory.

Goals: None

Bookings: Whitehead (foul 82min).

Referee: Graham Frankland (Middlesbrough)

Crowd: 2,512

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.