LETHAL former York City striker Paul Aimson is hoping Clayton Donaldson can smash his club goalscoring record to "smithereens".

Aimson netted in seven successive games for the Minstermen during the 1970-71 season, a sequence only matched in the club's 83-year history by 1955 FA Cup semi-final heroes Billy Fenton and Arthur Bottom and pre-War favourite James Cowie.

But with Canvey Island the KitKat Crescent visitors tomorrow, Conference top scorer Donaldson has that target in his sights having scored in each of City's last six fixtures.

Aimson, now 62, is hoping the former Hull City striker can not only equal his record but set a new mark for future generations of City strikers to emulate.

The ex-Manchester City, Bury, Bradford City, Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Colchester forward has, however, asked Donaldson if he could avoid breaking his record for scoring the fastest goal ever for the Minstermen - a nine-and-a-half seconds effort against Torquay in 1971.

Aimson, who now lives in Dorest, said: "I hope he equals it and then smashes it to smithereens but if he can let me keep the quickest goal I'd be happy. I am thrilled to bits that he could break the record and I am thrilled to bits to see my team doing well again.

"If Clayton does it I'll send him a bottle of whisky."

Aimson stressed, however, that the record should not distract from the main target of City securing maximum points against Canvey Island.

He said: "Winning is always more important than scoring goals. I was always happier winning and not scoring than scoring in a losing team.

"If he can lay one off and York win 1-0, it's better than him scoring and equalling the record but York losing 2-1."

Aimson's scoring run was achieved between March and April in a team that went on to secure promotion from the old Fourth Division under Tom Johnson in 1971.

He could have set an even more demanding target for Donaldson, having only failed to find the net once in a prolific 12-match run.

But City's fifth all-time leading scorer added that any striker is only as good as the service he receives from his team-mates, adding: "I couldn't have wished for better service than that given me by the likes of Billy Rudd, Tommy Heron and Barry Jackson at York.

"Billy put balls on a plate for me. He is the best player who ever played behind me and made my job easier."

Aimson also believes that the fact City do not have to rely on Donaldson as their only goal threat is the sign of a successful team.

Aside from eight-goal Donaldson, Andy Bishop has also found the target six times, while Joe O'Neill (four), centre-back James Dudgeon (three), midfielder Mark Convery (three) and winger Bryan Stewart (two) have weighed in.

"We used to share out the goals as well," Aimson said. "It gives the opposition manager a real headache. If there's only one goalscorer that can be easier to stop but if there's five - how do you stop that?"

Updated: 09:31 Friday, October 14, 2005