The magic of the FA Cup was once more at work when the Conference's top two teams were paired together in the first round proper.

Second-placed York City's home match with leaders Grays Athletic on November 5 promises to be an explosive encounter and a close look at the two side's respective league seasons, so far, reveals one remarkable, stand-alone statistic.

If a new Conference ruling had been imposed at the start of the season to reduce matches in non-League football's highest echelon to 85 minutes then the Minstermen would now be seven points clear of their Essex rivals, representing a huge shift in the balance of power at the top of the table.

In reality, of course, Billy McEwan's men are two points adrift with Grays having scored an impressive nine times in the last five minutes of matches while the Minstermen have conceded five times in the same period of games.

The reward for Grays' penchant for late goals has been six points while the Minstermen have cast away seven.

Victories for Grays were clinched at Dagenham and Redbridge and Forest Green Rovers after Stevland Angus' 87th minute and Jamie Stuart's 90th-minute efforts.

A 2-2 home draw against Kidderminster was also clinched by a 90th-minute John Danby own goal after the trend had begun with a stoppage-time penalty, conceded by Mark Hotte and converted by Stuart Thurgood, that earned Grays a point in the August 20 Recreation Ground clash.

That goal also set into motion a worrying cycle that has proved the biggest frustration of City's otherwise excellent start to the 2005-2006.

Further potential victories against Dagenham and Redbridge and Gravesend and Northfleet ended in draws after Scott Griffiths and Onome Sodje strikes on 94 and 89 minutes respectively although, at Gravesend, Andy Bishop had given the visitors an 86th-minute lead.

Darren Barnard's 88th-minute free-kick also cost the Minstermen a point at Aldershot.

City did claw back two points with another Bishop goal in the final five minutes of their last league outing at home to Canvey Island but none of City's current top-five rivals have lost points in the last five minutes of games this season while third-placed Exeter have also won three in that period.

City fans will, therefore, be hoping for a two-goal, 85th-minute cushion over last season's Conference South champions next Saturday in nest weekend's crunch cup tie.

The team, meanwhile, are most likely to score in the 36th-40th minute period, based on this season's statistics.

City have scored four times in that five-minute interval while Grays have conceded most goals - four - in the first five of the second half.

Updated: 09:09 Saturday, October 29, 2005