York City's red-faced trip to St Albans City had all the hallmarks of the FA Cup third qualifying round.

It had the non-League ground complete with sloping pitch and grey corrugated fencing to keep the trees out.

It had the spirited and enthusiastic part-timers versus the full-time pros. And it had the obligatory form-book bonfire and cup shock.

Except this wasn't the FA Cup. This was the Conference. And the emergence of a new psychological demon for Billy McEwan's troops - teams from the bottom six.

Even referee Graham Scott wanted to get in on the action - and he more than managed to have his say. This is a man whose only concept of consistency is the thickness of his gravy.

Clayton Donaldson was tripped - not for the first or last time - on the edge of the box on 23 minutes and a free-kick was awarded.

Steve Bowey and Lewis McMahon stood over the ball as Scott spent minutes checking the wall and then wandered off. Bowey took his cue and passed the ball back to Nathan Peat but Scott took exception and booked Bowey for the quick' free-kick. Fair enough.

McMahon took charge of take two', chipped in the ball to a packed six-yard area and Donaldson knocked it on to Craig Farrell who improvised a 180 degree volley to hook it into the back of the net at the far post.

Fast forward six minutes and Nathan Peat was on the floor on the edge of the York box when the ball was blasted at his arm.

Scott awarded the dubious handball and then Dean Cracknell whipped the ball into the goal as the Minstermen built their wall. There was no whistle and the goal stood - no consistency twice.

From there, the man in black further endeared himself to the away contingent by delaying the 37th-minute substitution that brought Mark Convery into the attack and a fuming McMahon off, McMahon puncturing his loud protests with swear words until Billy McEwan lent a sympathetic voice by screaming at him to shut up.

He also denied Donaldson permission to return the pitch after receiving treatment for another ungiven foul in the 51st-minute and refused a stonewall penalty when Donaldson was shoved in the back when clean through on goal in the 75th - nine minutes after sending Darren Craddock off in less than crystal circumstances.

Whether or not the St Albans team were aware of the situation - several home regulars were offering the amused yet sympathetic shrug - they raced off like bloodhounds after a scent.

Moments after their first goal, Chris Seeby skimmed the top of the bar from a corner and the game was on.

Nathan Peat shot from distance and Martyn Woolford forced three first-half saves in the first half.

But danger man Damien Batt slipped the ball into the box after ghosting past an inept Woolford and newcomer Warren McBean flicked it past Tom Evans to go ahead.

With Donaldson off the pitch at the other end, St Albans found a third as Luke Foster made a rare but costly error, missing the through ball to Paul Hakim that he slammed in off the bar.

It was just too easy for the Saints - primarily a team of enthusiastic individuals - as they by now cut through the Minstermen defences.

Emmanuel Panther, no longer the talismanic figure of last season, was pounded in the midfield by Amelie Mauresmo lookalike Tom Davis and the difference was tangible when the Minstermen chants of There's only one Neal Bishop' were finally answered with just under 20 minutes to go.

Farrell pulled another back after a quality ball forward by Peat that he controlled, cut inside and chipped Paul Bastock.

But then Craddock was red-carded for another dubious foul on Elliot Benyon despite the striker going away from goal and Benyon made the most of a Foster slip in the 91st minute to make it four.

Match facts

St Albans 4 (Cracknell 32, McBean 49, Hakim 52, Benyon 90), York City 2 (Farrell 25, 66)York City: Evans 6, Craddock 6, Peat 7, Parslow 6, Foster 6, McMahon 6 (Convery 37, 7), Bowey 6, Panther 5 (Bishop 73), Woolford 6 (Lloyd 67, 6), Donaldson 7, Farrell 7.

Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire St Albans City: Paul Bastock, Damien Batt, Chris Seeby, Dave Theobald, Nathan Simpson, Dean Cracknell, Alexis Nicolas, Tom Davis, Warren McBean (Duane Jackman 76), Paul Hakim, Elliot Benyon (Simon Martin 90). Subs not used: Ricky Perks, Ben Martin, Nick Roddis.

Sent off: Craddock 66 min.

Referee: Graham Scott (Staffs).

Rating: Awful homer'.

Attendance: 1,237.

Weather watch: April-like with several showers including thundery ones.

Game breaker: Scott refused York a clear penalty with the score at 3-2.

Match rating: 100 per cent excitement, 0 per cent satisfaction for the 393 travelling York contingent.

Billy's verdict: "I'm disappointed to say the least. You can't defend like that against anybody. To be fair, they were lively up front but the way we defended for their goals was suicidal."

Player watch

Craig Farrell

Shots on target: 3
Shots off target: 1
Goals: 2
Passes to own player: 7
Passes to opposition: 3
Crosses to own player: 0
Crosses to opposition: 1
Pass success rate: 63.6 per cent
Dribbles ball retained: 1
Dribbles ball lost: 1
Dribble success rate: 50 per cent
Free-kicks won: 1
Free-kicks conceded: 1
Headers: 11
Tackles: 0
Offsides: 0
Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 2
Bookings: 0
Final summary: Craig Farrell's value as a target man is clearly shown by a high number of passes and headed flicks, mostly to strike partner Clayton Donaldson. That counters his relatively low number of shots, but with a two out of three record, he should let fly more often.