York City's paucity of firepower was once more sorely exposed against a Gravesend and Northfleet team who did not manage a single shot on target but still left KitKat Crescent with a point.

For the 18th time this season - and the ninth in front of their own fans - the Minstermen failed to find the net in a match.

In fact, from Saturday's starting line-up, only Andy Bishop, Dave Merris and Kevin Donovan had even scored a goal in a home fixture this season and, until such statistics are rectified, the Minstermen will continue to be one of the least entertaining sides in the Conference.

Only struggling bottom two teams Farnborough and Leigh RMI have hit the target fewer times this season than the Minstermen, whose tally of 35 in the previous campaign marked a club record and contributed significantly to relegation from the Football League.

Had centre-back Jon Maloney, prolific by City's recent standards with four goals during his 15-match loan stay, been on the pitch rather than watching from the stands following his return to Doncaster Rovers, however, then the outcome against Gravesend might have been different.

On two occasions - once from a Darren Dunning corner and once from a long throw from debutant Kyle Armstrong - the ball was allowed to bounce in the visitors' six-yard box with City players unable to apply a finishing touch.

Maloney, of course, had proved adept in such situations while a Minsterman.

Billy McEwan's men did create other opportunities but Lev Yalcin, Merris and substitute Paul Robinson all squandered good chances.

Gravesend, however, missed the match's best opening in the very first minute when unmarked former French under-21 international Jean-Michel Sigere flicked the ball wide from five yards after a Roy Essendoh cross.

Lee Gledhill and Essendoh also headed wide as Gravesend made a strong start to the game.

Sigere and Essendoh looked dangerous in the early stages but Steve Davis gave a towering display alongside new signing Armstrong to nullify their threat.

At the other end, however, ponderous veteran Nathan Bunce was rarely stretched with City struggling to put together any cohesive passing movements.

It took 32 minutes for the home team to test bulky Gravesend 'keeper Paul Wilkerson when Merris raced on to Davis' searching pass but his low shot lacked the power to open the scoring and the Minstermen remained strangely lethargic despite their manager's frantic attempts to motivate his side from the touchline.

McEwan even contemplated taking a throw-in when the ball bounced out of play in front of the home dugout, hoping to inject some urgency into the players.

Signs of improvement finally arrived towards the end of the first half when Yalcin stung Wilkerson's hands with a well-driven free-kick and then capitalised on a Matthew Lovell slip on the halfway line to surge purposefully into the visitors' penalty box before his low drive was saved.

Jackson also went close in first half stoppage time with a dipping volley that just cleared the crossbar.

After the break, Sigere shot wide twice for the visitors before Merris missed another opportunity, turning and shooting wide from six yards out on 65 minutes after a right-wing cross from Paul D Robinson, who had replaced the injured Andy Bishop.

His namesake Paul Robinson was also introduced in the second half and ran clear of the visitors' defence on 78 minutes only to fire a firm effort straight at Wilkerson.

Andy Drury curled a 25-yard free-kick just inches over with two minutes left and Dunning executed an excellent last-ditch tackle as substitute Jimmy Jackson looked certain to score.

Seconds later, Dunning had charged to the edge of the Gravesend penalty box but shot wide with his right foot, ensuring honours stayed even.

York City 0, Gravesend 0

Porter 6, Law 6, Armstrong 6, Davis 8, Smith 6 (Groves 77m), Donovan 6, Dunning 6, Yalcin 7, Merris 6, Bishop 6 (Paul D Robinson 49m 6), Jackson 6 (Paul Robinson 71m)

Subs not used: Stockdale, Davies

Star man: Davis - unbeatable in the air and composed on the deck.

Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire

Gravesend & Northfleet: Wilkerson, Gledhill, Porter, Bunce, Skinner, Drury, McKimm, Saunders (Surey, 84), Lovell (Jackson, 49), Essendoh (Pinnock, 76), Sigere. Subs not used: Pullen, Protheroe.

Yellow cards: None.

Red cards: None.

Referee: Michael Short (Barnsley). Rating: Dull game made his job fairly easy.

Attendance: 2,090.

Weather watch: Warmest game of the year.

Game breaker: Had Sigere scored in the first minute, it could have led to a more entertaining spectacle.

Match rating: Video could be used as an insomnia cure.

Updated: 10:47 Monday, April 04, 2005