York City boss Billy McEwan has called on the rest of his side to match midfielder Darren Dunning's commitment.

Dunning safeguarded a point during Saturday's drab 0-0 home draw against Gravesend and Northfleet with a crucial last-minute tackle and, just seconds later, he went close to winning the match with a right-footed effort at the other end.

Both contributions, so late in the game, heartened the watching McEwan, who said: "Darren Dunning made the tackle of the match as their lad was going to pull the trigger and then, within ten seconds, he was in the other box and nearly scored at that end. That's the attitude and desire I want at York City Football Club.

"He's not the biggest player in the world but he has the heart the size of a bucket and, as I said in front of the lads in the dressing room, that tackle epitomised his desire not to be beaten and I want that throughout the whole team."

Former Turkey youth international Lev Yalcin was named the sponsors man of the match and went close to breaking the deadlock twice.

Yalcin showed glimpses of his ability but afterwards McEwan called on the ex-Newcastle United trainee to continue working harder to fulfil his potential.

The City boss said: "He could have scored a couple of times and should have perhaps done better with the second chance but he's only a boy still learning the game and he has got a lot to learn. He's not the finished article by a mile.

"When I came here I heard quite a bit about him but he did not impress me. I saw little things but I thought his fitness levels were poor. He's got to work on them but he does have other attributes.

"He has ability but that's no good without hard work and he's got to keep his feet on the ground. There's something there and it's up to us to bring it out and up to him to want to improve all the time."

McEwan also believes long-time striker Yalcin is currently more suited to the midfield role he was used in against Gravesend, adding: "I don't think he has the positional sense or the fitness levels to play as a striker at this moment in time."

Kyle Armstrong, a deadline day signing from Preston, was given his debut alongside the commanding Steve Davis in defence and McEwan was pleased with his contribution as the Minstermen kept their first clean sheet in six games.

The City manager said: "He's a youngster who has not played at this level before but it was a decent debut playing against two big powerful boys who were a handful. At times, they caused him problems but he will have gained experience from playing against them."

At the other end of the pitch, top scorer Andy Bishop had to be withdrawn on 49 minutes after feeling discomfort with the knee injury that will require surgery in the summer.

McEwan said: "He felt his knee a bit so we needed to bring him off. I didn't want to but he felt he was struggling."

The City boss added that he was pleased that his side earned a point despite a disappointing performance particularly in the first half.

He said: "The first half wasn't easy on the eye. In fact, my eyes were bleeding watching it but the match was possibly one we would have lost a few months ago because even though we didn't play anything like we can at least we got a point.

"Sometimes there's pretty football matches and sometimes there are ugly ones but the important thing is we didn't get beaten. We also had better chances than them without playing flowing football and we have got to put them away.

"The players are still giving a lot of effort but we are working on their quality. It does not happen overnight and, unless somebody gives me a fist full of money to get better players, we have to be patient."

Updated: 10:43 Monday, April 04, 2005