DISMISSED as easy opponents in their last outing, York City responded with a spirited display to hold play-off contenders Accrington Stanley at their Interlink Express Stadium.

The Minstermen were reminded of Tamworth manager Mark Cooper's derogatory remarks before yesterday's game and a repeat performance was never on the agenda.

Having created just two chances in Staffordshire, Billy McEwan's men matched that tally after just five minutes against Accrington and went on to manage 11 goal attempts in total.

The Minstermen also forced nine corners and perhaps just as significantly, considering recent set-piece failings, did not concede a flag kick until second-half stoppage time.

A weakness in defending crosses into the six-yard box, however, is still dogging City's progress under McEwan with two goals in as many minutes from close-range headers cancelling out the visitors' surprise but deserved lead.

Earlier, Jon Maloney and Andy Bishop - two of City's better performers in a largely disappointing season - had both struck to put City in the ascendancy.

Centre-back Maloney leaves KitKat Crescent as the club's second-highest scorer this season after prodding home from a yard when Accrington failed to clear Kevin Donovan's corner.

It was Maloney's fourth goal in just three months on loan from Doncaster Rovers but his contribution at both ends of the pitch will have been appreciated by Minstermen fans.

What the Wetherby-born defender lacks in height and physique, he has compensated for in speed of thought and determination while with the Minstermen and, having largely been restricted to reserve team football at Belle Vue, has adapted admirably to Conference football.

He signed off in typical fashion, executing several vital tackles and clearances especially as the Minstermen came under the cosh during the closing stages.

Equally, Bishop proved his worth to City at the other end of the pitch after being sorely missed against Tamworth.

City's leading marksmen leapt prodigiously to repeatedly win his aerial battles with the home defence and was rewarded for his workrate with an 11th goal of the season.

An even first half began with Lev Yalcin, making a rare start in place of the rested Byron Webster, firing into the ground at the far post after Dave Merris' cross and his third-minute chance bounced over the crossbar.

Moments later, Merris headed over when in an equally promising position following Bishop's right-wing cross.

At the other end, Accrington were largely kept at bay although Chris Porter was required to make a flying 38th-minute save from Ian Craney's 25-yard volley.

The home side went close four minutes after the break when David Brown volleyed high and wide from eight yards but City went in front on 51 minutes.

Ben Jackson's persistence earned the visitors a corner that Donovan swung in from the left.

Accrington's near-post defenders and goalkeeper Paul Crichton, taunted by City fans after his unsavoury departure from Bootham Crescent, failed to deal with Donovan's delivery and Maloney stabbed the ball in from a yard.

Two minutes later, Jackson's strong run ended in a low drive that was kept out by Crichton with an unmarked Bishop screaming for a square ball and Steve Davis headed on to the top at the near post from another Donovan corner.

Accrington were reeling at that stage and Bishop extended City's lead on 65 minutes when he beat Crichton with a low drive from 15 yards that took a significant deflection off home defender Michael Flynn.

But within five minutes, the home side were level.

Firstly, substitute Matthew O'Neill's excellent right-wing cross was headed powerfully into the roof of the net by top scorer Paul Mullin from four yards.

Twenty-one goal marksman Mullin then turned provider, crossing from the left after Andy Procter had embarked on a purposeful run towards the City penalty box and substitute Gary Roberts headed past Porter from five yards.

Undeterred, Darren Dunning and Bishop both tested Crichton moments later but Roberts and O'Neill, inspired substitutes by home boss John Coleman, both went close for Accrington in stoppage time.

Match facts

Nationwide Conference

Monday, March 28, 2005

at Crown Ground

Accrington 2 (Mullin 68, Roberts 70)

York City 2 (Maloney 51, Bishop 68)

City ratings

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

Porter 7

Law 7

Maloney 8

Groves 7

Smith 7 (Groves 74)

Donovan 7

Dunning 7

Yalcin 7 (Webster 84)

Merris 7

Bishop 8

Jackson 6 (Paul D Robinson 74)

Accrington Stanley: Crichton, Howarth, Williams, Flynn, Butler, Jagielka (O'Neill 66), Procter, Craney (Cook 81), Prendergast (Roberts), Mullin, Brown. Subs (not used): Alcock, Smith.

Yellow cards: Williams 38, Law 46, Davis 89.

Red cards: None.

Referee: Paul Cannadine (Rotherham).

Rating: Generally competent.

Attendance: 2,201.

Weather watch: Overcast, but dry.

Game breaker: Mullin's header meant City's two-goal cushion was very short-lived and gave the home team the belief that they could get a result.

Match rating: Entertaining, but Accrington looked unlikely play-off contenders

Player watch: Lev Yalcin

Shots on target: 0.

Shots off target: 2.

Blocked shots: 0.

Passes to own player: 10.

Passes to opposition: 4.

Crosses to own player: 0.

Crosses to opposition: 1.

Pass success rate: 66.7 per cent.

Dribbles ball retained: 2. Dribbles ball lost: 1.

Dribble success rate: 66.7 per cent.

Headers: 7. Tackles: 2. Offsides: 0.

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 4.

Free kicks won: 1. Free-kicks conceded: 0. Bookings: 0.

Final summary: Gave a disciplined performance in midfield. Could have given City an early lead but normally used the ball sensibly. Whether his potential for the unpredictable would be better utilised as a striker is still debatable.

Updated: 10:38 Tuesday, March 29, 2005