SOMEWHAT appropriately York City celebrated their first game at the newly-named KitKat Crescent with the sweet taste of victory.

The Minstermen also enjoyed a break or two, being awarded a couple of questionable penalties and seeing Morecambe rattle the crossbar twice.

But there was little fortunate about the form of goalkeeper Chris Porter, who produced a stunning late save to give Viv Busby his first clean sheet in 11 matches as caretaker boss and a very welcome win.

Porter, who appears to have recovered from the uncertainty that dogged his early performances for the Minstermen, was alert off his line throughout the afternoon and made several fine stops.

Top-scorer Andy Bishop also showed a steely nerve to net his sixth goal of the season with an emphatic 87th-minute penalty after Darren Dunning had hit a post from the spot in the first half.

Morecambe caused City early problems with Danny Carlton twice running clear of a flat-looking home defence only to be denied by Porter.

The City 'keeper saved with his legs after Carlton had raced away from Paul Groves on four minutes and then charged 30 yards off his line to beat the Morecambe striker to the ball shortly afterwards.

In between, Bishop's firm shot on the turn forced an instinctive save from Adam Sollitt but City still looked vulnerable at the back and, on 22 minutes David Perkins' pass sent Wayne Curtis through on goal only for Porter to foil the visitors again.

Shortly afterwards, Curtis headed over from six yards after an excellent right-wing cross from Jamie Heard.

But City wasted the best chance of the first 45 minutes when Morecambe defender Darran Kempson was harshly penalised for his challenge on Jon Maloney as the two players looked to pounce on the loose ball after Sollitt had parried a Groves shot.

Referee Jonathon Moss surprisingly pointed to the spot but Dunning, normally reliable from 12 yards, sidefooted his low effort against Sollitt's left-hand post as the 'keeper dived towards the opposite corner.

Maloney then hooked over the bar from just four yards out in first half injury-time.

After the break, debutant Rob Constable, signed on loan from Leeds United, stung Sollitt's hands with a fiercely-struck free-kick and Dave Merris' modest effort from the edge of the box was fumbled around a post by the Morecambe 'keeper.

City survived a scare on 56 minutes when Curtis' 20-yard thunderbolt struck Porter's crossbar and Carlton almost hit the same spot moments later with a header from another Heard cross.

At the other end, Lee Nogan's low shot lacked the power to beat Sollitt but, on 77 minutes, Michael Twiss' volley flashed narrowly wide of Porter's goal.

The home team ended the game strongly and the stage was set for a dramatic finale when Bishop, chasing after a deep Merris cross, tumbled in the box after a gentle nudge from Sollitt.

Moss' assistant immediately raised his flag and, after the angry Morecambe 'keeper was booked, Bishop strode up confidently to unleash a powerful penalty that whistled into Sollitt's top left-hand corner.

Four minutes of added-on time guaranteed the collective gnawing of finger nails, however, and Jim Bentley's powerful downward header looked to have grabbed Morecambe an equaliser only for Porter to fling himself across his goal and make an outstanding save low to his left.

The rejuvenated 'keeper then also kept out a firm Curtis drive from 20 yards before the final whistle signalled Busby's third win in six home matches since taking charge on a caretaker basis.

Its significance though will be diminished should the Minstermen return to bad habits on their Conference travels with relegation rivals Leigh RMI and Forest Green Rovers next lying in wait after tomorrow's Gladwish Sales Cup trip to Accrington Stanley.

York City 1 (Bishop pen 88 min), Morecambe 0

Porter 9, Staley 6 (Law 73min), Groves 7, Maloney 7, Davies 6, Donovan 6, Dunning 6, Constable 6, Merris 7, Bishop 7, Nogan 6 (Paul Robinson 65, 6)

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

Subs not used: Stockdale, Paul D Robinson, Grant.

Star man: Porter - outstanding late save, made other crucial stops and was also alert off his line.

Morecambe: Sollitt, Heard (Thompson, 66), Bentley, Kempson, Howard, Elam, Perkins, Blackburn, Curtis, Twiss, Carlton (Hunter, 66). Subs not used: Swan, Walmsley, Robinson.

Yellow cards: Carlton 19, Elam 29, Groves 30, Bishop 90.

Red cards: None.

Referee: Jonathon Moss (West Yorkshire). Rating: Error-prone.

Attendance: 2,270.

Weather watch: Chilly.

Game breaker: The officials' decision to award City a second penalty.

Match rating: Tense and incident-packed encounter.

Updated: 09:22 Monday, January 24, 2005