CRAWLEY Town are a part-time football club still finding their feet in the Nationwide Conference after being newly-promoted from the Dr Martens League.

Sadly, for York City hapless centre-back Chris Clarke appeared to be wearing a pair of the heavy boots, made famous by the long-time Southern League sponsors, when he gifted Crawley an early lead and, ultimately, all three points from Saturday's fixture.

The Sussex side had started the game nervously and failed to threaten David Stockdale's goal until Clarke inexplicably dallied on the ball in his own half after 11 minutes, allowing a grateful Robert Traynor to rob him of possession.

Traynor fed the ball to Charlie MacDonald who, in turn, released Danny Davidson for a clear run on goal.

Davidson then curled a confident finish beyond Stockdale and into the teenage 'keeper's bottom left-hand corner.

It will probably prove a case of one mistake too many for the cumbersome Clarke who, having been recalled after costly errors against Aldershot and Gravesend & Northfleet, may have to wait longer for another chance.

But the former Blackpool and Halifax defender should not be held solely culpable for defeat against distinctly ordinary hosts.

The Minstermen still had 80 minutes left to recover from his blunder and assistant-manager Lee Nogan should also shoulder some of the blame.

Nogan failed to capitalise on a 25th-minute mistake by home defender Ryan Palmer that, if anything, was more suicidal than that made by Clarke.

The Crawley centre-back, having received a questionable throw-out from goalkeeper Phil Smith on the edge of his own penalty box, compounded the confusion by attempting to find left-back Sean Hankin with a careless pass.

Kevin Donovan made a comfortable interception and swiftly squared the ball to a well-positioned Nogan but, instead of attempting a first-time effort, City's player-coach elected to round 'keeper Smith and delayed his shot long enough for Palmer to atone for his error by making a goal-line clearance.

Palmer's intervention was, admittedly, impressive and Nogan's profligacy and deliberation was somewhat forgiven in the context of a hardworking display but Clarke wasted his chance of redemption.

The 6ft 4in centre-back was presented with a close-range chance to equalise in second-half stoppage time when Darren Dunning's free-kick caused panic in the home penalty box.

But Clarke smashed a shot straight at Smith, who palmed his powerful effort on to the crossbar, and a more subtle finish might have reaped better rewards.

Earlier, Gary Pearson and Nogan had both fired well-struck volleys over the bar following Crawley's opening goal.

Andy Bishop's glancing header from a Dunning free-kick also bounced narrowly wide after Nogan had missed City's best first half chance.

But the visitors appeared to run out of attacking ideas after the interval as Crawley midfield pair Ian Simpemba and Charlie Mapes, both recruited from Wycombe in the summer, outshone their City counterparts Pearson and Paul Groves.

Only a brilliantly instinctive save from Stockdale kept out a low MacDonald drive after the five-goal Crawley striker had left player-boss Chris Brass on his backside and Clarke also trailing in his wake.

Groves then sliced a 20-yard effort high and wide on 55 minutes but City struggled to create another opportunity until the dying stages.

Substitute Paul Robinson sent a weak shot bouncing harmlessly wide on 89 minutes before Clarke was denied by a combination of Smith and the crossbar.

City will now be hoping that the impressive 3-0 victory against a Dagenham & Redbridge team hammered 5-0 by Accrington over the weekend did not represent a false dawn and successive home matches against strugglers Northwich Victoria and Leigh RMI could not come at a better time.

Match facts:

Nationwide Conference

Saturday, September 11, 2004

at Broadfield Stadium

Stockdale 7

Law 6

Clarke 4

Brass 6

Merris 5

Donovan 5

(Harrison 65m 5)

Pearson 5

Groves 5

Dunning 6

Bishop 6

(Robinson 68m 5)

Nogan 7

(Yalcin 77)

Subs (not used): Porter, Smith

Star man: Lee Nogan - Missed an excellent chance but never hid and ran tirelessly for City's cause

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

Crawley Town: Smith,Judge, Rees, Palmer, Hankin, Traynor, Simpemba,Mapes, Jenkins (Tait, 71), Davidson (Marney, 64), MacDonald. Subs not used: Hemsley, Little, Manuella.

Yellow cards: Clarke 80, Judge 88.

Red card: None.

Referee: Patrick Miller (Flitwick, Beds) Rating: Another solid display by a Conference official.

Attendance: 2,134.

Weather watch: Bright and mild.

Game breaker: If Nogan had have taken his chance it is unlikely that City would have finished the game as losers.

Match rating: Uninspiring football match settled by a schoolboy error.

Player watch: Graeme Law

Shots on target: 0

Shots off target: 0

Passes to own player: 13

Passes to opposition: 1

Crosses to own player: 1

Crosses to opposition: 3

Pass success rate: 77.8 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 0 Dribbles ball lost: 0

Free-kicks won: 2 Free-kicks conceded: 0 Headers: 8 Tackles: 6 Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 13 Offsides: 0 Bookings: 0

Final summary: One of City's better performers in a poor display. One stray pass illustrates he was reliable in possession and six tackles and four crosses is also a healthy return from a full-back. He was also solid in the air and cleared his lines when necessary.

Updated: 12:10 Monday, September 13, 2004