DEFEAT has become the norm for York City in the LDV Vans Trophy in recent seasons.

However, while losing in this much-maligned competition is not unusual, it is never palatable and it certainly doesn't make a performance like that dished up at the Shay last night any more acceptable.

True enough, this wasn't a cup upset to rank alongside those inflicted by the Minstermen on the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton.

But it was still deeply disappointing and undignified nonetheless.

City can point to plenty of mitigating factors - six changes to the side that lost at Mansfield, including three players making their first start of the season and a change of formation too.

However, with points to prove, those players still should have possesed enough skill and determination to overcome Conference opposition.

It wasn't as if City weren't given a leg-up.

With still around a quarter of the tie remaining, Halifax's James Dudgeon was dismissed for upending Jon Parkin.

City made it a double whammy for the home side when Darren Dunning coolly slotted home the resultant spot-kick.

It was an equaliser City barely warranted.

Halifax had taken a deserved lead on 31 minutes when Lee Elam was inexplicably left unmarked at a throw-in close to the corner flag. He crossed and Ryan Mallon drove home from ten yards.

It was no more than the Shaymen deserved.

City had enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half and at least the intention to pass the ball rather than hoof it aimlessly could not be questioned.

However, it was all rather pedestrian, blunt and uninspiring. A change of pace was badly lacking, especially compared to the Shaymen, who were always that bit quicker, sharper and bolder.

But for a fine save from Mark Ovendale to deny the impressive Elam after the midfielder burst through a static City defence Halifax could have been in front on 12 minutes.

Six minutes later it took an important block from Richard Hope to prevent Mallon firing Halifax into the lead from close range.

City created little in the way of goal-scoring opportunities in that opening period.

Stuart Wise went closest to bagging an equaliser just before the break but from a Dunning free-kick he headed a fraction wide from eight yards.

The Minstermen showed more drive and determination at the start of the second half but it still took Dudgeon's trip on Parkin to seemingly tilt the tie in City's favour.

After Dunning's spot-kick, the Minstermen at last started to assert some authority on the ten men of Halifax and if any team looked likely to claim a victory at that stage it was the visitors.

A well-placed chip forward by Aron Wilford put Parkin in the clear but his sweetly struck half-volley was superbly saved by Mark Cartwright as the ball arrowed for the bottom corner.

Steve Downes started to show some verve down the left and after cutting in along the byline fired a shot through the legs of a Halifax defender that Cartwright saved at the near post.

Another goal for the Minstermen looked inevitable but perhaps City paid the price for over-confidence.

Certainly, a lack of concentration was to blame as City fell foul of their season-long nemesis - a high ball into the box.

Dave Merris upended Mallon close to the touchline and from Darren Hockenhull's inswinging free-kick Adam Quinn was given too much space and too little hindrance to head home at the far post.

It was a telling blow, a knockout punch in terms of City's LDV Vans Trophy ambitions.

They've suffered plenty such blows before, of course. But rarely have they been this disappointing.

City 1; (Dunning 70m pen) Halifax 2 (Mallon 31m, Quinn 79m)

Ovendale 6, Cooper 5, Wise 5, Smith 7, Hope 5 (Merris 68m, 5), Downes 5, Brackstone 5, Dunning 6, Dove 4 (George 66m, 6), Parkin 7, Wilford 5 (Nogan 84m), Subs not used: Porter, Wood.

Star Man: Jon Parkin. Effort couldn't be faulted

Key

10 Faultless, 9 Outstanding, 8 Excellent, 7 Eye-catching, 6 Good, 5 Average, 4 Below-par, 3 Dud, 2 Hopeless, 1 Retire

Halifax: Hockenhull, Quinn, Dudgeon, Sandwith, Mallon, Bushell, Hudson, Elam (Midgley 74m), Killeen (Senior 83m), Sagare (Tozer 76m). Subs not used: Heinemann, Toulson.

Yellow cards: Hope 20m, Quinn 45, Hockenhull 57, Killeen 72, Brackstone 73, Parkin 77

Red cards: Dudgeon 69m

Referee: Mark Cowburn (Lancashire)

Attendance: 1,148

Weather watch: Clear, but cold

Game breaker: Lack of concentration for Halifax's winning goal

Match rating: Plenty of incident, but little to cheer

Updated: 12:07 Wednesday, October 15, 2003