YORK City's travel sickness continues. After starting the season with a winning bug which included two promising away wins, City are struggling to find their feet on foreign soil.

Despite the scorelines being the same, the performance at Field Mill was much improved than their last on the road, the abysmal showing at Bury's Gigg Lane.

The spirit and commitment certainly couldn't be faulted this time as City made Mansfield work hard for their fourth consecutive victory.

However, and despite a much improved second half display from the Minstermen, City could have few complaints about the result.

Mansfield were simply the better team. Strong, tall and powerful, they passed the ball quickly and accurately.

They look promotion certainties on this evidence and in wideman Liam Lawrence they boast one of the most talented players in Division Three.

For all Mansfield's strengths and City's relative improvement, the Minstermen were also masters of their own downfall.

Two basic errors realised Mansfield's two goals.

But more than that, City only started coming into the game in the second half when they started to pass the ball to feet and show composure on the ball.

In the first, City, as is their worrying wont of late, preferred to hurry their clearances rather than pick passes, thereby leaving the front men to feed on little more than scraps and hand the Stags not only possession but the impetus.

Pity poor Mark Ovendale.

Man of the match against Cambridge United seven days earlier, the goalkeeper produced another handful of top-class saves over the 90 minutes.

However, his one slip of the game on 32 minutes proved costly and handed Mansfield the advantage just as the safety mark of half-time drew close.

From Lawrence's corner, Chris Beardsley side-footed the ball goalwards from six yards.

Ovendale looked to have the ball clutched to his chest but it squirmed free and Dave Artell was on hand to poke home.

For all their good fortune, Mansfield deserved their lead.

City, however, had shown plenty of spirit and determination and were not without chances.

Mitch Ward forced a fine save from Kevin Pilkington with a low drive from 25 yards after a cleverly worked free-kick from the Minstermen.

Dean Crowe also went close but after cutting inside a defender pulled his shot across the face of the goal and just narrowly wide of an upright.

But Ovendale was by far the busier of the two 'keepers.

An early Artell header from a corner almost crept over the line before Ovendale denied Colin Larkin with a fine save down to his left, then produced another important parry to deny Wayne Corden down to his right at the opposite post.

In between, Neil MacKenzie tried his luck three times from range and Beardsley headed wide at the far post when he should have scored.

After the break, Mansfield continued to move the ball quicker than City, who remained on the back foot.

Richard Hope produced two vital blocks to deny Larkin then Beardsley, while Ovendale barred Larkin again with another fine save as the Mansfield striker raced clear.

City, however, were showing glimpses of quality and as they started to find feet with their passes prolonged periods of possession saw confidence grow.

After careful approach play, Pilkington had to show sharp reflexes to push away another Ward effort from distance while, had a far post header from Richard Cooper carried more power, City could have found themselves level.

Just as City looked to be edging into the game, Stuart Wise miscontrolled a pass from Ward allowing Lee Williamson to close in on goal.

Ovendale spared Wise's blushes with another wonderful save at full stretch, but from the resultant corner Artell's header was swept home by Beardsley from close range.

The game was up, but at least the sight of Jon Parkin marauding and causing havoc in the Mansfield defence lifted City spirits.

From Ovendale's long punt Parkin volleyed over Pilkington but his shot thumped back off the cross-bar.

City looked a changed side with the big man leading the line and the sooner he is restored to the starting line-up the better.

He may even prove to be the antidote to City's away day-blues. Halifax Town tomorrow should provide the perfect platform.

Match Facts

Nationwide League, Div 3 - Saturday, October 11, 2003 - at Field Mill

City ratings

Ovendale 7

Cooper 5

Wood 7

Brass 5 (Wise 12m)

Hope 7

Merris 5

Dunning 5

Ward 6

Dove 5 (Parkin 62)

Nogan 5

Crowe 6 (George 76)

Subs not used: Porter, Wise

Star Man: Richard Hope. Rugged display, won header after header.

Key

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

Mansfield: Pilkington, Clarke, Dimech, Artell, Vaughan, Lawrence, MacKenzie, Curtis, Corden (Williamson 71m), Larkin (Disley 79m), Beardsley. Subs not used: White, John-Baptiste, Buxton.

Yellow cards: Wood 45m, Merris 60m, Cooper 79m

Red cards: None

Referee: Nigel Miller (Co Durham)

Rating: Inconsistent.

Attendance: 4,914.

Weather watch: Dull and overcast.

Game breaker: Ovendale's first half slip handed Mansfield the advantage

Match rating: Decent for the neutral, but not for City fans.

Updated: 08:17 Monday, October 13, 2003