HAVING tasted the high-life, York City midfield mainstay Lee Bullock is anxious for more of the same next season.

The 21-year-old revealed his bitter disappointment as York City's play-off dreams faltered in Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Exeter.

But the midfielder, the club's longest serving player alongside Christian Fox, revealed his determination to learn lessons and bounce back stronger.

Bullock said: "If you'd said at the start of the season what was going to happen and we'd have still been in with a play-off chance with just a couple of games to go we would have taken it.

"But being so close to getting out of this division and then missing out is bitterly disappointing.

"It feels like the whole season has been wasted by a handful of bad games, starting against Rochdale, at Carlisle, Lincoln, then against Kidderminster and Exeter.

"We didn't deserve to win (against Exeter). We knew what was at stake but in the end we just weren't good enough."

However, while frank about City's shortcomings this season, Bullock reckons City will now have the added nous to go that one step further next time around.

"As a team, over the last couple of years we have struggled but this season has been a good learning experience," he explained.

"Personally, I've found out what it's like being at the top of the division. We just need that little bit extra but, hopefully, what has happened will stand us in good stead for next season when I think we can go one better and be in the automatic places."

Saturday's defeat virtually extinguished City's play-off hopes. It left City in ninth position in Division Three, three points adrift of seventh-placed Lincoln with just this weekend's trip to Oxford left.

To have any chance of securing a top seven spot, City will need to beat Oxford 4-0 and hope Lincoln lose at home to Torquay by the same score.

Bullock has not given up hope of a miracle at Oxford on Saturday but admits it is a long shot.

"All we have to do is concentrate on getting three points and if we get an early goal, you never know, Oxford's heads might drop.

"Realistically, we will be looking to finish the season on a high for the fans who have been brilliant in keeping the club going.

"We want to go out with a bang for them."

Shrewsbury will be relegated after 53 years in the League following last night's 3-2 home defeat against Carlisle - a result which means the Cumbrians are safe.

Updated: 11:38 Wednesday, April 30, 2003