GOODBYE to 2002 and good riddance.

But at least York City saw off their 'annus horribilis' in cracking, and now almost trademark, style.

The much wanted win was not forthcoming, but there can be few complaints about the performance from City or the entertainment served up by both sides.

Thankfully, there were plenty of fans at Bootham Crescent to witness what was the epitome of a derby game.

Tension, delight, frustration and relief - this game realised all the emotions and was yet another pertinent reminder why professional football in York must continue to exist.

Where else are you going to get this sort of drama on a Saturday afternoon?

But just as this was a typical derby game, so it was a typical performance from this gritty and determined City side.

The meek showing at Boston had suggested recent off-field events were starting to take their toll.

Don't you believe it.

With just under 30 minutes remaining on Saturday the chips were not just down but lower than a snake's belly.

Yet again though City seemed to revel and grow stronger in adversity and if points were earned for sheer doggedness and persistence then the Minstermen would have claimed all three, and would probably be sitting pretty at the top of the table by now.

In a frantic, sometimes fractious opening to the game, no-one could deny the enthusiasm or desire from City.

But in doing so, the Minstermen lacked the composure to make their possession count.

Hull were more cautious in their approach but the Tigers still fashioned some good opportunities with Alan Fettis producing two sharp saves to deny Dean Keates and Steve Melton, then scrambling Ian Ashbee's corner around the post.

Slowly, City warmed to the task with Michael Reddy ghosting in from the right flank past a hat-trick of challenges before squirming a shot wide, then Peter Duffield heading a good opportunity into the arms of Paul Musselwhite.

Christian Fox was proving particularly influential in the City midfield; keeping the shape, keeping it simple and keeping the engine room ticking over.

At the back, former Tiger Gary Hobson was steadiness personified, ably supported by fellow defensive sentinels Tom Cowan and Chris Smith.

But it was from the most unlikely source that City took the lead just past the half-hour mark - take a bow Darren Edmondson.

Receiving the ball out wide from Fox, the City wing-back cut inside Hull's left-back Damien Delaney before letting fly with a shot that had goal written all over it the moment it left Edmondson's boot - and his left boot at that.

From 25 yards out and at an angle, the ball sailed over the helpless Musselwhite and nestled in the top corner of the net.

It had taken more than two and a half years and 100 games for Edmondson, a former Hull junior, to make his mark on the scoresheet, but this made the wait just about worthwhile.

While raising the roof, Edmondson's blast also calmed the nerves and just moments later a sweeping move from City involving Fox, Edmondson and Duffield almost realised a second for City, only for Duffield's firm drive from 12 yards to hit the legs of Musselwhite.

The Tigers had looked fairly toothless and it was no surprise to see the visitors ring the changes at half-time, bringing on the attack-minded Stuart Green and Lawrie Dudfield and switching to a 4-4-2 from a 5-3-2.

The changes had still to take effect though when City were denied from doubling their advantage by the woodwork.

Musselwhite flapped at Graham Potter's corner, the ball dropping at the feet of Lee Nogan, who hooked it over his shoulder and a crowded six-yard box and on to the crossbar.

To make matters worse for City, within five minutes Hull levelled.

Substitutes Green and Dudfield combined down the right, with the latter centring with a low cross.

Phil Jevons missed the ball but Keates, loitering at the back post, made no mistake.

From bad to worse it went for City when little more than ten minutes later Smith received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

There were few complaints about his first for a foul on Dudfield, but his second followed a tackle on Ashbee which, although being rash, saw minimal, if any, contact.

For a time, Hull looked set to make their extra man advantage count but found their former shot-stopper Fettis in fine form, the City 'keeper producing a hat-trick of great saves to deny Green and two fizzers from Melton.

But just when City looked at their lowest ebb the Minstermen bounced off the ropes and started fighting back.

Reddy flashed a low drive across the Hull goal and could have earned a penalty when nudged over by Andy Holt, while the ball just wouldn't run for Lee Nogan as he almost latched on to Fox's cunning through ball.

Despite such a valiant effort, 1-1 it remained and perhaps rightly so.

A win would have been the perfect end to a less than perfect year, but the performance and determination was worth just as much.

City: Fettis 9, Edmondson 8, Smith 7, Hobson 8, Cowan 8, Potter 8, Bullock 7, Fox 8, Reddy 7, Nogan 7 (Wilding 89m), Duffield 7 (Wood 83m). Subs, not used: Collinson, Cooper, Jones. Goal: Edmondson 33m.

Booking: Cowan 80m (foul). Sent-off: Smith 63m (two bookings).

Hull: Musselwhite, Regan, Anderson, Whittle (Green 46m), Joseph, Delaney, Melton, Ashbee, Keates (Holt 73m), Jevons, Alexander (Dudfield 46m). Subs, not used: Deeney, Webb. Goal: Keates 51m.

Bookings: Ashbee 10m, Alexander 32m, Jevons 80m, Joseph 82. Sent-off: None.

REFEREE: Lee Cable (Woking)

ATTENDANCE: 7,856

Man of the match: Alan Fettis

A nap hand of crucial saves

Updated: 12:15 Monday, December 30, 2002