A CONTROVERSIAL disallowed goal could not overshadow manager Terry Dolan's delight as York City picked up a deserved point at Division Three table-toppers Hartlepool United.

Battling City were certainly good value for at least a point at a rain-lashed Victoria Park but it could have been three had Peter Duffield's second-half strike not fallen foul of a linesman's flag.

Both Duffield and Dolan were convinced the goal should have stood but the City manager preferred to look to the positives after the Minstermen produced their best performance in weeks,

"I thought it was a great performance and we defended very well," said the City boss.

"We felt we could have had three points but unfortunately one of the referee's assistants has decided to give an offside.

"It was a carbon copy of the goal at Bournemouth and it can make you frustrated. But you have to accept these decisions in the hope once they start going for us then we are going to climb up the table.

"And I'm not going to complain too much about the goal being disallowed. I'm more concerned or happy with our performance and the way the players stuck at it.

"Hartlepool are not top of the league for nothing. They are organised and have some decent players and they are strong. Most of all they work very hard.

"We had to make sure we worked just as hard. We did that and we got a point which we are delighted with".

During the first-half, when the torrential downpour was at its heaviest, the game looked in danger of being abandoned.

It also looked like the game might have to be called off when a floodlight failure plunged the ground into darkness at half-time. The lights eventually came back on but the second period kicked off more than five minutes late.

Dolan praised loan signing Michael Reddy, who put in an eye-catching second-half display on his City debut.

"We knew Michael has got plenty of pace. He just needs to get used to playing more games. He came on sooner than we thought but he has shown what he is capable of and we are looking forward to having him for at least the next month."

The night was tarnished for City with Chris Brass picking up his fifth booking of the season meaning he will miss the Minstermen's first round FA Cup clash at home to Swansea on November 16.

Another blow was a foot injury picked up by striker Lee Nogan, who was replaced by Reddy at half-time.

Updated: 12:38 Saturday, November 02, 2002