YORK City chief Terry Dolan today suffered a body-blow with goalkeeper Marlon Beresford poised to sign for First Division Burnley, the Evening Press can reveal.

Dolan and Beresford were in talks this week about extending his one-month contract with City.

However, in a surprise twist Beresford was today returning to Burnley, the club he was training with prior to joining the Minstermen, to likely sign a one-month contract at Turf Moor.

Burnley have just one senior goalkeeper on their books, Greek international Nik Michopoulos, and boss Stan Ternent is expected to draft Beresford straight into Saturday's squad to face Derby County.

The reasons for Beresford's decision to spurn City in favour of Burnley are not known.

However, the news is a blow for City boss Dolan, who had been anxious to tie the 33-year-old to Bootham Crescent on a longer deal after he impressed in City's opening six games.

With Russ Howarth's future at the club still in limbo, the saving grace for City comes with the fact Northern Ireland international Alan Fettis is fit and available for Friday night's trip to Bury.

Fettis, City's player of the year for the last two seasons, did not feature for City reserves yesterday - indicating the player was possibly in line for a first-team recall.

With John Collinson in goal, the reserves made it a hat-trick of wins with a 3-0 victory over Scarborough at Bootham Crescent and maintain top spot in the Avon Insurance League division one (east) table.

All the goals came in the second-half, Alex Mathie slamming home a 51st-minute penalty after Matthew Coad was hauled down by Boro's Martin O'Riordan.

Mathie then hit the post with a well-struck volley before substitute Levent Yalcin, City's Turkish Under-19 international, scored twice to seal the win.

With his first touch of the game, the youngster struck a superb volley at the far post to make it 2-0.

Two minutes before time he latched on to James Okoli's through-ball and coolly slotted the ball past Leigh Walker in the visitors' goal.

Yalcin was denied a hat-trick in stoppage time when another crisply struck volley - hit deliberately with the outside of his right foot - was tipped over by Walker.

In more plusses for City, Argentine winger Nicolas Mazzina made his competitive home debut for City and played a significant part in two of the goals.

Brazilian Rogerio also featured as a second-half substitute after initially being ruled out with a stomach bug but declaring himself fit at the 11th hour.

Former City players Scott Jordan and Neil Campbell featured for Scarborough, although Campbell was substituted at half-time.

Updated: 12:01 Thursday, September 05, 2002