FAST-FLOWING football, a clean sheet, a three-point haul and a double blast to underline their superiority.

What were we all worrying about little more than two weeks ago?

York City confirmed that their horrendous start to the season was really just a blip with another win and another fine performance against Scunthorpe United.

The result was soured for City by a bad injury to Peter Duffield, who suffered a suspected double fracture of his right ankle.

But even that couldn't dampen the sense of satisfaction for the York faithful. City were simply too hot to handle for the Iron, who arrived at Bootham Crescent with one eye on the top of the table.

York started like an express train, carving out a clutch of chances in the opening minutes with their high-tempo attacks.

Graham Potter started the ball rolling by taking on right-back Matthew Sparrow, making his full debut for United, and crossing to the near post.

Both Duffield and David McNiven arrived together to fire in a shot that lacked the pace to trouble Tommy Evans in the Scunthorpe goal.

Steve Agnew then headed wide a golden opportunity from Potter's head back across the face of the Iron goal.

It was heartening, rousing stuff with City's passing catching the eye; slick and fast, Scunthorpe were struggling to hold on to the coat-tails of the Minstermen.

The feel-good factor came to an abrupt halt after just ten minutes, however, when Duffield suffered his break.

City's top scorer raced onto Alex Calvo Garcia's misdirected header but as he went to shoot he was tackled simultaneously by Russ Wilcox and was left writhing in agony.

Alcide was summoned from the bench as Duffield was stretchered off to generous applause but the tragedy seemed to upset City's rhythm and moved Scunthorpe from their slumber.

United had a good case for a penalty waved away by referee Mark Cooper when Mark Sertori looked to have pulled back Gareth Sheldon just as the striker steadied himself to shoot.

Sertori used more legal means to prevent Steve Torpey from bagging his fifth goal of the season when he got in front of Scunthorpe's number ten to clear off the line Sheldon's cross.

The move had been prompted by the creativity of Scunthorpe's Lee Hodges, an increasing Iron influence, who had twisted this way and that in the centre of midfield before playing in Sheldon with a carefully crafted pass.

City's thrusts temporarily tempered, normal service was resumed when Potter raced onto Alcide's clever reverse pass but miscued his shot badly at the near post

Alcide turned and volleyed a good effort just wide of the post from Wayne Hall's early cross as City looked to maintain the pace of the opening quarter.

Another promising move down the left saw Potter again racing into the United area, but he dallied as he weighed up whether to shoot or cross, eventually deciding on the former but hitting his shot straight at Evans.

Chances and corners continued to flow; Barry Jones hit the crossbar with a thunderous header, McNiven pulled a good chance wide before Hulme headed into the arms of the Scunthorpe shot-stopper.

With assistant referee Eddie Evans replacing an injured Cooper, United roused themselves occasionally, debutant Bjarni Larusson forcing a fine save from Alan Fettis with a piledriver before Hodges, arriving late at the far post, headed over Torpey's flick-on.

But it was City's half by a mile, marred only by the failure to find the net from so many good chances.

Those missed opportunities were starting to look even more glaring at the start of the second half as Scunthorpe set the agenda.

Fettis parried Sheldon's near-post effort before saving well Wayne Graves' 25-yard drive.

At the opposite end, 'keeper Evans earned his corn at the double, standing tall to deny Alcide when clear on goal then clutching Hulme's powerful header from the resultant corner.

One sensed a goal for either side was coming and so it proved.

Potter flighted in a ball to McNiven, whose first effort on the turn was blocked by Ashley Fickling. The ball ran kindly for the City striker though, and he regained his composure to poke the ball past Evans.

Nerves eased, the frantic pace eased too but City received a another boost when Alex Calvo-Garcia got his marching orders for putting the boot in on Steve Agnew.

The chances continued to flow for City. An alert Darren Edmondson cut out Larusson's pass before playing in McNiven with a delightful chip behind the Iron defence.

McNiven let the ball bounce but blazed his effort high into the David Longhurst stand.

The good football deserved a goal and the all-important second came with just eight minutes to go.

Alcide robbed a stuttering Wilcox of possession with a fine block tackle, advanced towards the United goal before squaring the ball into the path of Agnew.

The City skipper didn't even have to break his stride as he took the ball into the box and passed it with purpose into the corner of the net.

It was a fine goal to cap a fine display from Agnew, and City to a man.

City Match Facts

Nationwide League

Division Three

Saturday, September 9, 2000

York City 2 v Scunthorpe Utd 0

Scorers: McNiven 55, Agnew 82

YORK CITY: Alan Fettis 7, Barry Jones 8, Mark Sertori 8, Gary Hobson 8, Wayne Hall 9, Darren Edmondson 7, Steve Agnew 8, Kevin Hulme 7, Peter Duffield (Colin Alcide 10mins 6, Barry Conlon 90mins) David McNiven 8, Graham Potter 7

Subs, not used: Russ Howarth, Lee Bullock, Matt Hocking

Booked: Edmondson 65mins (foul), Hulme 90mins (foul);

Sent off: None.

SCUNTHORPE: Thomas Evans, Andrew Dawson, Matthew Sparrow (Paul Harsley 73mins), Russ Wilcox, Ashley Fickling, Lee Hodges (Brian Quailey 75mins), Alex Calvo-Garcia, Bjarni Larusson, Wayne Graves, Gareth Sheldon, Steve Torpey

Subs, not used: Simon Miotto, Peter Morrison, Darryn Stamp

Booked: None

Sent-off: Calvo Garcia 70mins (serious foul play).

Evening Press/Unique Pub Man of the Match

Wayne Hall

On a day of many fine displays, Ginner caught the eye with a series of well-timed tackles and interceptions.

Match Stats

Half time York 0 Scunthorpe 0

Corners York 10 Scunthorpe 5

Shots on target York 7 Scunthorpe 4

Fouls Committed York 16 Scunthorpe 13

Attendance: 3,370

Referee: Mark Cooper (Walsall)

City's next match

Tuesday, September 12: York City v Rochdale, ko 7.30pm. Nationwide Lesgue Division Three.

Picture - AGONISING MOMENT: City striker Peter Duffield goes down after colliding with United's Russ Wilcox