From tiny acorns grow mighty oaks and so it must be hoped as York City finally brought to an end a run of six successive defeats.

A scoreless draw against the bottom club on home territory offers little to get excited about.

But at least last night's solitary point gives York City the chance to draw a line under a horrid January and a woeful start to 2001.

It must be hoped they do because it was another less than convincing offering from the Minstermen.

They had the better of a dour game and once again the commitment, and City's defensive resolve could not be faulted.

But City's passing, particularly in a sometimes desperate, tension-filled second-half, curtailed any forward momentum and so rarely did the red ranks build up a head of steam.

The ambition was there but rarely the accuracy and even when the ball was played into feet it failed to stick.

Chris Iwelumo in particular will want to forget this game in a hurry. Nothing went right for the big man, whether he had his back to goal or in front of it, looked to flick the ball on or control it.

Time and again Carlisle's three centre-backs of Mark Winstanley, Stuart Whitehead and David Morley all too easily stepped in front with relative ease to clear the danger.

For all City's shortfalls, the scoreline and performance could have been very different had David McNiven buried his 39th-minute spot-kick after James Turley was upended by Winstanley as he shaped to shoot.

McNiven struck his penalty well enough, but went for precision over power and Matt Glennon in the Carlisle goal guessed right to save.

Played in an atmosphere befitting a cup-tie, one sensed then just one 'golden goal' would have been enough to snatch all three points.

City rode their luck at times.

Scott Dobie scooped Ian Stevens low cross into the arms of Alan Fettis from just six yards out and then just minutes later scuffed another good chance straight at the City goalkeeper.

But other than a late flurry at the end when Fettis and Turley combined to hack another Dobie effort off the line Carlisle's goal threat was minimal.

Even discounting McNiven's penalty miss, City had the better chances.

City's top scorer had already seen a goal-bound volley take an unfortunate deflection and go behind for a corner, from which Iwelumo blazed over from less than eight yards out and with the goal at his mercy.

A goal then would certainly have eased the nervousness of City's display but served only to add to the tension the longer the game progressed.

In such circumstances it was perhaps no surprise that the second-half degenerated into a poor advert for Division Three football as the ball spent more time in the air than on the ground.

Increasingly, passes fell too short or were hit too long and while City enjoyed increased possession they struggled to unpick a determined Carlisle defence.

With City unable to work their way in behind the Cumbrians' rearguard, shots from distance offered City's best hope of salvation as three-times defender Neville Stamp tried his luck and on each occasion was never a million miles away.

With the game petering out for a draw, City still had another golden chance to snatch a much-needed win and significantly it was created following some sharp passing to feet.

The impressive Leigh Wood rolled the ball into McNiven, who dissected the Carlisle defence with a sharp first-time pass to play substitute Scott Emmerson in.

From a tight angle, the teenager could not have struck his shot any better, but the ball curled agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

So yet another blank night at the office for the Minstermen, who have now mustered a depressing tally of just two goals from more than 13 hours of football.

* In the other basement battle of the night Plymouth Argyle had no trouble discovering their goal touch.

The Pilgrims routed Kidderminster Harriers 4-0 at Home Park.

York City 0 Carlisle United 0

York City: Alan Fettis 6, Barry Jones 6, Mark Sertori 6, Colin Alcide 6, Neville Stamp 6, Marc Thompson 6 (Graham Potter 82mins), James Turley 7, Steve Agnew 6, Leigh Wood 7 (Scott Jordan 90mins), David McNiven 5, Chris Iwelumo 4 (Scott Emmerson 74mins, 6) Subs not used: Russ Howarth, Mark Bower Bookings: None

Carlisle United: Mark Birch, Lee Maddison, Mark Winstanley, Stuart Whitehead, David Morley, Richard Prokas, Steve Soley, Mick Galloway (Gordon Connelly 90mins), Scott Dobie, Ian Stevens (Steve Halliday 66mins) Subs not used: Carl Heggs, Tony Hemmings, Julian Darby Bookings: None

Updated: 11:49 Wednesday, January 31, 2001