York City's target for Third Division safety was shortened to just one point without having to kick a ball.

City's next outing is on Saturday at Torquay United, who ironically hauled themselves off the bottom of the table with a last-gasp 2-1 home win over Darlington as the Minstermen's game at Shrewsbury was waterlogged last night.

With the Gulls also having to play Barnet in the last match of the season it means that a draw for manager Terry Dolan's charges at Plainmoor on Saturday would effectively wipe out any drop threat for the visitors.

Sharing the spoils would give City 49 points, which would then be a total out of reach of either Torquay or Barnet after their final-day encounter.

Torquay had to wait until the last two minutes before they secured all three points with a winner from former Coventry striker John Gayle after an opener from Darlington's Olivier Bernard was wiped out by a Gareth Law equaliser.

Besides City's game being a casualty of the weather relegation-haunted Halifax Town's home match against promoted Brighton was also washed out.

Tonight's European Under-16 group game between the Netherlands and Poland at Bootham Crescent is definitely on, kick-off 6.30pm.

City's game at Shrewsbury has been rearranged for next Tuesday night.

Updated: 11:56 Wednesday, April 25, 2001