Just one win in the year 2000, one point from a possible 18, one goal in six games, and, sadly, in another poor game, just one effort on target.

Worrying statistics and worrying times for the Minstermen who are in danger of acquiring the tag York City-nil.

Terry Dolan is painfully aware of his recently acquired side's shortcomings.

The City chief has moved quickly to tighten things up at the back - one lapse of concentration and a goal conceded when chasing the game aside. His recent signings have added to the quality of the squad and given York a better balance too.

Now his thinking must be forward.

Once again, man for man, the opposition were not really that much better, just more concerted in their final thrusts, a touch more quality in the final third.

And yet Peterborough stand on the threshold of promotion, and City? It doesn't bare thinking about. A rough and ready pitch didn't add to the spectacle but neither side looked prepared to grab the game by the scruff of the neck in a bitty, scrappy first-half especially.

City, playing into an ever strengthening wind, settled for soaking up the Posh pressure with the hope of then breaking swiftly.

To their credit, part one worked well.

City to a man defended resolutely and seemed well set to blunt the home-side's first half probes. Set-pieces perhaps offered Barry Fry's team their best hope of breaking the deadlock.

Richard Scott's piercing drive from a well-worked free-kick looked destined for the top corner before, somehow, reappearing on the right side, from a York perspective, of the post.

But otherwise City looked relatively comfortable.

The only problem was part two.

As Peterborough pressed so the City midfield were forced to drop deeper and deeper until they merged into one with the rearguard.

The net result was even if a York foot or head got there first the ball invariably fell to a blue shirt and City were soon under the Posh cosh.

When the ball did make its way into the Peterborough half it rarely stayed there.

The York forwards, lacking any quality service, struggled to get hold of possession and when they did the midfield were pegged back too deep to lend a helping hand.

Still, with the home crowd starting to get restless at their team's inability to force a breakthrough, hopes were rising City would get to half-time still goalless, regroup and then come out after the break with the wind at their backs and the bit between their teeth in terms of attacking play.

As the comfort zone of half-time hovered into sight Posh fired a warning shot across the bows when City's new 'keeper Alan Fettis had to be alert to claw out from inside the post John Cullen's bobbling half-volley.

But the debutant could do little minutes later when City's best laid plans came tumbling down. As Jason Lee flicked a hopeful ball on, time stood still. The City defence was suddenly nowhere to be seen.

Some 25 yards out, Andy Clarke had time to look both ways - and probably rub his hands with glee - before invading the space between him and the York goal, to coolly slot the ball past an advancing Fettis.

Rattled, City went close to conceding a second when Lee then headed Matthew Gill's throw into the path of Cullen, who lashed his effort over the bar from just six yards.

But at 1-0 hope remained.

Certainly with the wind now at their backs, City started the second half higher up the field and Barry Conlon was not a million miles away with a speculative long range effort.

But in reality City resembled a journeyman boxer who lacked a knockout punch.

Dolan, realising something had to be done, brought on Steve Agnew for his first appearance since January 18 and withdrew Matt Hocking.

Young Marc Thompson dropped in at right-back while Lee Bullock switched to the right.

City's threat seemed more real as Agnew's holding role released the shackles for Kevin Hulme, full of running as ever, to roam.

Conlon fired in a deep cross to the far post that just evaded the despairing lunge of Bullock, and if Hulme had connected with Thompson's cross then City would surely have levelled.

With Peterborough on the back foot, Dolan cranked up the pressure by withdrawing Paul Talbot and throwing on John Williams to leave City playing 4-3-3.

On 72 minutes, York at last got a corner. It came to nothing and was quickly followed by a second that too drew a blank but slowly, very slowly, they were edging closer.

However, as a team chases the game so the back door always remains ajar and so Peterborough proved.

A cross from deep by Posh substitute David Farrell looked to be drifting harmlessly out until Lee popped up at the far post almost unnoticed to head home the killer second goal.

The game gone, at least City managed to finally get a shot on target.

Conlon picked up the ball some 35 yards out, turned and let fly with a fair effort that proved just too comfortable for Griemink.

A bit like Peterborough's afternoon.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.