The misfiring Minstermen were left longing for a goal to raise their spirits after another Bootham Crescent blank.

SO CLOSE: The nearest City came to breaking the deadlock was when Barry Conlon lashed this fre-kick against an upright. Debut man Kevin Hulme (inset right) gets tangled up in the midfield action

Oh, for three points to lift the morale and, oh for a goal.

What City fans would give for that brief, spine-tingling moment to lift the soul but not savoured on home territory since the opening day of the season.

For while points are proving hard to come by it is goals that are proving even more elusive.

It is not as if City are guilty of missing gilt-edged opportunities - it took York 61 minutes to register their first effort on target on Saturday and that, a speculative 25-yard drive from Mark Atkins, was comfortably saved by Posh 'keeper Mark Tyler.

Barry Conlon was unlucky to see his howitzer of a free-kick cannon back off the post a minute later and in the dying embers young Christian Fox, turning in another impressive performance, could have secured three points but rushed his shot as hero status awaited.

But otherwise that was it - City were as blunt as a beach ball.

At least at the other end of the park City are, in the words of City boss Neil Thompson, looking "solid".

Peterborough, propelled by the much vaunted Matthew Etherington down the left, did have the best opportunities to snatch all three points but there is a physical presence about the City rearguard now not witnessed for some time.

Mark Sertori and skipper Chris Fairclough are showing signs of developing a good understanding, a thick red line that teams with less sophistication and slickness than Posh will struggle to break down.

The signing of the aggressive Kevin Hulme may not please the purists but he too showed plenty of grit and determination and a willingness to link up with the attack, too often left to fend for itself, until running out of steam.

And Martin Garratt, a first-half substitute for the injured Thompson, was always eager to take the game to the visitors and offered some crumbs of comfort to the beleaguered City faithful.

It was certainly not pretty stuff in the early exchanges, the ball cosseted like a hot potato by both sides sweltering in a close, muggy atmosphere.

Peterborough should have broken the deadlock on 12 minutes when a deep cross from Dean Hooper on the right was nodded down by Etherington into the path of striker Drew Broughton on the edge of the six-yard box.

But the former Norwich City hitman pondered too long as Bobby Mimms rushed from his line and the chance was gone.

Moments later David Farrell skipped through the heart of the City midfield and defence but just as he was about to pull the trigger was halted in his tracks by a fine, last gasp challenge from Matt Hocking.

City's best chance of the first-half, a half-chance, fell on 21 minutes when, following a succession of passes, Fox's long range effort was deflected for a corner.

Thompson's in-swinger was flicked on by John Williams at the near post but Hulme, arriving at the other, stretched out a foot but failed to connect.

Atkins then tried his luck from distance in an almost carbon-copy of Fox's earlier attempt only for the ball to squeeze past the Posh post.

Broughton could count himself unlucky on the half hour mark when he got in front of the City defenders to meet substitute Francis Green's low cross.

But his right foot snap-shot was parried excellently by Mimms, showing reflexes belying his age.

With Rodney Rowe on in the second-half for the ineffectual Williams, there was certainly more of a spring in the step of City but it was Peterborough who offered the concerted threat.

Etherington, released by a quick throw out by Tyler, broke free from the shackles of Hocking, slipped past Atkins before firing in a cross that eventually found its way to the advancing Hooper who drove over.

Etherington was then guilty of trying to pass Broughton's knock-down into the goal from six yards as City wobbled at the back amid a Posh storm.

City regrouped and with a slice of luck could have scored from Conlon's free-kick thwack.

Garratt, released by a clever Fox pass, then saw his cross-cum shot saved at the near post by Tyler before another incisive run by Fox saw him played in on the edge of the Peterborough box by Hulme.

The ball seemed to get stuck in the youngster's feet and his shot was never in danger of finding the back of the net - a bit like City all afternoon.

City's next match

Nationwide League Division Three - away at Exeter City, September 18, 1999, kick-off 3pm.

Nationwide Division Three

Saturday, September 11, 1999

York City 0, Peterborough 0

YORK CITY: Bobby Mimms 7, Matt Hocking 7 (Andrew Dawson 64 min 6), Neil Thompson 6 (Martin Garratt 32min 7), Mark Sertori 8, Chris Fairclough 8, Christian Fox 7, Mark Atkins 6, Kevin Hulme 6, John Williams 5 (Rodney Rowe HT 6), Barry Conlon 6, Wayne Hall 9.

Subs unused - Russ Howarth, Barry Jones

Goals: None.

Cautions: Hulme (foul 60min).

Evening Press Man of the Match:

WAYNE HALL: Mr Consistency. Dropped into left back when Thompson was injured and didn't put a foot wrong. A series of well-timed tackles and always looking to instigate moves forward.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Mark Tyler, Dean Hooper, Adam Drury, Richard Scott, Matthew Wicks, Andy Edwards, David Farrell (Francis Green 18), Jae Martin, Steve Castle, Drew Broughton, Matt Ehterington.

Subs unused - Bart Griemink, Phil Chapple, Tony Shields, Simon Rea.

Goals: None.

Cautions: Castle (foul 39), Broughton (foul 50)

Referee: Phil Joslin (Newark).

Crowd: 2,832

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