Out and in - and there's the rub. York City exited the Worthington Cup, but were far from disgraced and at least there was the solace of a goal at last.

CRACK SHOT: City defender Barry Jones is just a fraction too late in blocking a shot from Wigan's Stuart Barlow which put the home side 2-0 up. Andrew Dawson (background) awaits the outcome

Maybe the JJB Stadium - Wigan's impressive new HQ - will, for the Minstermen anyway, stand for 'Just Jilted the Blank' run.

It was a long time coming and not just in this second leg tie against pedigree opposition.

The expert execution from Rodney Rowe less than 60 seconds from the final whistle ended more than seven hours without hitting the net since Mark Atkins' first-day winner against Swansea.

But the lack of plunder remains the big issue.

Before substitute Rowe rifled in his late strike City fans were again left to ponder just where the next goal would spring from. There were little signs that such a demoralising dearth was to end against the lively Latics.

City remain a team in transition with understanding still being sought between the tireless Barry Conlon and the galloping John Williams.

Adding to the flux were first full outings for Scott Jordan and Martin Garratt, plus a senior debut for Christian Fox.

Yet there was no denying this was a considerable improvement on the weekend woes against Rochdale.

Wigan were almost taken aback by City's effrontery. Here in their £28million stadium of dreams they were initially pegged back by York.

The Latics' expansive game to exploit the swift movement of the front three was being constrained by City's chasing and covering.

Within three minutes a stubbed clearance from goalkeeper Derek Stillie - replacing Northern Ireland international Roy Carroll as the lone change from the first meeting a fortnight before - bobbled to Williams. He took it on, Conlon moving into space. But the attempted cross was cut out by Pat McGibbon.

Then came an icicle-sharp move involving a one-two between Atkins and debutant Fox. The former whisked into the area, but it was Scott Green who got the telling touch rather than a City man, the Wigan defender turning it away almost off the goal-line for another corner.

Fox, one of three switches from the ranks routed by Rochdale, was particularly impressive in a right-side midfield role. Debut distribution was neat and tackling sharp.

But 20 minutes in and calamity struck, borne out of harshness. Russ Howarth mis-timed a punch at Michael O'Neill's high free-kick, the ball falling to Andy Liddell.

His first time shot struck Wayne Hall on the arm, but it looked entirely accidental. Referee Michael Jones demurred and Stuart Barlow banged in the penalty for his fourth goal of the season. It was an understatement to say it was against the run of play.

City bridled at the injustice and Wigan settled into an unequalled groove. One length of the pitch move needed just two passes before ending with Liddell's lashed shot on the run just over the crossbar.

Five minutes before half-time and another rapid break was thwarted by Howarth's reflexes, the teenager pushing over a thumping header from Haworth.

Wigan's subtle movement and all-round awareness increased after half-time denying City much to work with and thereby retrieve a way back into the game. Barlow and Liddell were notable influences in the opening 20 minutes of the second-half.

City finally did conjure an opening, Dawson's long pass down the right collected by Conlon.

Williams was the beneficiary of the cross, but wasted it, scuffing a volley from seven yards out against Stillie's upper body. Fuller contact and City would have been level on the night.

Five minutes later the tie was out of reach. Barlow twisted and tormented Barry Jones as he raced into the area, the ex-Everton man's drilled effort for his second goal squirting off Jones' heel into the net under Howarth.

The game petered out as a contest and in a last-gasp raid City's striking malaise looked to have even infected substitute Rowe. Latching on to Conlon's flick header he escaped his markers easily but screwed a shot well wide.

However it proved a range-finder. One minute from time Conlon's fierce drive deflected into Rowe's path and his snap thump from 15 yards hit the rigging.

A sign of striking things to come. City will fervently hope so.

Worthington Cup First round, second leg

Tuesday, August 24, 1999

Wigan 2, York City 1 (Wigan win 3-1 on aggregate)

YORK CITY: Russ Howarth, Christian Fox, Wayne Hall, Mark Atkins, Barry Jones (Matt Hocking 70min), Chris Fairclough, Andrew Dawson, Scott Jordan, Barry Conlon, John Williams (Rodney Rowe 76), Martin Garratt.

Subs unused - Bobby Mimms, Kevin Dixon, Lee Bullock.

Bookings: Atkins 29min (foul).

Goals: Rowe 89min.

WIGAN ATHLETIC: Derek Stillie, Scott Green, Mark Bowen, Stuart Balmer, Pat McGibbon, Ian Kilford, Michael O'Neill, Darren Sheridan (Brian McLaughlin 73min), Simon Haworth (Graeme Jones 80), Stuart Barlow, Andy Liddell (David Lee 73).

Subs unused - Roberto Martinez, Andy Porter.

Bookings: Balmer 74 (foul), Green 82 (foul).

Goals: Barlow 21min pen, 68.

Referee: Mike Jones (Chester)

Crowd: 3,396.

Fox hungry for success

Debutant Christian Fox is hunting a double run of delight after his York City baptism.An incredible week for the 18-year-old was crowned by his debut for City in the Worthington Cup defeat by Wigan Athletic.

City were beaten 2-1 last night to finish 3-1 aggregate losers to the Latics and tumble out of the first round.

But the Worthington Cup experience left Fox drooling for more.

And his desire to prolong his run in City's senior ranks was matched by a wish to bag a slot in the England Under-18 squad for their European Championship qualifying game against Switzerland next month.

The defender turned midfielder is expected to hear by the end of this week whether he has secured a place after impressing in three days of trials at Lilleshall last week.

"I'm just keeping my fingers crossed I get in the England squad and now I also want to hang on to my City shirt," said Fox.

"Other than the result I thoroughly enjoyed the game at Wigan. They are a very good passing team, but I think if we had believed in ourselves a bit more we could have got something from them.

"I didn't think I did too bad out there. Hopefully I can stay in the team and keep the shirt. That's my main aim."

Since arriving at City on schoolboy forms four years ago Fox has mainly operated at right-back. His stirring displays in defence were a feature of last season's side that got to the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup.

But manager Neil Thompson ventured that midfield might better suit Fox's talents.

"He's had a terrific debut. The lad come in and shown a lot of responsibility against a team, whose movement makes you use your grey matter," enthused the City manager.

"He has so much talent on the ball coming in off the flank that I just think he has got more to offer us on the right side of midfield. He is very tidy in possession of the ball."

Of City's exit at the futuristic JJB Stadium Thompson saluted a much tougher display by his charges on the heels of the collapse against Rochdale.

But he added that he would not tolerate for much longer City's inability to make chances count.

"Yet again we've had openings in the first 20 minutes and we've not taken them. We've got to turn the screw. We've got to put the ball away. I won't let that go on for too long, that's for sure."

Thompson said City 'lived on their nerves' in the second-half when Wigan dominated the game and he praised the calibre of the Lancashire hosts.

"Their movement was excellent, especially in the second-half when we found it hard to live with them.

"But some of those players have performed in the Premiership and I think a First Division side would struggle to contain players like Andy Liddell and Stuart Barlow," he said.

"However, we hung in there and never gave up. All the lads have worked their socks off. Saturday was a lesson for us and tonight is another part of the learning curve."

City were staging a training match against Chesterfield behind closed doors at Bootham Crescent today. Thompson said the exercise was to get vital match practice for some members of his squad - including himself.

He said: "I need a game, as does Rodney Rowe, Marc Williams, Lee Bullock, and Graham Rennison. It will give us a good run out."

Places are still available on the supporters' club coach to Barnet on Saturday, leaving Bootham Crescent at 8.30am. The cost is £14 or £16 for non-members. Call York 624447 to book.

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