Enfield 2, York City 2

FA Cup first round, at Southbury Road

Negligence bordering on the criminal left York City teetering on their biggest banana-skin for many seasons.

Richard Cresswell is denied a hat-trick by Enfield goalkeeper Andy Pape

York should have been drawing up battle plans for a second round trip to Wrexham.

But instead they still have Enfield to shake off after the north London club clung to the chronic Minstermen like snot on a sleeve.

And even more embarrassing than such an indelicate image, is the fact that City - confidence lower than a serpent's stomach - carelessly tossed away a 2-0 lead prised from hosts no fewer than three divisions below in football's pyramid.

City could neither extend nor protect their advantage. Collywobbles developed into tremors and during six minutes of second-half stuttering Southbury Road caved in on the

Minstermen. They then had to survive an edgy last quarter of the tie to ensure a repeat clash with Enfield in just over a week's time.

Looking ahead to the replay City should not take anything for granted based on Saturday's capital clang. It wasn't as if they were second best, but they were barely equals in terms of creating anything worthwhile.

The tie was viewed in various ways. A relief from the League slump, a gilt-streaked opportunity to finally chase away the despair of the last six weeks.

But despite scraping out a two-goal lead - Richard Cresswell twice on target for the third time this season - City could not transform their Ryman League opponents into whipping-boys.

Rather, Enfield almost manoeuvred the messy Minstermen into such a dispiriting role and but for a referee's assistant's flag five minutes from time the exit sign may have already flashed.

Then the City defence buckled to another cross, but as Richard Dunwell poked the ball past Andy Warrington a welcome arm on the near touchline was raised. The sigh of relief from the visiting fans could have been heard all the way back up the M1.

Apologists could point to a variety of circumstances in mitigation.

A boggy, soggy pitch which precluded fluent passing, a sloping surface, an early injury to the influential Mark Tinkler prompting a change in system, uncharacteristic mistakes from Tony Barras. Even the inherent magic of the FA Cup for underscoring shocks. But they were merely unappetising side orders to City's ashes-tasting show.

The unpalatable truth was they were impoverished across midfield, and too susceptible to unsteadiness at the back. But for the talon-sharp reflexes of Warrington the phrase creek and paddle may well have come into play in the post-match inquest.

Enfield were predictably industrious, zealous in the tackle, eager to bypass midfield. Route one personified. All admirable attributes, but hardly enough to induce fear.

But City played into the willing hands of the underdogs, never once asserting authority even when two goals to the good.

The pattern of City's anxious approach was set within the first 30 seconds. Skipper Steve Agnew too easily ceded possession in midfield and as Sammy Cooper charged upfield the defence retreated, consternation already etched on their faces. Only a late deflection prevented the earliest cup strike of the day.

To say City were living on their nerves was an understatement and even when they and Cresswell returned to the goal trail at the double they remained unconvincing and uncomfortable.

At least Cresswell was sure-footed in front of goal. He was composure itself to jab in a bobbler from Neil Tolson in the 16th minute and just under 20 minutes later was freezer-cool in diverting Barras' nod down into the Enfield net for his 11th goal of the campaign.

Strangely City had turned the supposed set-piece threat of Enfield literally on its head, the crosses leading up to each coming from an Agnew corner and free-kick.

However, in between the goals it beggared belief how Enfield did not score in a maelstrom rather than melee of bodies and shots pin-balling off each other.

Enfield's reward did materialise when the game should have been locked out of their reach.

Come the hour come the calamity. Barras missed a challenge on Mark Bentley enabling Dunwell to live up to his name by lifting the ball expertly over the stranded Warrington.

Six minutes later Barras - bizarrely City's best defender for four seasons - boobed in possession, John Richardson emulating Dunwell though from closer range.

Boos and crude insults rang out, the latter needless in the main stand where so many women and children were present. But to those irate fans City's hold of a place in the FA Cup was of little consolation.

MATCH NOTES

1 min: Sammy Cooper's surge unpicks City only for John Richardson's shot to be deflected away by Tony Barras.

6 min: Barras powers a header over from a Steve Agnew corner.

16 min: A Neil Tolson drive from Agnew's corner is stabbed in by Richard Cresswell. 0-1.

23 min: Fluent five-man move ends with Martin Garratt's blast against an upright.

25 min: Hell of a let-off as efforts from Richardson and Mark Bentley are cleared off the line in a desperate scramble.

35 min: Barras guides down Agnew free-kick, Cresswell taps in his 11th goal of the season. 0-2.

44 min: Flying save from Andy Warrington denies curler from Richard Dunwell.

53 min: Warrington leaps low to his left to paw away a fierce effort from Dunwell.

61 min: Route one unhinges City. Bentley's flick is seized on by Dunwell to lob in from the edge of the area. 1-2.

67 min: Barras gifts an opening to Richardson, who executes another chip for the equaliser. 2-2.

74 min: Andy McMillan accepts a wall pass from Cresswell but his skimmer is blocked by Andy Pape.

80 min: Cresswell header is fielded by Pape.

90 min: Rodney Rowe feeds Gordon Connelly, but he blazes high over.

TAP & SPILE MAN OF THE MATCH

Gary Himsworth

Back on senior duty for first time in six months. Never looked to have been away. Settled in to left-back role with ease after Tinkler injury.

FANS' PANEL 1998-99

'Will City survive the replay?'

Gary Duncanson, age 17

We should do. When we went 2-0 up we didn't create much more and when we did then we didn't put them away. We should have gone on to win by four or five goals. We'll win by at least two goals.

Gary Chatterton, age 31

I think we will win but If we play like we did yesterday then I think we'll struggle. We're OK going forward but we need to improve in defence.

Julian Holden, age 32

If we don't win then we need our backsides kicking! It should be fairly comfortable. They've had their fun but it's a long way to go in midweek and I don't think they'll be up for it anymore.

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