York City 0, Macclesfield 2

Half-measures, in anyone's language, will not satisfy any drinker.

City striker Neil Tolson goes full stretch but fails to connect with a cross

So those fans intoxicated by the exploits of York City in the first two months of the season were understandably in high dudgeon after another cheerless show at Bootham Crescent continued the crash down the Division Two ladder.

There's no doubt the Minstermen aped the Alamo by staging an onslaught against lowly Macclesfield for the entirety of the second-half.

But more damaging is the certainty that the shoddy, shambolic, stumble-footed efforts of the first-half left a more indelible and injurious mark on the spectators.Just think what City have put themselves and their followers through in the space of six games.

Eighth position and just two losses in 11 outings have been bruisingly replaced by five marrow-jarring defeats and one draw. Little wonder hackles are up and running off at the mouth.

All of a sudden the campaign's fizz and crackle has been superseded by flop and brittle. The haunting visage of a mirror image of last Christmas is beginning to appear.

Back then the promise of promotion, or at least play-offs, was rudely, crudely, brutally ripped from the grasp. Are City now heading down that self-same path?

Yes, if they continue to false-start, waiting like generous sprinters by giving their foes a 45-minute advantage.

That's what they did against the Silkmen in a game where the clich of two halves was never more sharply illustrated.

In the first City were listless and abysmal. In the second they were energised and attack-minded, the only blot on the Crescent landscape being an exasperating inability to find the net when just a month ago it was a matter of course.

For some bizarre reason early impetus dissolved into the thin night air. Passes went astray, movement was all where it should not be and a midfield amnesia began to afflict the hosts. All this against a side that lacked ambition and wherewithal.

So it was ironic that out of the dross City should go behind directly after producing their slickest move of the match.

Scott Jordan benefited from a Richard Cresswell back-heel sending Gordon Connelly down the right. His low cross was met on the full by Neil Tolson, his shot thumping against defender Steve Payne. From the Payne came the agony.

A swift cross from Stuart Whittaker ripped apart City's docile defence leaving Ben Sedgemore in enough space to start an arable farm to tuck away a stooping header. But there was worse to come, much, worse.

A corner from the right was only fractionally cleared and when Steve Hitchen heaved the ball over Neil Sorvel was again handed the freedom of the Crescent to plant in another header. The defending was so rank it could have been Liverpool out there.

The sow's ear Silkmen harried and chased as if their lives depended on it, but City were so lamentable in a first-half almost devoid of passion, save for the boos and 'worraloadofrubbish' outbursts.

A mix-up over whether a foul was signalled or half-time prompted City chairman Douglas Craig to leave his seat for the sanctuary of a cheering cup of tea. Many would have wished for just as quick a getaway.

Then, of course, the second-half and City enter siege mentality mode. They flung pressure into the Macclesfield area, now more congested than a caravan-crammed coastal road on a Bank Holiday.

Shots deluged in, though all singularly lacking power or accuracy. Penalty alarms, claims, shouts and appeals roared out from desperate throats. Huge intakes of breath at another near miss or gaping error, worsened by Macclesfield having martin McDonald dismissed for a lunge at Tolson.

And all this against a bandanna-clad figure of Efe Sodje. The defender was an immense barrier that City could not break. His duel against Richard Cresswell was one of sparks and crashing challenges, though it was Sodje's law that ruled as he limpet-marked the City ace out of the game.

One tannoy message chimed about someone getting to the office to reclaim lost property. The missing item was surely City's absence of gung-ho zest from the first whistle, not from the one that signals the too late second sitting.

LITTLE TO SMILE ABOUT

At least one member of the Little clan was smiling after last night's Division Two action.

Brian Little, the Stoke City boss and elder brother of City manager Alan, witnessed his side seal a creditable 2-0 win away at Burnley.

In front of the night's biggest crowd the Potters sealed the points with second-half goals from Kyle Lightbourne and Peter Thorne.

Another ace away triumph was Fulham's at Wrexham, where first-half goals from Gus Uhlenbeek and Paul Peschisolido secured the Cottagers' seventh win in their last eight matches.

Free-scoring Preston, however, struck a rare blank to crash 1-0 at home to Millwall, whose Paul Shaw notched the decisive goal. That enabled Walsall to move in closer attendance near the top when on-loan Argentinian Walter Otta struck a stoppage-time winner to see off Lincoln City 2-1.

In-form Wycombe continued their ascent from the anchor place with a 1-0 downing of Manchester City that also left Oldham down in second from bottom following their 2-1 defeat away to Gillingham.

Both Gills' goals were scored in a minute from Carl Asaba and Mark Patterson.

MATCH NOTES

17min: After neat combination from Neil Tolson and Richard Cresswell a speared cross from Gordon Connelly is hurriedly cleared.

27min: City's best attack breaks down with block of Tolson shot sending Macclesfield away to score through Ben Sedgemore. 0-1.

38min: A cross from the right and City buckle again, Neil Sorvel heading in. 0-2.

45min: Tony Barras climbs high for a free header but directs it wide, Tolson heads straight at Ryan Price seconds later.

56min: Cresswell downward header palmed away by Price.

64min: The ball falls at volleying height to Tinkler, but his effort lollipops to the Macclesfield keeper.

65min: Price fists out fierce shot from Connelly.

70min: Andy McMillan powers in a glorious curler but Price gloves it away.

72min: In a touchline spat Martin McDonald is sent off after a clash with Tolson.

89min: Substitute Neil Woods somehow heads wide as the goal gapes open from Gary Himsworth's cross.

FANS' PANEL 1998-99

"Do you fear for City at Enfield or will they bounce back?"

Garry Cummings, age 41

If they play anything like they did last night against Macclesfield they can forget about an FA Cup run this season. It was a disgraceful performance.

Gary Chatterton, age 31

I would like to think we will win at Enfield, though I remember Hednesford only too well and we were in a smiilar position then. I think we'll get through though.

Gary Duncanson, age 17

If we play like we did against Macclesfield then we'll probably get hammered. But I'm confident they'll do a professional job and get the win they are desperate for.

TAP & SPILE MAN OF THE MATCH

Gordon Connelly.

Not one of his best games, but he and Mark Tinkler always craved the ball. The Scotsman also looked most likely to break down the Silkmen.

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