York City were last week cited by a broadsheet newspaper as an example of the poor value for money offered by English football in the Premiership era.

It was brought to readers' attention that it is now cheaper to watch former European champions Bayern Munich than it is to see the Minstermen in Conference action.

But the author of the offending article cannot have paid a visit to KitKat Crescent this season.

However valid an argument he may have in general, there were few complaining customers in the 3,506 crowd that watched City defeat Exeter 4-2 in an enthralling encounter. Surely the methodical, multiple German champions have never been this entertaining.

The Minstermen are currently exceeding all modest pre-season expectations, even perhaps those of their manager, and, with the passing of each game, are making a mockery of their 40-1 title odds.

Billy McEwan's team are full of enthusiasm and invention while the naivety of youth also means they can be unpredictable at both ends of the field, which adds to the thrill factor.

City gave away two penalties against fellow high-fliers Exeter and converted one of their own before emerging 4-2 victors, but the scoreline was in perilous doubt until Andy Bishop's second goal of the game settled matters in the final minute.

Seconds earlier, Billy Jones had lined up a free-kick on the edge of the box at the other end, which had City supporters anxious after having seen their side concede costly late goals in three matches this season.

But Jones fired straight into the home wall and the irrepressible Clayton Donaldson broke to the other end and when goalkeeper Paul Jones spilled Donaldson's shot, the 21-year-old striker squared the ball to Bishop, who tapped in from close range to relieve and exhilarate City's supporters in equal measure.

Donaldson had again frightened the oppostion defence for the full 90 minutes and gave centre-back Gary Sawyer a particularly torrid time.

Sawyer was fortunate to see a blatant tug on City's 21-year-old striker in the penalty box go unpunished after 12 minutes but was then penalised for a lesser crime when erratic referee David Foster pointed to the spot, perhaps to make amends, after the two players appeared to simply bump into each other.

Bishop then confidently sidefooted low into Paul Jones's bottom left-hand corner as the goalkeeper dived in the opposite direction.

The visitors drew level two minutes later with their only on-target goal attempt of the opening 45 minutes.

Emmanuel Panther handled just outside the box and Billy Jones's inviting free-kick was headed in unchallenged by former professional boxer Steve Flack from four yards.

The Minstermen regained the lead on 38 minutes after coping with a succession of Jon Challinor long throws into their penalty box.

Donaldson was again the architect, lifting the ball over the Exeter defence to find Bryan Stewart charging into the penalty box and the 20-years-old winger took one touch before slipping a low shot past the advancing Exeter 'keeper.

Exeter boss Alex Ingelthorpe made two changes at the interval. The introduction of wide men Les Afful and Tony Scully saw the visitors' have their best spell of the game.

On 50 minutes, Porter dropped a deep Afful cross under pressure from Flack and Scully crashed a low shot against a post, with the City 'keeper grounded. But Porter recovered to keep out Scully's follow-up effort.

Moments later, Craig Farrell headed wide from another Afful cross before McEwan replaced Stewart with Joe O'Neill just past the hour mark.

The substitution was delayed by the fourth official's inability to operate the electronic board throughout the match. His struggles only added to the growing frustration with the competence levels of all the officials.

On 65 minutes referee Foster pointed to the spot after Bishop handled when Farrell looked to lift the ball over the City striker's head, but it was very debatable that contact had been deliberate.

Justice was perhaps done when Farrell's low drive hit the foot of Porter's left-hand post after the City 'keeper had been sent the wrong way.

Five minutes later, the Minstermen were back in front with a breathtaking goal on the break that brought a tumultuous response from the home crowd.

City moved the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, culminating in Donaldson collecting the ball off Convery near the halfway line and running at Exeter's defence before unleashing a powerful low drive past Paul Jones, who was beaten by the pace of the 20-yard strike.

Four minutes later Billy Jones found Porter's left-hand corner with a penalty awarded after Dave Merris's reckless sliding challenge on Afful, who was heading away from goal and out of the box at the time.

A fascinating finale saw the result in the balance before Bishop made the match safe.

Match facts

York City 4, (Bishop 20 pen, 90 Stewart 37 Donaldson 69)

Exeter 2, (Flack 22 Jones 73, pen)

City ratings:

Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire

Porter 7

Price 8

Dudgeon 8

McGurk 8

Merris 7

Convery 8

Panther 8

Dunning 8

Stewart 7 (O'Neill 62, 7)

Bishop 8

Donaldson 9

Subs (not used): Hotte, Yalcin, Afandiyev, Staley.

Star man: Donaldson - unstoppable at times with his pace and skill, culminating in three assists and a great goal.

Exeter: P Jones, Hiley, Sawyer, Todd, B Jones, Mackie (Scully, 46), Challinor, Taylor, Farrell, Flack (Watkins, 88), Phillips (Afful, 46). Subs not used: Rice, Santos Gaia.

Yellow cards: Flack 87, Dudgeon 90.

Referee: David Foster (Newcastle) rating: poorest official of the season. Made several bad decisions.

Attendance: 3,506.

Weather watch: Bright, breezy.

Game breaker: Farrell hitting the post for Exeter and squandering the chance of an equaliser when the visitors were on top. Five minutes later, City led 3-1.

Match rating: Excellent five-star entertainment. Open match that ebbed and flowed from one end to the other,

McEwan's verdict: "They got it forward quicky. We had long throws and set plays to deal with and it was a bit scary at times in the penalty box but generally we dealt with it well. I am very pleased for the fans that we entertained them."

Player watch: David McGurk

Shots on target: 0

Shots off target: 0

Blocked shots: 0

Passes to own player: 5

Passes to opposition: 3

Crosses to own player: 0

Crosses to opposition: 2

Pass success rate: 50 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 0 Dribbles ball lost: 0

Dribble success rate: 0 per cent

Headers: 15 Tackles: 6

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 13

Free kicks won: 0

Free kicks conceded: 2

Offside: 0

Bookings: 0

Final summary: David McGurk was in typically unflappable form despite Exeter's direct style and the physical presence of Steve Flack. He only conceded two fouls in a competitive encounter and made several important clearances, blocks and interceptions, as well as winning a healthy 15 headers and six tackles.

Updated: 11:52 Monday, October 03, 2005