YORK City boss Billy McEwan has admitted that his players are thriving on the atmosphere now being generated at KitKat Crescent.

A crowd of 3,506 - the Minstermen's biggest of the season - saw McEwan's youngsters extend the club's unbeaten home run to a ninth game with a thrilling 4-2 victory over fifth-placed Exeter.

The Grecians were the last team to defeat City on their home ground back in March and Saturday's result lifted the Minstermen to second in the table - two points behind leaders Grays Athletic.

Afterwards, McEwan paid tribute to the role the club's ever-increasing band of supporters are playing in his team's success this season.

He said: "There was just over 3,500 which is a fantastic crowd and it was a great atmosphere. The punters are coming out and the boys are enjoying it as you can see by the reaction when they score goals.

"Word is getting around that we have got a good little outfit and I am sure the fans that came along will have enjoyed the thrills and spills. There were penalties, controversial decisions, lovely goals and horrible goals but, at the end of the day, we got three points. I am pleased for the fans because they have had tough times over the years.

"Now their little football team is giving them a bit of entertainment. It won't be like that every week and sometimes it will be nitty, gritty stuff but the most important thing is the punters can see they have got lads out there giving 100 per cent every week

"If they make mistakes they will try and get the ball back and show the fans they are getting value for money. If you do that, you will get clapped off the pitch."

But perfectionist and tough task-master McEwan added that his side can still improve, having watched them give away two penalties and concede two goals against the Devon play-off contenders.

He said: "There's still a lot to come out of this side because there's still things not right that can be worked on."

Clayton Donaldson netted for the fifth successive match to take his tally for the season to seven and created the other three goals but McEwan is ensuring the 21-year-old striker stays modest.

McEwan also wants Donaldson to stop attempting to stay on his feet when fouled in the penalty box with the City boss believing he should have been awarded two more spot-kicks aside from the one he won for the team that allowed Andy Bishop to open the scoring.

He said: "Clayton is doing OK and we are pleased with his progress but he knows he's just a young player who is only a part of the team. He's an integral one but he needs the ammunition from his team-mates to do the business.

"He also stayed on his feet twice when he was fouled in the box and he needs to go down in the box after any touch. It's got nothing to do with diving because they are genuine penalties."

McEwan went on to praise centre-backs David McGurk and James Dudgeon, who recovered from knocks to play in the match and midfielder Mark Convery who had suffered from flu during the week before the game.

He said: "It is credit to them for turning out and doing their stuff because none of them trained until the day before the match."

Updated: 11:28 Monday, October 03, 2005