YORK City boss Billy McEwan believes centre-back James Dudgeon will grow in strength after the 89th-minute mistake that saw his side suffer an unlucky 2-1 home defeat to Grays Athletic.

Dudgeon gifted possession near the halfway line to Aaron McLean late in Saturday's match and the Grays striker scored his second goal to clinch victory with only the visitors' second on-target attempt of the match.

It was a bitter pill for McEwan to swallow but the Minstermen manager has offered his sympathy to Dudgeon rather than criticising the former Worksop Town defender.

He said: "James should have cleared the ball instead of trying to bring it down but it will make him a stronger player and character. He will be disappointed and I feel for him.

"He's just signed an agreement to extend his stay here until the end of the season and he's a good, honest, genuine kid. He's not made many mistakes this season and he's also scored four goals for us."

Despite the defeat, McEwan hailed an "excellent" display from his team on a pitch that was heavily sanded in one corner because of a growing drainage problem.

The surface even required four inspections - the latest at 1pm - before a decision to play the match was taken.

McEwan said: "The result was disappointing but the standard of football on a very difficult pitch was excellent and anybody who went to the game will be shaking their head, along with me, wondering how we lost it because we created a lot more chances than we have done for a while."

The City manager also believed Joe O'Neill's fifth-minute opening goal was one of the best this season, saying: "Joe showed great technique. We have scored a lot of good goals and that was up there with them."

But the City manager was less happy with Grays' equaliser, feeling his defence went to sleep for the corner that led to McLean's goal.

While Dudgeon escaped McEwan's wrath, the Scotsman was also clearly frustrated that substitute Lev Yalcin lost possession just moments before the second goal with his first touch after replacing Mark Convery on 88 minutes.

He added: "Mark had cramp because he ran his socks off so we needed a change and from the change they scored the goal. We probably brought it on ourselves but you can't legislate for people making mistakes.

"He did not mean to and, on another day, you might get away with it but we then gave the ball away to their quickest player and the rest was history. If we had not made the change, we would not have lost the game. It's as simple as that although none of my players should be getting cramp. They should be fitter than that."

McEwan went on to praise the debuts of on-loan signings Darren Craddock and man-of-the-match Tcham N'Toya, while warning 14-goal leading marksman Andy Bishop, who is available for tomorrow night's home game with Southport after suspension, that he is not guaranteed a recall.

The City boss said: "Who can I drop after that performance? It gives me food for thought.

"We needed him for a big game but he was sat in the stand because of poor professionalism. Gary Lineker never got booked and Kenny Dalglish rarely did but we were without our striker because he has received five yellow cards.

"I injured my ankle at Hibernian and didn't get back in for another six months. I had to fight for my place and the same applies to Bishop."

City juniors went down 4-3 at home to Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

Jason Smith and Neil Holmes gave the Minstermen a 2-0 lead after five minutes but the visitors fought back before schoolboy Matthew Johnson added a third and almost secured a point when his effort struck the bar.

Centre of Excellence results against Grimsby: Under 16s drew 1-1, U15s drew 1-1, U14s won 6-2, U13s won 4-0, U12s won 4-1.

Updated: 09:46 Monday, January 23, 2006