SUNDAY worship has been in short supply at York City in recent seasons.

The Minstermen's last three Sabbath outings at KitKat Crescent have not mustered a single home goal and all ended in significant defeats.

City boss Billy McEwan will certainly be hoping to enjoy better fortunes when his team face Aldershot tomorrow afternoon than his predecessor Viv Busby suffered in the corresponding fixture last season.

Busby's babes, featuring the likes of Michael Staley, Sean Davies and Byron Webster, were beaten 2-0 in front of their own supporters on February 6, 2004.

The game proved Busby's last in temporary charge of the Minstermen and he was replaced by McEwan three days later, meaning the meticulous Scotsman celebrated a year in charge of City on Thursday afternoon.

A month earlier, Busby and City fans had also endured more Sunday sorrow when two late goals by Scarborough on January 2 sealed a first-ever double by either team in the derby fixture.

Prior to that encounter, City's last Sunday home match had heralded the team's plunge into Football League relegation trouble.

A 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town on April 4, 2004, painfully completed courtesy of goals from old boys Graham Potter and Jon Parkin, saw the Minstermen fall into a drop zone for the first time during the season and they never climbed back out.

Parkin, coincidentally, will be the club's special guest at tomorrow's home match with Aldershot and the newly-signed Hull City striker will be hoping for a better reception than on his last audacious visit to the ground.

Kidderminster Harriers are the last team to have been beaten by City on a Sunday on December 21, 2003.

A Lee Bullock goal secured a 1-0 victory for Chris Brass' men.

City have enjoyed four other Sunday successes against Cambridge United (2-0 in 1974), Scunthorpe (2-1 in 1983), Doncaster (3-1 in 1984) and Macclesfield (2-1 in 2003).

In total, they have won five, drawn three and lost six of their 14 Sunday home matches.

Finance director Terry Doyle's argument that Sunday matches can attract higher attendances also carries some weight when the size of the crowds at those 14 matches is taken into consideration.

The Minstermen have averaged 6,300 supporters at Sunday fixtures although that figure has been swollen by four derby matches and a play-off game.

City's biggest gate on a Sunday saw 11,297 witness a 1-1 draw against promotion rivals Doncaster Rovers on April 8 in the record-breaking 1983/84 season.

The lowest attendance was the 2,133 who turned up for last season's final day defeat by Aldershot.

YORK City skipper Mark Hotte has predicted his former Scarborough team-mate Neil Bishop will add bite to the Minstermen's midfield.

Bishop will be hoping to make his debut during tomorrow's home clash with Aldershot after completing a deadline day move for a nominal fee.

Seven bookings and a red card at Scarborough this season for Bishop points to a combative streak and Hotte, not one himself to shirk from a battle, said: "Neil will bring a bit of grit and determination. He gets stuck in and he's the kind of player who breaks up a lot of the game. He can get up and down and gives us a lot more height.

"He's one of those lads who wins a lot of the ball. He will hopefully help us retain the ball because we haven't done that well in recent games."

Like Hotte, Bishop captained the Seadogs and, about his ex-McCain Stadium pal's leadership qualities, said: "He's not much of a shouter but leads by example more."

Hotte is also looking forward to lining up alongside Bishop having played against him twice this season in the derby clashes over Christmas and the New Year.

City's captain added: "He did not play as well as he could in those games. Last year he had a great season and was probably one of Scarborough's best players.

"He has a lot of ability and, hopefully, he can reproduce that for us."

Bishop has already been suspended twice for Scarborough this season while the Minstermen have only had two players banned this term.

Skipper Hotte was sidelined after being sent off for two bookable offences at Grays Athletic, while striker Andy Bishop also received a one-match suspension after reaching five cautions.

City currently have a three players - James Dudgeon, Darren Dunning and Clayton Donaldson - all one booking off an enforced exile.

However, if they emerge unscathed and escape punishment in the Minstermen's next four matches they will start again with a clean slate.

Any player who has not received a fifth booking by February 28 will be safe from suspension unless they are shown their tenth yellow card before the second Sunday of April, which would bring a two-game ban.

Further three-match bans are given to any player reaching 15 bookings before the end of the season, while anybody who has had their name taken 20 times will be hauled up in front of the FA.

Monday matters

City players David McGurk and Chris Porter will be guests of the Harrogate Minstermen at the supporters' group's monthly meeting on Monday.

The evening will begin at 8pm at the Union in Calcutt, Knaresborough, with Porter being a guest for the second time after a popular appearance with his predecessor between the sticks Mark Ovendale.

A prize of £125 is also still unclaimed in the Open The Box draw with only four boxes remaining and the free members draw now has a cash total of £85 up for grabs.

Harrogate Minstermen will also be holding their fourth anniversary dinner and party night at the same venue on Friday, March 10 with doors opening at 7.30pm.

Members and non-members are welcome.

Updated: 09:56 Saturday, February 11, 2006