IT was hard to believe prior to Saturday that only four years ago the Terriers were riding high in Division I while York City were in the depths of Division III.

But it is now a fact of life that during those years we have endured two relegations and found ourselves facing a York City side who on the basis of early season results reduced Town to underdogs on the day.

Jacko and Taff have undoubtedly done a tremendous job in putting together a side of youth and experience in such a short space of time. Most of the players brought in were well known in the lower leagues and I. along with thousands of other Town fans, were full of optimism that the dark days would be banished to the memory as a new dawn appeared.

By 4.50 pm on Saturday I have to say that my optimism had diminished quite considerably.

The opening display against Cambridge was not what fans expected but we acceptedthe mitigating circumstances of the very hot weather and a new team having to gel. Against Boston in the first half Town were woeful but in the second they showed glimpses of the quality shown in midweek against Derby. This is all we needed and surely we would beat York easily. Unfortunately Town's inability to be creative in any area of the field never put any pressure on a York defence which grew in confidence as the game went on.

Town's back four look nervous under pressure and when they have the ball the only thing on their minds is the long high ball to Booth and Stead. The midfield get bogged down trying to be too clever which results in them passing backwards and, yes you might have guessed it, the long ball again. This approach may work against lesser sides but credit must go to York who showed more composure on the ball with a willingness to play it on the floor. Their work rate was exceptional and an inept Town side lacking any creativity could not fashion a way through a well organised defence.

Add to all this frustration a referee who obviously thought we had come to watch him and who must have thought handling the ball was allowed and I, for one, went home quite depressed. Not for long though as by mid evening I was starting to think of Doncaster and surely three points for the Town.

The return of Nathan Clarke will be a boost and the fantastic supportwill, I am sure, see us start to climb the division.

Clive Cheney Factfile

Age: 49

Lives: Heckmondwike

First Game: 1960 v Liverpool

Sits: Lawrence Batley lower

Favourite Player: Jimmy McGill

Mel Booth's Match Report