YORK City academy manager Andy McMillan has admitted some of the club's fringe players are suffering from a lack of football.

The Minstermen were knocked out of the North Riding Senior Cup 4-3 on penalties by Northern League part-timers Guisborough during a rare reserve fixture on Tuesday night.

This featured the likes of Josh Carson, George Swan, Ntumba Massanka, Bradley Fewster and Callum Rzonca, who have all played fleetingly for the first team this season.

Transfer-window recruit Derek Riordan, meanwhile, played his only football since leaving East Fife last May and goalkeeper Michael Ingham enjoyed his first senior outing of the season.

Former Northern Ireland international Carson last started a Sky Bet Football League contest in September, while Swan has also been out of the side since November and first-year professional Rzonca has just two substitute appearances to his name.

With no organised second-string or development league football at Bootham Crescent, keeping such players match fit presents a problem, with McMillan saying: "You could see that some of our players have had a lack of game time.

"It was around October when some of them last played and you could tell towards the end. But they kept grafting and trying and didn't let each other down. They also tried to get the ball down on a very difficult pitch.

"It was disappointing to lose the game on penalties and I thought we were on top in the first half – but although we had a few shots, we didn't really bother the keeper.

"In the second half, I thought we might have done a bit better going down the hill but you also have to take your hats off to them. They played well and tried to play the game the right way."

McMillan went on to single out on-loan Middlesbrough striker Fewster for praise following his performance in a game that finished 0-0 after 90 minutes with first-team chief Jackie McNamara looking on.

"He was excellent and worked tirelessly for a young kid," declared the former City right back.

Youth-team defenders Sam Jefferson and Aaron Brettel also started against the Priorymen – as did midfielder Tyler Walton, who is playing for the Minstermen's under-18s while studying at Leeds College.

Brad Freer also came on at full back following a shin injury to Jefferson and Sam Fielding got a second-half run-out, with McMillan welcoming the opportunity of exposure to men's football for City's teenaged talent.

"We play on nice pitches against teams that want to pass the ball and they had to go to Guisborough and deal with a difficult surface," he said.

"But I thought they stood up to the task very well and walked out with their heads held high, especially Tyler. He arrived at 6.45pm after a full day at Leeds College and while he knew the scholars, he didn't know any of the pros. But I thought he did very well.

"It takes time to get players through and it doesn't happen overnight. We want to coach them further down, making sure we teach them the technical and tactical awareness of how to play the game, and then we'll get more Ben Godfreys coming through."

Swan hit the bar and Carson a post as City lost on penalties, while Fewster, Rzonca and Taron Hare converted from 12 yards and Ingham saved one of the hosts' efforts.

"Inghy made a good save and got his hand to another that went in – but penalties are a lottery," said McMillan.

"I was only involved in one shoot-out as a player, at Wembley in 1993 when I was next up to take one and I was petrified. Usually, it's about whoever has that bit of luck."