YORK City player-manager Chris Brass said the line-up used in City's final pre-season friendly last night was no indication of the side he will put out when their Division Three campaign kicks off at Carlisle on Saturday.

Brass, who played Darren Edmondson and Stephen Downes as wing-backs and kept youngsters Stuart Wise and Leigh Wood on for 90 minutes, labelled the 2-2 draw at Pickering Town a good run-out, despite the disappointment at not overturning the Northern Counties East League outfit.

The Minstermen needed a late Liam George equaliser, his second goal of the night, to eke out the draw after the Pickering part-timers had turned a 1-0 deficit into a deserved 2-1 lead.

"The team last night was no indication for Saturday," Brass told the Evening Press. "It was an extended training exercise and we will sit down tomorrow and see where we're at.

"We're happy to get through the game with no serious injuries and we've got time now to recollect, have a sit down and a chat and make sure we're well organised and ready for Saturday.

"Results are results in pre-season. We would have liked to have won but to get back into it from 2-1 down showed a bit of character and that was pleasing.

"There were positives and negatives from the game and it's important you learn from it. It's always difficult to gauge things from these games. It will be different when it's the real thing on Saturday."

Both midfielder Mitch Ward and defender Chris Smith suffered slight knocks and were taken off as a precaution but will be available for Saturday's opener.

Brass had a word of praise for the home team. "It was a good test for us," he said.

"We started all right but all credit to Pickering, they raised their game. They had a few points to prove and they proved them."

Pickering manager Steve Brown, a former City kitman, was delighted with his side but suggested York had not been playing at 100 per cent.

"I've no doubts that they had Saturday in mind and I think that's sensible," he told the Evening Press.

"I was quite impressed with York, they had another gear when they wanted it."

He added: "We really appreciated them coming down. It was excellent for us. A lot of their movement caused us problems and it was good for our players to see that sort of thing, it gets them thinking.

"However, apart from the last quarter of an hour of the first half when we looked a little ragged, I was generally pleased with the performance, especially in the second half.

"It would have been a bit greedy of us to be disappointed at not winning. I've no complaints, I thought a draw was a fair result."

Utility player Fabian Bossy, who was on trial at City last week but not taken on, is turning out for Darlington tonight in a practice match at Whitby Town.

Harrogate Town, who entertain a Nottingham Forest team comprising reserves and juniors at Wetherby Road tonight (7.30pm) have opted not to take on trialist defender Adam Reed.

Like Bossy, the former Darlington player had a spell on trial with City last week but was not offered a contract.

Scarborough are in action tonight against Sheffield United, managed by former Boro boss Neil Warnock.

Three trialists - goalkeeper Adam Sollitt (Rushden & Diamonds and Northampton), defender Matt Redmile (Shrewsbury Town) and midfielder Wayne Gill (Oldham Athletic and Tranmere Rovers) - will all be trying to win contracts with Scarborough.

Manager Russ Slade has also not ruled out moving for another striker before the season's Conference opener against farnborough Town at the McCain Stadium on Saturday.

Updated: 11:23 Tuesday, August 05, 2003