ANOTHER fresh face arrived at York City with player-manager Chris Brass admitting his immediate recruitment campaign is drawing to a close.

Former Luton Town goalkeeper Scott Ward landed at Bootham Crescent after training with First Division Gillingham and will make his Minstermen debut in tomorrow night's friendly with Livingston.

Ward joins goalkeepers Mark Ovendale and Chris Porter already at Bootham Crescent.

Porter, the former Sunderland and Darlington shot-stopper, today put pen to paper on a one- year deal while Ovendale remains on trial.

With Porter, 24, seemingly earmarked to serve as number two initially, 29-year-old Ovendale would end player-manager Chris Brass' search for an experienced number one.

However, Ovendale's future at City is complicated by the fact the former Bournemouth and Luton player is contracted to Welsh League outfit Barry Town.

It means he is ineligible to play against Livingston but that has opened the door for Ward, 22, who has played in a number of pre-season games for Gillingham, to stake his claim for a permanent City deal.

As well as Ward, Brass will use the Livingston game to cast his eye over the club's remaining trialists, striker Ian Lawson, Harrogate Town defender Dave Merris - providing permission can be obtained from Wetherby Road - and former Darlington full-back Adam Reed, who played the second-half of Saturday's friendly with Scarborough. Merris played for Harrogate in the 4-1 win at Ossett Albion last night.

Despite still having a nap-hand of trialists to make decisions on and missing out on Hartlepool-bound Andrew Jordan, Brass told the Evening Press he was delighted with the way his City jigsaw was slowly dropping into place.

Joining Porter in signing a one-year deal today was former Grimsby Town utility player Stephen Downes, bringing the total of new City faces to six.

Signed last week were Darren Dunning, Liam George, Aaron Wilford and Mitch Ward.

The flurry of new acquisitions leaves Brass with a senior squad of 18 players, with trainees Graeme Law, Levent Yalcin and David Stockdale seconded to the first team ranks bringing the total to 21.

The successful wheeler-dealing by Brass has given the City chief further scope for adding a few extra bodies, hence the constant arrival of new trialists.

However, Brass admitted he hoped to be able to bring the curtain down on his careful tinkering soon, ideally ahead of the season's kick-off on August 9.

"It's refreshing to know these players want to play for York City and are hungry to establish themselves," said Brass.

"I think we will have all the bodies that we need in by the time the season gets underway.

"They may be people arriving throughout the season, some of those of course being loan deals.

"We still have the relationship with Sunderland and I've been speaking to numerous other managers regarding loans.

"But, in an ideal world, you want to have your squad in place when the season kicks-off and loans are only brought in when you feel you are lacking somewhere."

In preparation for City's opening game at Carlisle United, Brass had spies at Brunton Park last night as the Cumbrians lost 2-0 to Motherwell.

The City chief and his assistant, Lee Nogan, intend to watch Carlisle in person this weekend when Roddy Collins' side take on Stockport County.

York City's youth team, featuring three members of the first team squad, beat Boroughbridge 2-1 last night in a pre-season friendly.

Goals from Kane Ashcroft and Matthew McCabe secured the win over the York and District League outfit after the City team fell behind courtesy of a Scott Jones own-goal.

First teamer Jones came through his first full 90 minutes of pre-season after recovering from a virus while Richard Cooper and Leigh Wood also played full games.

Updated: 11:14 Wednesday, July 30, 2003