End-of-season clashes are a no-go area for raw York City youngsters this season.

Manager Billy McEwan has bucked a managerial tradition by refusing to give promising youth teamers a chance in the last two games of the campaign - despite giving Alex Rhodes and Nathan Kamara a first-team run in the game against Altrincham on April 4.

Previous managers have often turned to up-and-coming youth team trainees as the season winds to a conclusion.

But McEwan believes it would not be fair to throw them in when there is so much yet to be settled.

He said: "I don't think it's fair to play young players at this stage of the season. If other teams have a lot at stake, we could be accused of putting out a weakened team if we play the youngsters."

Nathan Peat is back in contention after serving his one-match suspension but McEwan is yet to decide whether or not to reward replacement Dave Merris's efforts with a second successive start.

Said McEwan: "It's going to be a real battle. When Stevenage were up at our place we totally dominated the game but lost 1-0 to a silly goal.

"This time they are at home and they have to win the game. There's no pressure on York City. We know we have still got to approach the game professionally but there's no pressure on us."

The trip to Stevenage will also mark the end of a long season's travelling as the Minstermen's last 2005/06 away day - barring any play-off miracles.

The record so far stands at won seven, drawn six and lost seven - but McEwan will be postponing analysis of their away form until after the final whistle on April 29.

He said: "We have always said we will be judged on the end of season results.

"The season lasts 42 games, not 40, so we have got two games to go and we will be trying to win both games.

"We want 100 per cent commitment and we want 100 per cent on that field - and the players have been told that."

City match points

Stevenage v City

THE corresponding game last season on January 8, 2005 ended in a 2-2 draw. Jon Maloney and Byron Webster were the scorers and City lined up as follows: Porter, Staley, Smith (Grant), Groves, Maloney, Webster, Donovan, Dunning, P D Robinson, Bishop (Nogan), Merris.

It Happened on April 21

1950: A 1-1 home draw against Darlington watched by 7,055. Jim Coop was the scorer and City were destined to finish bottom of Division Three North and apply for re-election for the first time in their history.

1961: Darlington were again the visitors with City running out 4-1 winners. Wally Gould (2), Dennis Hoggart and Jimmy Weir were the marksmen in front of 4,271 and City were fifth in Division Four.

1963: Norman Wilkinson scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 home win over Lincoln City. The attendance was 5,082 and City were 19th in the Fourth Division.

1968: City suffered their fifth successive defeat when they lost 3-2 at Bootham Crescent to Aldershot. Stuart Alderson and Andy Provan were on target and the crowd was 3,482. City were 20th in Division Four.

1972: Bournemouth won 2-0 at Bootham Crescent with former City men Ted MacDougall and Phil Boyer on the scoresheet in front of 6,846. City were 19th in Division Three (League One).

1986: A 2-2 home draw against Notts County. Keith Walwyn (pictured) and John MacPhail (pen) scored with a then 18-year-old Paul Barnes - later to star for the Minstermen - netting one of the visitors' goals. The attendance was 3,211 and City were seventh in Division Three (League One).

1995: City lost 2-0 at home to Oxford United and were eighth in Division Two (League One). The crowd was 3,732.

2000: City extended their unbeaten run to nine games (four wins/five draws) with a 0-0 draw at home to Brighton. The crowd was 3,619 and City were 19th in Division Two (League One).

Statistics supplied by David Batters

Updated: 10:29 Friday, April 21, 2006