YORK City boss Billy McEwan is keeping his fingers crossed that no more reserve games fall foul of the weather.

This week's postponed Pontin's Holiday League East clash at Doncaster meant the Minstermen have now gone five weeks since their last second-string fixture.

It is a run that means fringe players, whose services will be required should first-team injuries bite during the crucial Conference run-in, have been deprived of match practice.

The postponements have also hindered the rehabilitation of right-back Jamie Price, who was due for his first outing at Doncaster since recovering from a hernia problem.

Furthermore, McEwan had planned to run the rule over Leiceter City reserve striker Ricky Muggleton at Belle Vue.

Muggleton is currently on trial at KitKat Crescent and will now be hoping to play, alongside Price, in Monday night's home North Riding Senior Cup tie against Scarborough.

Many managers also use this stage of the season to run the rule over third-year apprentices in reserve football as decisions over their futures are made.

McEwan said: "The weather situation has been unfortunate because you want to try and keep players ticking over. Jamie Price needs games but at least he's training hard.

"It's also disappointing as we had one or two youngsters lined up to play at Doncaster. Hopefully, we will get the chance to look at them on Monday but it all depends on the weather."

Midfielder Neal Bishop and club captain Mark Hotte have both missed training this week because of flu symptoms but are still expected to travel to Canvey Island for Saturday's Conference clash.

City's next reserve league match is at Scarborough on Monday, March 27, kick-off 2pm.

Colin Walker's men will then be in action again two days later, playing host to Grimsby Town in a 7pm start.

Updated: 10:56 Thursday, March 16, 2006