YORK City reserve goalkeeper David Knight is “breathing down the neck” of long-time first-choice stopper Michael Ingham.

Knight was hailed as the best player on the pitch by City chief Martin Foyle after yesterday’s 1-1 second-string draw with Chesterfield.

The former Histon, Darlington and Oldham net-minder made several impressive saves against the Spireites and Foyle believes he will provide greater competition between the sticks for Ingham than he has faced during the past two campaigns.

About Knight’s display, Foyle said: “He was the best player on the pitch and he’s a very, very good goalkeeper which makes leaving him out of the team even harder. No disrespect to Josh (Mimms) but I felt he wasn’t that close to Inghy.

“Inghy has already held up his hands to a couple of mistakes this season and he knows that Knighty is breathing down his neck. He was outstanding yesterday and I would have no hesitation throwing him in.”

Chesterfield went ahead in the 36th minute of the match when impressive teenage striker Jordan Bowery, who had earlier hit the crossbar, fired into Knight’s bottom left-hand corner after Greg Young had blocked his initial effort.

The Minstermen grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Jamal Fyfield was fouled on the left flank and fellow trialist Danny Racchi delivered the free-kick that was put into his own goal by visiting defender Jerome Palmer under pressure from Young.

Chesterfield fielded a side with considerable Football League experience including the likes of former Watford and Sheffield United defender Rob Page, striker Scott Boden and midfielder Dan Gray.

Foyle was particularly pleased that centre-backs Young and Dean Lisles, both searching for match fitness after injuries, were given a good work-out after coming through 90 minutes each.

He added: “They put a strong, experienced team out and it was a good exercise that one or two of our players needed. Greg needed the game and Deano needed it more.

“It was a much better work-out than training because we need to be tested defensively.”

Right-back Duane Courtney and striker Leon Constantine both played 75 minutes for City with David McDermott completing the full match.