YORK City reserve goalkeeper Chris Porter is pressing teenage find of the season David Stockdale for his first-team place.

Caretaker boss Viv Busby has been impressed by Porter's recent form for the reserves and considered recalling him for the trip to Woking.

Stockdale had just returned from England National Game XI duty in Italy but Busby stuck with the 19-year-old stopper at Kingfield.

Acting manager Busby is pleased though to have Porter, who has assumed goalkeeper coaching duties since the departure of Paul Crichton, waiting in the wings.

Speaking at the Supporters' Trust annual general meeting, Busby said: "David Stockdale's definitely a good 'keeper. For his size, he's very agile and he's got no fear.

"He's very strong between the ears mentally and has coped with a lot of abuse from away fans without responding. I actually thought about leaving him out against Woking because I felt he might have become distracted after representing his country.

"We stuck with him and he's done well again in the last two matches but Chris Porter is working extremely hard and is now coaching David and Arran Reid. We have got two goalkeepers who are a credit to their profession and Ports is working hard to get back in the team."

Busby also added that he would like to extend Aston Villa defender Lee Grant's loan until the end of the season and challenged more younger players to make the breakthrough into the senior set-up.

Midfielder Kane Ashcroft became the 11th teenager to play for the first team when he starred during the 2-1 victory over Carlisle on Saturday and Busby said: "I'm hoping that youngsters are seeing that if there are openings they will be given their chance if they are doing well for the reserves."

Updated: 11:37 Saturday, December 04, 2004