THE extent of Chris Brass' summer shake-up was illustrated by last night's 2-0 home defeat against Doncaster when 15 players tasted their first action in a York City shirt.

Only Darren Dunning and Graeme Law had previously made a first-team appearance for the Minstermen in a starting line-up which otherwise consisted of six new signings and three trialists.

Striker Andy Bishop was the most impressive of Brass' close season captures, shielding the ball and preserving possession well before making way for trialist Jonny Rowan, who also caught the eye with a lively performance.

New skipper Steve Davis was also a commanding presence at the back although both trialist goalkeepers - Paul Crichton and Craig Mawson - endured nervy moments.

Doncaster ran out deserved winners after goals from two trialists of their own, Chris Beardsley and Fola Onibuje.

The South Yorkshire visitors fielded two completely different but equally capable sides in each half, illustrating the strength of their squad and providing living proof that there is life after relegation from the Football League.

The visitors, who rose from the Conference to win promotion from Division Three last term, broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when veteran campaigner Leo Fortune-West muscled Chris Clarke off the ball and provided a cross that Beardsley headed in from two yards.

Crichton then beat out an angled drive from the skilful Michael McIndoe and managed to scramble Jermaine McSporran's sliced 30-yard volley on to his crossbar.

John Doolan also clipped Crichton's bar on 33 minutes from 20 yards while, at the other end, Andy Warrington did well to smother Bishop's shot after Mark Robertson had sent the alert 21-year-old striker clear on goal.

In the second half, Rowan stole ahead of Doncaster's substitute goalkeeper Stuart Jones to meet a Chris Brass cross but his sidefooted effort was cleared off the line by Dave Morley.

Shortly afterwards, Rowan, recently released by Grimsby, saw another shot from an acute angle tipped over by Jones and the spirited 22-year-old then fired wide from 12 yards after a low cross from player-coach Lee Nogan on 71 minutes.

But Doncaster doubled their lead on 72 minutes when Onibuje proved too powerful for teenage defender Sean Davies and prodded into an empty net after his first shot had been parried by Mawson.

A James Coppinger cross was fumbled on to the bar by Mawson before teenage midfielder Matthew Coad enhanced his first-team credentials with an all-action 15-minute substitute outing.

Coad's best moment came on 85 minutes when he won possession in his own half, strode forward confidently and almost netted a consolation with an ambitious chip that floated narrowly wide.

Paul Dunn should have reduced the deficit on 88 minutes but headed wide from six yards after a cross from fellow trialist Tom Raw.

City: Paul Crichton (Craig Mawson, 46), Graeme Law (Chris Brass, 58), Chris Clarke (Paul Dunn, 67), Steve Davis (Richard Teesdale, 46), Mark Robertson (Sean Davies, 55), Kevin Donovan (Tom Raw, 46), Paul Groves (Gary Pearson, 46), Darren Dunning (Matthew Coad, 75), Paul Brayson (David Merris, 46), Andy Bishop (Jonny Rowan, 46), Paul Robinson (Lee Nogan, 61).

Doncaster: Andy Warrington (Stuart Jones, 46), Jamie Price (Simon Marples, 46), Steve Foster (Dave Morley, 46), Nick Fenton (Mark Albrighton, 46), Dave Mulligan (Chris Beech, 46), Jermaine McSporran (James Coppinger, 46), John Doolan (Ricky Ravenhill, 46), Adriano Rigoglioso (Paul Green, 46), Michael McIndoe (John McGrath, 46), Leo Fortune-West (Fola Onibjue, 46), Chris Beardsley (Adrian Littlejohn, 46).

Attendance: 1,174.

Former York City midfielder Richard Cooper is training with Burton Albion.

Updated: 09:53 Saturday, July 17, 2004