DELIGHTED Chris Brass hailed York City's defensive resolve as the Minstermen celebrated their first clean sheet in more than a month with a scoreless stalemate at Macclesfield.

Only an inspired performance from Macclesfield's on-loan shot-stopper Boaz Myhill denied City three points after the Minstermen had much the better chances at Moss Rose.

Brass was more than happy with a point away from home and reckons his young team are now battle-hardened and starting to know when they have to mix it in the maelstrom of Division Three.

"It was a good performance and we got another clean sheet and that has to be the foundation upon which we build," said the City chief.

"We want to play attacking football with a bit of flair but sometimes you have to come away from home and dig deep.

"We created chances and when you come to a place like Macclesfield and you keep a clean sheet and their goalkeeper is named the man of the match then you have to be happy with that."

He added: "We have had three very good performances now and we are learning and seem to be getting stronger with every game.

"There are about seven or eight players who hadn't played together at the start of the season but we are starting to gel now and are starting to know each other's games.

"Sometimes it isn't always going to be attractive but the work ethic was there.

"Perhaps we were just a little bit too pretty in front of goal and should have pulled the trigger a bit more, but I'm not complaining because it is a good point."

Brass reckoned his players earned their stripes against the Silkmen.

"They played exactly the same formation as us so basically it came down to each individual winning their own personal battles," he reasoned.

"I think more on our team won their battles.

"We could have had three points, we had the better chances, but we will settle for a point.

"Ultimately, if you are winning at home and drawing away from home then it will hold you in good stead."

Brass revealed he had contemplated making a move for Macclesfield's man of the match, England youth international Myhill, who is on loan from Aston Villa, during the summer.

"Boaz was someone who interested me in if I hadn't been able to get Mark Ovendale in permanently," said the City boss.

"Mark justified why he is my number one choice but someone like Boaz will do very well at this level."

Updated: 09:34 Monday, September 29, 2003