THE old saying 'never judge a book by its cover' could always apply to pre-season friendlies.

The dullest novel in the world could have a really jazzy frontage, while the best read of the year might appear plain on the outside.

The same is often said for league campaigns and pre-season warm-ups - and York City fans will no doubt be hoping the old adage rings true as regards last night's 2-2 draw at Pickering Town.

It is always difficult to gauge too much out of these games, especially when one side has one if not both eyes concentrated on the upcoming big kick-off.

Just as it would have been a case of optimism gone mad to have read too much into the draw against Premiership giants Leeds two weeks ago, it would similarly be too pessimistic to be all doom and gloom now.

That said, it wasn't a confidence-booster in what was City's final first-team friendly five days before the real action starts with Saturday's trip to Carlisle United.

Indeed, City needed a Liam George header in the dying minutes to spare their blushes against the Northern Counties East League premier division outfit, who for large periods had played the better football to turn a 1-0 half-time deficit into a 2-1 lead.

Nevertheless, it was a decent run-out for Chris Brass' men, with both teams - barring a few crunching tackles which led to City substitute Sean Davies being taken off to keep the referee's cards in his pocket - trying to play football on a carpet of a pitch.

Hopefully it helped iron out a few creases, some of which belonged to Brass himself who, of all people, looked the most shaky in the opening quarter.

His error let in Dean MacAuley, whose attempted chip was kept out by advancing goalkeeper Mark Ovendale, with Brass grateful to clear the follow-up off the line.

Maybe Brass was just wanting to test out his number one, with the 'keeper getting top marks for some good stops, safe handling and a brilliant pin-point block from MacAuley which followed more poor defending.

Ovendale certainly had to be focused as the part-timers were the more threatening in the first half-hour, especially through MacAuley, Adam Wash and Wood.

However, things changed once City broke through.

Chris Smith's forward pass was flicked on by Lee Bullock and George turned his man skilfully to fire home, with City then taking control without stretching themselves too much.

George curled one effort over the crossbar, while left wing-back Stephen Downes - who was getting forward more than Darren Edmondson on the right - was superbly denied by Pikes' shot-stopper Kevin Martin.

Nevertheless, Pickering, who rotated their subs while City treated it like a proper dress rehearsal, came out for the second half with renewed energy and they deserved their two goals.

A sweet move saw Joe Connor cross low first time from the left for MacAuley to knock the ball home, and then, after Bullock had fired just wide at the other end, Rickie Greening - brother of the watching Middlesbrough and England star Jonathan, the ex-City hero - sped down the left with his cross-shot being touched in by Daniel Gildea.

The way Ovendale and Brass complained about the lack of a linesman's flag indicated their professional pride had taken a knock.

Even so, it could have been worse as City were thankful for the offside trap while Pickering seemed to have the better ideas in attack, being denied a third in a goalmouth scramble.

Nonetheless, City did step up a gear, though their 89th minute equaliser was met with relief more than anything else. Downes put over an inswinger and George flicked it in.

PICKERING TOWN 2, YORK CITY 2

Pickering Town: Kevin Martin, Tom Reid, Danny Brunton, Danny Farthing, Rob Eales, Alex Willgrass, James Drinkall, Dean MacAuley, Adam Wash, Mark Wood, Gavin Dickinson.

Subs (all used): Mark Price, Rickie Greening, Peter Vasey, Joe Connor, Steve Young, Daniel Gildea.

Goals: MacAuley 60, Gildea 66.

York City: Mark Ovendale, Darren Edmondson, Chris Smith (Sean Davies 76 (Scott Jones 86)), Chris Brass, Stuart Wise, Stephen Downes, Lee Bullock, Mitch Ward (Richard Cooper 75), Leigh Wood, Lee Nogan, Liam George.

Subs not used: Chris Porter, Stephen Brackstone, Christian Fox, Graeme Law, Levent Yalcin.

Goals: George 27, 89.

REFEREE: Steve Rowntree (Scarborough) HALF-TIME: 1-0

Updated: 10:18 Tuesday, August 05, 2003