A young York City reserve side were hit for four at relegation-haunted Shrewsbury Town reserves in their final Avon Insurance League division one clash yesterday.

However, the Minstermen were not too downhearted with the 4-1 defeat as they had no fewer than 12 youth trainees in the party against a strong Shrews' line-up.

The hosts also had luck on their side, scoring two goals in the last three minutes of the first half with City hitting the crossbar through Scott Emmerson.

"We had a very young team out and to be fair they did really well," said youth team assistant coach Brian Neaves, who, along with youth team boss Paul Stancliffe, took charge.

"You look at a 4-1 scoreline and would think we were stuffed but we weren't."

Striker James Turley - one of only three professionals in the side, alongside defender Barry Jones and winger Craig Skinner - got City's goal, a first-half equaliser, while other notable performances came from goalkeeper Jon Collinson and winger Marc Salvati. Michael Price, an 18-year-old triallist from Everton, had a steady game at left-back.

City will be hoping the result was not an omen for tonight's Division Three clash between the respective first teams at Gay Meadow.

"It will be an entirely different game tonight," added Neaves.

Updated: 11:51 Tuesday, May 01, 2001