DEFENDER Wayne Hall looks certain to miss out on York City's first home game of the season against Cheltenham on Saturday.

Hall suffered a slight thigh strain in training on Monday, but after treatment was named in last night's reserves squad for the match at home to Walsall.

However, the 31-year-old, a substitute in City's 4-1 opening day defeat at Chesterfield, felt a twinge in training yesterday and was withdrawn from the squad.

First team coach Adie Shaw admitted it is unlikely Hall will recover in time for Saturday, with Tuesday's Worthington Cup tie against Stoke a more realistic target.

Shaw confessed the club will have to take skipper Peter Swan's three-match ban following his controversial dismissal at Saltergate "on the chin".

Video evidence failed to show the off-the-ball incident in which Swan was alleged to have head-butted Steve Blatherwick.

But in better news for York, both goalkeeper Alan Fettis and defender Darren Edmondson were expected to return to training today after recovering from injuries suffered at Chesterfield.

A second-half goal from David McNiven salvaged a point for City reserves in their opening Avon Insurance League Division One fixture against Walsall.

Former Aston Villa striker Darren Byfield gave the visitors the lead on the half-hour mark, just minutes after McNiven blazed an effort over the bar when clear on goal.

The half-time substitutions of James Turley and Marc Williams for youngsters Chris Gowen and Leigh Wood saw City up the tempo after the break.

York got their rewards for an improved showing when McNiven turned in Williams' near-post free-kick on 65 minutes.