Goalkeeper Andy Warrington has been installed as York City's number one despite the arrival of fresh hands-on experience.

City have drafted in rookie Port Vale shot-stopper Matthew Boswell on a month's trial to judge if he can fill the vacancy caused by the release of Mark Samways at the end of last season. Boswell shared net-minding duties during City's 5-0 win at Pocklington in the pre-season opener on Saturday.

But with the Shrewsbury-born 'keeper having made only a couple of gloves-full of appearances for the Valiants last season - he is also still a month short of his 21st birthday - City's Warrington will start the 1998-99 campaign as the Minstermen's premier and preferred choice.

It's a major boost to the confidence of Warrington, himself just turned 22 years of age, but who, in the past two seasons, has largely played second fiddle to first Tim Clarke and then Samways after making a dramatic debut for City against Manchester United in October 1995.

Explained City manager Alan Little: "I see Andy as number one now. He has played close on 70 games for us and so he will start as first-choice.

"Remember we gave Dean Kiely his head and he took his chance to prove himself as a top-class 'keeper. I don't see any reason why Andy should not do that now at this club.

"I think it would be a huge blow to Andy's confidence if we were to go for another experienced 'keeper. He is another year on in experience and we are backing him as our number one."

Newcomer Boswell will be on trial for a month, said Little, adding that besides his outings for Port Vale he also had a spell at Third Division Barnet last season. "The reports I have had say he has a lot of potential."

Meanwhile, almost a full year of heartbreak has ended for City defender John Sharples.

The centre-back returned to the senior ranks for the last 20 minutes of the first-half at the Pocklington Gala on Saturday, much to manager Alan Little's delight.

It was Sharples' first competitive outing for close on a year since he broke down in the previous pre-season with a knee injury that led to revolutionary 'pepper-pot' surgery nine months ago.

Sharples displaced Mark Tinkler as one of three centre-backs during the first of several big switches made in the City line-up at The Balk. He moved well and untroubled, tackling and heading with authority when needed. He did not re-appear after half-time, but that was all to plan, said the City boss.

"That 20 minutes was always going to be enough for him, though I suspect he wanted to play some more," Little said.

"We did not envisage playing him any more as he has been out for such a long time. But getting anything today was a bonus for us, especially with Tony Barras being out for the start of the season."

see MATCH REPORT 'Five-star show full of promise'

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