GETTING matches is the name of the game for new York City defender Jamie Price - and he will do all he can to ensure he makes the team and stay there to reach his aim.

The 23-year-old right-back was released by Doncaster Rovers in the summer following a seven-month injury lay-off.

He joined City on trial but fears over his fitness caused boss Billy McEwan to stall on a contract deal leaving the manager thinking he had missed his window of opportunity when Price went looking elsewhere.

But he returned to the Minstermen and is now fit and desperate to get games under his belt after proving his fitness in the friendlies against Sheffield FC and Sheffield Wednesday.

And his experience at both League and non-League level, having had loan spells at Burton Albion and Hallifax, will stand him in good stead for the coming campaign.

He said: "Conference football is a bit different but people think it's a bigger difference than it actually is. There's a lot of good players in the Conference even though people think it's a massive jump from here to League Two."

The 23-year-old had a taste of the promotion buzz at Doncaster Rovers, and, while that may not be the official number one target at York City this season, he is still eager to emulate that feeling at KitKat Crescent.

"It all happened in one season," he said. "It was a bit quick but we were just on a roll. We were a set of very fit lads and that was what took us through."

As an attacking right-back, Price will be going head-to-head with Graeme Law even before the other team take the field to get a place in the starting line-up.

But he is relishing the on-going personal challenge and believes it will help drive the team as a whole forward.

He said: "It's going to be really tough to get in the team - nobody's safe. They are all good players here so I've just got to go for it."

FORMER York City trialist Danny Ekoku has completed his move to Crawley Town and could make his Conference debut for the Sussex side at KitKat Crescent on Saturday.

Updated: 10:06 Tuesday, August 09, 2005