FORMER York City player-manager Chris Brass played 30 minutes for the reserves at Lincoln City yesterday.

Brass has been sidelined since December because of a knee ligament injury which required an operation but made his first competitive appearance for nine months as a substitute at Sincil Bank yesterday.

The 30-year-old defender has been told he can seek new employers when he is fully fit after not being given a squad number at KitKat Crescent this season.

Teenage midfielder Byron Webster also came on as a replacement after recovering from a broken arm and Lev Yalcin played for the first hour, having shrugged off his thigh problem.

City boss McEwan said: "Most of the players looked rusty but it's unfair to be making assessments on them this early in the season."

Summer signing Ashley Winn fired the Minstermen in front but Lincoln secured victory in the second half.

Former Azerbaijan Under-21 international goalkeeper Farhad Afandiyev, Graeme Law, Dave Merris, Michael Staley, Dave Pounder, Ryan Mallon and Bryan Stewart also featured, but James Dudgeon missed out because of an ankle injury.

Dudgeon was being assessed by physio Jeff Miller today to reveal the extent of the damage.

Updated: 11:49 Thursday, August 18, 2005