ASSISTANT-BOSS Darron Gee said it was important certain players got another 90 minutes under their belts as he stayed positive despite seeing his York City side held to a 1-1 draw by Billingham Synthonia in their pre-season friendly.

City, showing seven changes to the team that started at Grantham on Tuesday, needed a close-range Matty Blair goal on the stroke of half-time to level the scores and provide a rare bright spot in a lacklustre first half after the Northern League outfit had deservedly taken the lead through Danny Earl’s excellent strike.

The Minsterman’s second-half performance, with substitutes providing a bit more spark, was better but did not fashion a winner.

Gee, standing in for boss Gary Mills – who rested up at home over the weekend feeling the effects of a bug – was not overly concerned by the outcome, while one fillip was the fact fit-again Scott Kerr played the full game in midfield.

Gee said: “It’s another 90 minutes for the players. These teams never make it easy and we’ve chopped it around a bit and given a few lads another 90 minutes.

“It was a chance to experiment and see how we went. The first half was not the performance we were looking for – we were a bit lethargic, but it’s hard here. I said we had to approach it right. We were better in the second half and moved the ball better and realistically we could have got a few more goals.

“It’s good some lads got another 90 minutes. It’s pre-season and we’ve got to use it for another 90 minutes. We’ve got a few lads who needed 90, and for people like Banjy (Lanre Oyebanjo) and Mez (James Meredith), it’s only right to give them a breather.

“For the majority of the second half and especially the last 20 minutes we showed what we were about – we moved the ball quicker and created chances.”

Saturday’s match came after a training camp in Rutland.

Gee added: “The lads have been away for five or six days and then we’ve travelled up there.

“They’ve worked very hard while we were away.

“They’ve been superb – we’ve got a real good bunch of players.

“It’s another game where we’ve not got beaten.

“Things weren’t right at half-time but in the second half we had more purpose and played the way we wanted to play.”

Striker Jamie Reed would have come on in the second half but tweaked a groin during his warm-up so was kept on the sidelines as a precaution.

He should be okay for next Saturday’s friendly at home to Hartlepool, while David McDermott, who injured an ankle in the Garforth friendly, is also nearing a return.

He was expected to have a session with the physio today and join the team in training tomorrow.

Mills was expected to be okay to work today.