YORK CITY began life without Martin Gray with a largely uneventful goalless draw at Brackley.

The Minstermen were under the caretaker control of former Hartlepool United defender Sam Collins following Gray’s dismissal at the start of the week, and defended impressively to claim a point.

Brackley started the game as National League North’s joint top-scorers, but failed to muster a threatening effort on target as York displayed some welcome defensive resilience.

Collins rang the changes for his first game in temporary charge, handing a debut to 18-year-old winger Fergus McAughtrie – son of former York centre-half Dave – and recalling Josh Law and David Ferguson for their first starts of the season.

The changes had a positive effect, although York struggled to create chances, with their only two efforts on goal coming from McAughtrie and Russell Penn.

Collins has stated that he would like the manager’s job at Bootham Crescent on a permanent basis, and his temporary reign continues this afternoon when York host Blyth Spartans, who suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Chorley at the weekend.

York: Bartlett, Griffiths, Tait, Bencherif, Ferguson, Penn, Law, Heslop (Burrow 61), Langstaff (York 61), Parkin, McAughtrie (Wright 84).