YORK City boss Gary Mills admitted his team’s performance smacked of “desperation” after life in National League North began with a 1-0 home defeat to Telford.

Matthew Barnes-Homer’s 44th-minute strike secured three points for the Shropshire visitors with the Minstermen, who had been the better team up to that stage, failing to force their way back into the game after the break.

On his side’s opening-day display, Mills confessed: “It wasn’t the start we wanted. The first half was OK – we passed the ball well and created a few chances, but their keeper pulled off two really good saves.

“We also hit the bar, but they had one chance and scored when Hamza (Bencherif) needed to do better to stop their cross going in. The second half then looked a little bit like desperation and I don’t understand why.

“The players make decisions out there and I don’t know why we played like that. We could have passed out from the back better, but didn’t and never really looked like scoring after half-time.

“We got balls in the box a few times, but we’ve got to ask whether we were hungry enough to get on the end of them. You can’t just expect to pass the ball around teams and lead 3-0 at half-time, because I thought Telford were disciplined, well-organised and knew what they were doing.”

Despite the losing start, City trio Bencherif, Amari Morgan-Smith and Josh Law all called Bucks keeper Jas Singh into impressive action while City shot-stopper Jon Worsnop did not make a single save.

But Mills was in no mood to accept that his team were only denied a deserved three points by the ex-Gloucester net-minder.

“Their keeper was perhaps the reason we didn’t get a point because, other than them hitting the post with the free kick in the second half, they never looked like scoring again,” he reasoned. “But, even though he was the man of the match, it wasn’t because we were so good that we made him man of the match.

“Everyone was quiet and disappointed afterwards in the changing room, but we know we can do better than that and need broad shoulders to bounce back and show that at Blyth.”

Michael Rankine missed out against Telford due to a hamstring niggle and is also doubtful for Tuesday night’s trip to Blyth, with Mills suggesting the powerhouse forward’s presence – even if as a substitute – was missed.

“He felt his hamstring in training so, as a precaution, we didn’t want to risk him being out for a few weeks,” the City chief explained. “But it was disappointing not to have him, because he’s looked really good in pre-season.

“With him and Kaine Felix on the bench, we’ve got options but, with Ranks missing, we’re not quite as strong. If he’s not back for Tuesday, he should be for Saturday (at Bradford Park Avenue).”

Felix did feature as a second-half substitute, but Mills was forthright about the pros and cons of the 22-year-old winger he transfer-listed at the end of last season.

“He brought a bit of pace, naivety and, possibly, no end product and that’s him,” the former European Cup winner pointed out. “He’s got to work on that.

“We know he’s got the pace to get past people, but there has to be an end product.”

Felix came on for centre-back Bencherif, who was troubled by the same injury he picked up during the final public pre-season friendly against Notts County.

“He missed the behind-closed-doors game against Bradford in the week and his back is a little bit of a problem,” Mills added.

The City manager went on to express his frustration that a turnout of 2,800 home fans in an opening-day attendance of 2,951 were left disappointed by the result – with a smattering of half-time boos growing a little louder at the final whistle.

“I’m gutted for everybody,” Mills said. “They turned out in numbers and have gone away without a win or a point.

“We have to do better than that for the fans to keep coming back.”