YORK City manager Jackie McNamara reckons his team can become set-pieces specialists this season.

Despite falling behind to a first-half Bobby-Joe Taylor goal during their National League curtain raiser at Maidstone, the Minstermen survived a barrage of balls into their box before summer signing Clovis Kamdjo secured a 1-1 draw by heading in Aidan Connolly’s 69th-minute corner.

City were rarely a threat from dead-ball deliveries under McNamara last term, as the team tumbled out of the Football League, but the ex-Celtic skipper believes his team can thrive from such situations during 2016/17.

He said: “We scored from a set-piece and look a real threat from them. When you have got a height advantage, you have to use it with deliveries that are spot-on and we had that from Aidan Connolly, as well as from Yan (Klukowski) on the other side.

“He put a good ball in that Scott Fenwick nearly scored from and we’ve got people in there who can cause problems and score from set-pieces. Clovis is one of them and Jack Higgins has scored a lot in the past.

“Matt Fry’s also capable of doing it, along with people like Scott and Yan.”

The City chief added that he felt the visitors’ superior fitness levels told in Kent, having endured a tough opening 45 minutes to the new campaign.

“It was a difficult first half and we had to cope with a lot of long throw-ins and corners on a narrow pitch,” he reasoned. “We were OK with that and I told the lads it was a taste of what we will experience.

“I think we would have struggled with the physicality of the game last season in terms of the aerial stuff into our box and the second balls that you have to deal with to earn the right to play. At times, I was disappointed with our passing, but I was pleased with the fight back in the second half and, as the game became more stretched, it showed the importance of our fitness.

“I thought we had more chances to capitalise on that, although they had a few as well and Scott (Flinders) made a good save at the end, so it was a good point overall and probably a fair result.”

McNamara employed a 3-5-2 formation at the Gallagher Stadium, but felt wide pair Shaun Rooney and Alex Whittle could have been utilised better, adding: “Our wing backs were pushed too far back and were given too much to do. They were on all the time and we needed to get the ball to them more.”

But the City boss did not look to blame Maidstone’s 4G artificial pitch or sweltering temperatures for his team’s failure to play to their full potential.

“It was a hot day and the ball moved around quite slowly because Maidstone don’t have a water system, so the pitch was a bit sticky, but we could have still done better with our possession and passed with more sharpness and purpose,” he pointed out.

On his decision to hand Simon Heslop the captain’s armband ahead of fellow candidates Jack Higgins and Matt Fry, meanwhile, McNamara explained: “He has leadership qualities, good experience in the game and he’s from York as well, which helps because he’s come here wanting to play a big part in things long-term.

“I also like the way he carries himself on and off the pitch with the lads. He takes responsibility in matches and became more involved as the game got stretched against Maidstone but, as I said before, we have got a few good leaders and, even though Jack and Matty are not wearing the armband, it won’t change how they approach things.”

Rooney limped out of the action late on after being clattered by Dumebi Dumaka – a challenge that saw the home sub cautioned and might leave the City right-wing back doubtful for Tuesday night’s home match with Macclesfield.

“He is a bit sore, so we will have to see how he is,” McNamara said.