AFTER going through a sterling pre-season unbeaten, York City lost their first competitive game for six months 2-1 at home on National League North opening day.

It was a disappointing result against Kidderminster Harriers at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday, when the Minstermen would have hoped to carry over some momentum from their warm-up fixtures.

The performance was not totally alien from those of July and early August, though, but the difference in quality at times was understandable given the players missing for York.

Here are five things we learnt.

1. There is no reason to lose the optimism from pre-season

A defeat on the first day of term is not the ideal way to begin, granted, but in no way did the game point to a season-long decline in standards.

Despite not being at their best, City still came minutes away from a point before Sam Austin netted a deflected long-range goal after Mackenzie Heaney had cancelled out Ashley Hemmings' opener.

York also enjoyed some slick passages of play, and probably should have had a first-half equaliser when Mark Beck headed a good chance wide following a spell of home pressure.

What cost York were avoidable errors and being unable to sustain high-quality play - they have not lost all that made pre-season such an enjoyable spectacle.

2. City can only compensate for so many players

Over the course of pre-season, City lost Josh King, Matty Brown, Jason Gilchrist, Scott Barrow and Sean Newton. All but the latter were absent for Kiddy as well.

By putting midfielders Paddy McLaughlin and Sam Fielding in to the back line, Steve Watson successfully accounted for these in pre-season.

But the manager was also forced to juggle the attacking midfield against the Harriers, with Kurt Willoughby dropping deeper to help out Olly Dyson, who, Watson said afterwards, “was not quite himself”. Newton also had an off-day, guilty of giving the ball away cheaply, and he could have pressed harder before Austin’s winner.

Perhaps York were forced to go a tweak too far.

3. Players are still working towards a full 90 minutes

Since the start of pre-season, regular first-team players Newton and Michael Woods have played a combined 553 minutes. Across the seven games City have played since the start of July, this averages out to less than one half of a game each.

Kidderminster was just Newton’s second full game, while Woods - who came on for Dyson just after the hour - has yet to finish 90 minutes.

4. A better picture of the team will emerge in coming weeks

As players return from injury, others get back to full playing fitness, and everyone re-acclimatises to the intensity of National League North, this team will show what they are capable of.

Kidderminster were a good test to face first, and Gloucester this Saturday should be of a similar level. If York are even closer to league readiness by then, it will be a good game.

5. A competitive game in front of fans is something to relish

The spirit of a ground is in the stands and, as entertaining as pre-season was, nothing beats the full-throated roar that greets the players’ arrival on the pitch or a goal in a game that really matters.

Roll on the day when the capacity cap is lifted.