KINGSLEY JAMES insisted that he “felt comfortable for the majority of the game” as York City edged past Slough Town 1-0 in the FA Trophy.

Clayton Donaldson’s first-half header secured York progression into the last 16 of the competition at the expense of Slough, who enjoyed the greater share of possession in a scrappy second half.

City never seemed to be hanging on for the victory but were largely second-best during the game’s latter period.

First-team coach James, who was named on the bench with York short on bodies, said that he was content for long sections of the match, despite the narrow nature of the cup tie.

“I thought that in the first half we played some good football, created some good opportunities and the second half was a different kind of game,” he said.

“It was more scrappy and they turned it into a bit of a dogfight. They loaded the box up at every opportunity: long throws, free-kicks, corners.

“I thought that we stood up to that and counter-acted it. They huffed and puffed while we created good opportunities on the transition, but we just didn’t have the quality to hurt them.

“We could have gone in behind a number of times in the second half but we just made the wrong decision.

“I felt comfortable for the majority of the game that we were in control of it, even though in the second half it looked like they had a lot of pressure.”

Donaldson’s header on 19 minutes from a Sean Newton cross was the difference between the two teams, but it was a goal that Slough felt was offside.

“I genuinely don’t care,” was James’ blunt assessment of the decision.

“From where we were stood, in all honesty, he looked offside. But that’s down to referee and linesman to make that decision.

“Newts has delivered a great ball and Clayts has done what he should do and made that run and got his goal.”

For York, this is a fifth victory by a 1-0 scoreline under interim manager John Askey. Afterwards, James was asked whether he felt that the lack of goals would later catch City out.

“It hasn’t so far,” he replied. When pressed on facing better opposition, James added: But will they be as direct and as organised out of possession and in possession? Maybe not.

“So maybe we won’t have to play on the transitions and we will have more control.

“We’re just here to win games of football and that’s what we’ve done. It’s game-by-game. Would we like more possession, more control and to create opportunities? Yes, absolutely.

“Did we have the pace that we’ve had in recent weeks in the team? We didn’t.

“We couldn’t stretch them as much as we would have liked to, but all we care about is the results, that’s all we’re judged on.

“Do we want to perform better? Yes. In the first half, I thought we moved the ball really well and got it out to the full-backs, which was exactly what we needed to do because they were so narrow.

“Second half was just a different game.”