BOSS Ashley Vincent insisted City would continue to shun the direct approach despite patience not paying off in Wednesday's defeat to Tividale.

City's Claines Lane curtain raiser ended in disappointment as the plucky visitors hung tough following Dan Smith's 39th-minute strike to win the Midland Football League Premier Division clash 1-0.

REPORT, REACTION, RATINGS AND LIVE FEED: City 0 Tividale 1

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The hosts pressed and probed a tiring Tivi outfit but stopped short of attempting an aerial bombardment, even during the dying embers, with Vincent clear that had been under his instruction.

"It is just not my way," he said.

"We will do what we did to create chances all through the game, something we did well, moving the ball into good areas. That's how you deliver the ball into the box or get the chance to take shots.

"We are not going to lump it into the box from the halfway line, that's just not our style. If that's how others choose to play and it works for them, good luck to them.

"I think we saw our way works, it was the end bit I was worried about. Whether you lump it or pass it, the chance at the end of that still has to be taken.

"We have quality footballers in our team and we want to use them, we're not going to get lads from two levels above to sit 60 yards from goal and just launch it. It is just not going to happen.

"I thought we did a bit too much of that in the first half and it disappointed me, we talked about that at half-time and to their credit they played the way I asked them to in the second half and created chance after chance."

The manager was vexed over a foul in the build up to the goal and the general performance of referee Jason Porter, despite acknowledging it had been the result of a City error.

"It was quite obvious, Chris Withington delivered the ball into the box and the lad fouled him," said Vincent.

"Our boys who were warming up nearby said it was a foul and the assistant referee responded by saying he was not allowed to give a free-kick if the ball goes away from the player.

"Chris was in the process of crossing it so that was always going to be the case and a number of fouls were given to them in similar circumstances in other areas of the pitch.

"They broke and scored. I cannot blame the referee for the goal, it was a mistake that led to it, but I thought he was terrible and unapproachable.

"He is young, like me as a manager and like some of my players I hope he is willing to learn because if not we are probably going to see more performances like that from the officials."

City will look to bounce back in the second of three games in eight days at their new headquarters, Saturday's home FA Cup preliminary round tie with league rivals Walsall Wood (3pm).

Vincent confirmed some "little knocks" had been picked up in midweek that are unlikely to be serious. Nat Kelly, Andy Nicol and Jamie Smith are all likely to be back in contention

"We have a strong squad and no one is guaranteed a place, in the team or on the bench. There can be no argument with that right now because we have played two, lost two in the league," he said.

"It is about me finding the right formula. It is not the performance I am worried about, I thought we played really good football and were patient and brave considering the circumstances, but they have to put the ball in the back of the net."