Confidence and belief are the keys to York City's season.

That was the view of wing-back Darren Edmondson after the Minstermen opened their Division Three campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Football League newcomers Rushden and Diamonds.

Edmondson was most people's man of the match but the accolade was of scant consolation to the 29-year-old, who would no doubt have preferred three points for his team.

"It was definitely a game of two halves," said the former Huddersfield defender, after Bootham Crescent had seen the Minstermen put on a much-improved second-half showing following a disappointing first-half display.

"In the second we saw what we can do but it was too little too late. We should have had the confidence to play like that in the first half, to get the ball down and pass it.

"We got a kick up the backside at half-time and had a bit more belief in the second half."

For Edmondson, it is that belief and confidence that is set to prove crucial in the coming months.

"We've got to believe in our ability and in each other. That will come with the more games we play, but we need to get it early. We've got to work hard as a team and results should come."

Conference champions Rushden were one of the pre-season favourites for promotion, but Edmondson felt the visitors were no better than the Minstermen.

"From what we saw on Saturday we're a match for them and on that basis we should end up doing well," he said.

"It was one of those games. Crosses weren't quite landing on someone's forehead, and they got the breaks.

"On another day we perhaps could have got two or even three goals. We've got to keep our heads up and stick to what we know is right. We've got to stick to our guns and believe in one another and the team will improve."

For boss Terry Dolan, the players needed to have more courage - not for going into tackles but for playing the right way.

"We've got to have the courage to pass the ball when things aren't going right," he said.

"We did no do that in the first half. In the second half we improved because we passed the ball better.

"In pre-season we've got the ball down and passed it and have been patient in creating things. Against Rushden there was no thought into it.

"We had a lot of pressure after the break but not necessarily a clear-cut chance to score. We had them reeling but sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way."

He added: "I asked the players at half-time if they thought the season started at four o'clock on August 11, not three o'clock, as it looked that way in the first half.

"We are disappointed but more importantly the players are disappointed. They realise they let themselves down especially in the first half."

He added: "We will have better chances to win games if we start at three o'clock not four."

Richard Cooper is available for tomorrow's North Riding Senior Cup final against Middlesbrough at Bootham Crescent following his one-match suspension, while Chris Smith was expected to be okay after flu.

Alex Mathie was back in training today following his hamstring injury.

Updated: 09:49 Monday, August 13, 2001