YORK City manager Neal Ardley was disappointed to lose to Eastleigh in the Vanarama National League, but saw plenty of positives from the 3-1 defeat on Saturday afternoon.

Despite Callum Howe scoring his first goal for the club, a fantastic strike from Chris Maguire paired by a brace from Paul McCallum saw York leave Hampshire empty-handed on their longest trip of the season.

Ardley refused to criticise his side and felt that it was a positive performance from his squad, but was left frustrated by the manner of goals conceded.

“I thought that we worked from a good shape in the first half and limited them to not a lot, but were quite passive in the way we went forward." Ardley told BBC Radio York.

“They scored from a worldie and there’s not a lot we can do about that, but in the second half we played with a lot more urgency.

“Between the boxes we played some good stuff, it’s an old cliché is both boxes, but we’ve missed some great chances today and goals change games.

“How Marshy misses his one I don’t know, and Ryan Fallowfield I think he tried to square it rather than smash it. They’re the decisions that cost you games.

“The boys had a go, the energy was there and the performance levels were there but boxes win games.

“It’s difficult because I actually think the performance was alright.

“I know that’s no consolation because I’d rather play poor and win, but I think the performance the boys gave me was alright.

“I’m just disappointed with the second and third goals, but we created enough chances to win any game of football.

“I know we didn’t take them but I’m not disappointed with the performance, I’m disappointed with the result.”

Ardley also explained why star players Dan Batty and Dipo Akinyemi were absent from the matchday squad, with the pair both currently recovering from slight knocks that puts them in doubt for Tuesday night’s trip to Chesterfield.  

“Batts’ knee has been on and off a little bit, but he really felt it after Tuesday night.

“He probably needs to have a little injection in there to settle it all down, whether if he will be fit for this week I don’t know, but probably for next week.

“Dipo limps in the game on Tuesday and his ankle was quite swollen on Thursday, we had to make a call on whether to bring him or not.

“At the time he was never going to be fit enough, so hopefully the treatment he has received over these few days might stand him in good stead for next week.”