SALISBURY City manager Nick Holmes had mixed emotions after seeing his side held 0-0 by ten-man Droylsden.

The hosts lost Gareth Morris after just six-minutes, red-carded following an alleged stamp on City's Wayne Turk.

Holmes had hoped Whites would then push on and make the advantage pay.

"I don't think they tried to stop us play - that's what's so disappointing."

The City boss believes the occasion may have unnerved some of his players as they made the step up to the top-flight of the non-league game.

"I thought we were panicked a little bit too much. Maybe the thought of playing in the Conference for the first time got to a few of them.

"It wasn't lack of effort but I thought it was down to bad decision making by a lot of them today.

"The final third was poor from the first minute to the 90th.

"We put in maybe 20 or 30 crosses and probably two or three of them were acceptable.

"That has to improve.

"We didn't test their goalkeeper nearly enough. We shot straight at him and we had headed chances in both halves that we should have done better with."

Holmes was at least happy to have left the Manchester-based club with a point on the board ahead of Tuesday night's match with Ebbsfleet United at the Ray Mac.

"At the end of the day, we're off the mark but I know we've got to be better, because they won't be one of the top sides."

Asked about the sixth minute dismissal of Morris, Holmes added: "The referee had no choice at all over the sending off. Wayne Turk had stud marks across his shoulder and chest.

"He made the only decision he could make and he booked ours fairly as well, I think."

Matt Robinson was yellow-carded shortly before Morris saw red, and late in the sceond half both Wayne Turk and Darrell Clarke found their way into referee Joyce's notebook.

"They weren't dangerous tackles but they were late and they happened once the boys' legs were getting tired.

"I think anyone at home who heard the result would think it's good - it's got us going.

"But anyone who actually watched the game, having seen the sending off happen so early, would have expected more of a dominant display from us."

4:50pm Tuesday 14th August 2007

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