ANDY Preece was far from concerned with Worcester City's sluggish defeat to Newport County ahead of the new Nationwide North campaign.

City's encouraging pre-season programme ended in anti-climax as the Exiles punished shabby defending to win 1-0 at St George's Lane.

Midfielder Nick Harrhy netted the second-half winner after Worcester failed to deal with a simple long-ball, while a loose pass from Shabir Khan almost gifted County a second as Wayne O'Sullivan struck the upright.

With City's opening league clash at Kettering only six days away, Preece said his side's shortcomings will be ironed out in training during this week. But the player-manager refused to panic after gifting the Welshmen victory.

"It was one mistake that decided it," said Preece. "I'm disappointed because we have set our standards high in pre-season and I don't like losing games.

"But I know we can play better. We didn't play as we normally do and we looked lethargic. One good thing is that if Kettering were watching, they may get a false sense of security.

"We will have to improve a lot on that performance. But we know how we can play. It's not a big concern.

"It gives us a little kick up the backside that things are not going to be easy. This is our level, this is what we are going to be up against week in week out. It showed up the things that we need to work on this week.

"You don't want to go into the first game and find one or two things that weren't quite right. We have done well in pre-season, but we are going to have to step up the gears again."

Preece beefed up his squad by snapping up two trialists -- striker Jimmi-Lee Jones and utility man Danny Hodnett -- on non-contract terms. The inexperienced duo are likely to start the season on the sidelines, but Preece said they will get a chance to prove themselves.

Preece added: "Our squad was looking bare and now they've added to it. Hopefully, they will get an opportunity somewhere down the line.

"Danny can play in a number of positions for us and if we want him to do a job for us, man-for-man marking, he's got that about him.

"Jimmi is very different to the other strikers. He's small, quick and nimble. If you get balls into the box, I'm sure he will get on the end of it."