Redditch United manager Gary Whild felt his side was off the pace in the first half of the 2-0 home Blue Square North defeat by Gateshead.
Whild told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "In the first half there were not enough players up to the right level of performance, and that's what cost us.
"I had to go in at half-time and read the riot act, but you shouldn't have to do that in the first game," he said.
Gateshead were promoted into Blue Square North by way of the Unibond
League play-offs at the end of last season and it was clear that they had not lost any of their momentum.
Graham Armstrong put the visitors ahead on 28 minutes and they were good value for their 1-0 interval lead.
Daniel Lewis in the Reds' goal made a number of good saves in the game, but Redditch felt that they had got level when a Scott Rickards free kick came down off a cross bar, only for the match officials to rule it had not crossed the line.
Gateshead made the points safe in the final minutes when they were awarded a penalty after a foul by Lee Ayres.
John Brackstone fired home the resulting spot-kick with only three minutes remaining.
Gary Whild says his side will get better, but he praised the efforts of a couple of his new players.
"I thought Owen Storey did ok up front, getting himself into goal-scoring situations a couple of times with that pace," he said
"He has got tremendous pace and probably should have finished, but if he keeps getting there I am sure he will do well.
"To be fair to Lee Ayres, I felt his nomination as the man-of-the-match was a fair shout."
Redditch United will head to another of the promoted sides on Tuesday 12 August when they will take on King's Lynn.
BBC Hereford and Worcester will have updates on the Reds' progress in a sports special from 1905 BST.
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