GEORGE Rayner is determined to make up for a mistake when York City Knights clash with Barrow Raiders in the Northern Rail Cup last 16 tomorrow at Huntington Stadium.

The Knights full-back spilled the ball on his own line for Hunslet to get their first try a week ago - a score which let the Hawks back into the game and go on to claim a 19-14 victory.

Rayner said a "few home truths" had been told following a team meeting to discuss the disappointing loss, which was the Knights' second in three Cooperative National League two outings.

And he said the players were convinced they were going to put on a better show against Barrow tomorrow as they bid for a Northern Rail Cup quarter-final berth.

"To be honest we've been a bit down. We were in control (of the Hunslet game) and we let it slip. That has how it has been since the start of the season. We've thrown it away by dropping balls, making bad decisions and missing tackles," Rayner said.

"I made a bad mistake and it spiralled from there. The ball was coming straight to me and I have watched it back on video and it takes an awkward bounce but I should have taken it. It was once of those things but after that we were on the back foot.

"We've got good quality in the team but we are not firing. Hopefully, we are just going through a bad patch. We've had a team meeting and a few home truths were told and it bodes well for the rest of the season."

The 26-year-old said he knew Barrow would be a stern test for the Knights but believes a win would put their so far stuttering season right back on track.

He added: "Barrow will be a good test for us and if we can put in a good performance and beat them, which I know we can, then confidence will go right back up. They will be a tough side, they are hammering everybody at the moment.

"We need to play for 80 minutes. There is no team in this league that we can't play for 80 minutes against. We are determined to put on a better performance. We want to show the fans what we can do. We feel a bit disheartened for them at the moment. They are the best fans I have played in front of at this level and we want to show we are a good, capable side.

"We have to pull together and we can beat any team. We've been working really hard in training and there is no reason why it can't change against Barrow."

Northern Rail Cup

At Huntington Stadium, Sunday, April 22

YORK CITY KNIGHTS (from): Rayner, Dunmore, Potter, Brown, Mapals, Rhodes, Liddell, Sullivan, Wray, Cakacaka, Buckley, Esders, Chris Spurr, Elston, Priestley, Helme, Smith, Williams.

BARROW (from): Ganley, Beach, Atkinson, Harrison, Nixon, Basan, Holt, Raftery, Ellis, Dutton, Smith, Armistead, McDermott, Marshall, Wilcock, Luxon, Irabor.

REFEREE: Robert Hicks (Oldham). KICK-OFF: 3pm.