JAMES FORD wants to develop maturity in his new-look York City Knights side after watching them conspire to lose a thrilling opening game of the season.

Ford's team led 16-4 just before the hour mark but North Wales Crusaders pulled one try back and then scored an equaliser on the final hooter to take the League One Cup first round tie to extra time.

The Knights, finalists in this competition last year, then fluffed the first chance of a golden point winner and the Crusaders, winners of it in 2015, took theirs to progress.

Ford bemoaned a raft of early penalties, questionable refereeing by rookie official Nick Bennett which he felt was a big factor in the end result, and poor decision-making in his side when it mattered.

He said of the Bootham Crescent clash: "We put ourselves under a lot of pressure with some penalties and errors early on.

"We showed a lot of character and appetite for work to handle that, and when we were down to 12 (after Chris Siddons' sin-binning) we worked even harder. We showed heart and togetherness to defend for that amount of time.

"We said at half-time we just wanted to improve our organisation in good ball - but if I'm honest it got worse.

"We need to have a look at what the decision-makers are looking at. What they served up in general isn't good enough for this club."

At 16-10, the Knights won a penalty 35 metres out to the right of goal, but Harry Tyson-Wilson fluffed the kick, handing possession back to the Crusaders.

"We had the game won at 16-10 and we've elected to kick for goal. If we kick it, it's probably game over. There's no blame attached to Harry Tyson for that. If we'd maintained territory would that have been the better option? That's one for hindsight.

"We had the game under control and a mature team would have gone on to win, but, as we know, we've got young players and there will be ups and downs this year.

"We need more time out on the field to get more fluid. At times it was hectic and unrecognisable from the rugby we've seen in the last couple of years.

"It reminded me of watching an under-19s Super League game - there was plenty of ability on show and we looked like a team with potential - but we need to work on developing that maturity and making sure we get some fluidity."

Asked if he expected Crusaders full-back Tommy Johnson to kick the touchline conversion that levelled the scores on the hooter, Ford said: "The way the day was going, yes.

"They'd got a lot of decisions and the bounce of the ball, and that sometimes happens for a team."

On York's extra-time drop-goal attempt, Ash Robson's rushed effort not troubling the posts, Ford said: "That was symptomatic of our performance. It was a great set from the kick-off, going 85 metres, but we failed to organise the drop goal.

"Whenever we moved the ball and did the things we've been practising we caused problems, but we didn't do it for long enough."

Asked if refereeing decisions were a factor in the defeat, Ford said: "100 per cent. It's not the only reason but we were good enough to win that game.

"I thought he was poor. The interpretation of the ruck was really poor. It's game one for him but that's unacceptable. We've got Ash Robson penetrating defenders and yet it's an eight-second play-the-ball - that's ridiculous.

"We've had a bad and he's had a bad day.

Ford added: "There'll be no knee-jerk reaction. We've not hit our standards, we know that, but we'll come back into work and be prepared to get it right."