A DISAPPOINTED Adriano Moke believes recent results might have hit York City's confidence - but is optimistic they can rediscover their verve.

Speaking following Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Darlington, Moke admitted York were not up to scratch in the first half, and their second-half revival came too late.

Darlington came flying out of the blocks at Bootham Crescent and found themselves in the lead thanks to a fantastic strike from Adam Campbell, who should have had a second not long after, with Joe Tait putting in an against-the-odds block.

"It was one of them games where we just weren't at it first half," Moke said.

"We need to start better.

"I've not got much to say. I'm disappointed, the boys are disappointed, the gaffer's disappointed, all the staff, obviously the fans are disappointed.

"We've just got to pick ourselves up and hopefully turn it around.

"I think we gave it a right go second half but we need to do that from the first half, play with no fear and go for it.

"Hopefully we'll get that winning mentality back.

"We've lost two games now. At first we had that winning mentality but it's hard when you lose a game.

"We just need to start well and go from there, not switch off and hopefully it will come.

"Every game we play is tough. We've just got to prepare and learn from our mistakes.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves - we've got to look at ourselves and say 'did you give it all?' like the gaffer said.

"I think we all give it our all but I think confidence-wise we might get a bit down with the results.

"I think we'll get that back, hopefully sooner rather than later."

Manager Steve Watson showed his displeasure with the first half with a triple substitution for the restart. Kieran Green, Paddy McLaughlin and Macaulay Langstaff came on for Kallum Griffiths, Andy Bond and Elliott Durrell.

Moke moved back to fill Griffiths' spot at right-sided wing-back, a position Watson has seen Moke play before.

"After starting so well at the start of the season and going from that to today is really disappointing," Moke continued.

"We need to pick ourselves up and not feel sorry for ourselves."

Asked what has changed since the start of the season, Moke said he was at a loss, but stressed the importance of unity within the side.

"I wish I could tell you. I'm out of words," he said.

"The performance today just wasn't good enough.

"We've just got to stick together and go again against Bradford.

"(Darlington) attacked well against us and mixed it up.

"It was tough. It was always going to be tough, to be honest.

"Whoever we play this season is going to be tough - it's a tough league.

"All we can do is do a bit of homework on it, we go again, and hopefully the next result is a positive one and we're back on track."

Ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Bradford Park Avenue, York are still in a good position in the National League North.

The Minstermen remain in second place and are still three points off table-toppers King's Lynn Town.

However, King's Lynn did not play at the weekend, and Moke feels acutely the missed opportunity to return to the summit.

He said: "We've got to look at ourselves and think 'we've done alright'. We're still second and it's a long season.

"We can still turn it around.

"If Chorley and Stockport could do it last year, why can't we do it? We've got a good team. We've got to stay positive.

"Like I say, I'm disappointed, and it's kind of ruined my Christmas. Winning today we would have been back on top."