ALEX KEMPSTER insists York City must keep striving to improve ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash with Altrincham.

The Minstermen head into the first round proper tie off the back of a 1-1 draw at Bootham Crescent with Kidderminster Harriers - a game where the striker admits York were not at their best.

Kempster is hoping York can make it past Alty and into the next round, but to do so, they cannot afford to sit back.

"It was one of them tough games where we probably didn't play to our best standard," he said of the Kidderminster game, in which a late Ashley Hemmings goal cancelled out Kallum Griffiths' first-half opener.

"A draw was probably a fair result at the end of the game.

"We're still unbeaten but we know we need to improve."

City have shown what they are capable of this season, with league wins over fellow high-fliers King's Lynn Town and Chester evidence of a strong mentality, while the last round of the Cup showcased the team's playing ability.

Kempster scored the opener in a 2-0 win over higher-tier Stockport County as York put on a show under the lights at Bootham Crescent. The low curling cross-cum-shot was his eighth goal of the season.

"I've been enjoying it," he said. "Obviously I've helped score a few goals but the most important thing is the three points.

"I just want to keep trying to improve and to help the team as much as I can.

"We've got the FA Cup on Sunday and hopefully we'll get into the next round of that.

"We've done well to get this far but we want to keep improving and get to the next stage. We're going to take it game by game and see what happens from there."

The striker is also adamant that the competition in which York are playing makes no difference.

"We go into every game with the same mentality," he added. "We want to try and do our best in the game, regardless of whether it's a cup or league game.

"We just want to do our best and see what happens."

Back in August, centre-back James Jones scored at both ends of the pitch at Moss Lane, cancelling out his 12th-minute opener for Alty with an own goal. Second-half finishes from Joe Tait and Jordan Burrow ensured City got term off to a good start.

"They were a very tough team at the start of the season and this will be a very, very tough game," Kempster said.

"We're doing well but we know we need to keep improving if we are to keep getting the results we want."