YORK City Knights' wonderful win over National Two League leaders Chorley was marred after Lynx coach Darren Abram put in an official complaint about alleged dirty tactics.

Abram said three of his players suffered broken noses during the match and claimed his side had been the victims of gouging and scratching - allegations which have been strongly denied today by Knights chief executive Steve Ferres.

The Knights' shock 36-32 triumph has lifted them to fourth in the table, their highest-ever placing, and, allied to results elsewhere, guarantees them a play-off place ahead of the last match of the regular season, at home to Hunslet on Friday.

However, Abram's allegations have marred the victory and the club's first anniversary celebrations which went with it.

"I've got three players with broken noses and I've made a complaint about gouging and pinching," he said. "They've got scratches around the face and eye area. It's very disappointing."

As for the match itself, Abram said: "I would not say it was entertaining. The York fans got behind them but it was a shabby game with lots of errors. I'm just glad we've lost in the league not the play-offs. I felt we got out-battled which is unusual for us."

He added: "The officials took us back more than ten metres... the pitch is very short and narrow and the playing surface is very poor. I'm not looking for excuses. My lads were prepared, but their enthusiasm probably out-did us and that backing (from the fans) might have swung it their way."

Ferres told the Evening Press: "I've been part and parcel of the preparation for this game and I can honestly say at no stage before, during or after the game did I hear any talk about gouging.

"It does tinge a bit of sour grapes.

"None of our players in any circumstances to my knowledge gouged anybody. We're not a dirty side, we play within the restraints of the game and the guys gave all they've got. Chorley should take it (the defeat) on the nose and if they aren't prepared to do that they aren't the people I thought they were."

He added: "I don't want to get sucked into anything. We won fair and square."

Knights player-assistant coach Graeme Hallas - in charge in the absence of boss Paul Broadbent, who was recovering after knee surgery - said he knew nothing of any gouging.

"I did not see any and if there was the relevant authorities will deal with it," he said. "I would be very surprised if any of my players were gouging."

Hallas said the Knights' team spirit had helped them win the game with a superb second-half show.

"In the second half we produced one of our best displays of the season, very committed, gritty and focused, and I still think there's improvement in us," he said.

"The team effort has pulled us through. There's a lot of team camaraderie down here, which is something we've strived to build up.

"There's no 'I' in team and there's no 'I' in success, we've got to do it together."

He added: "A win always boosts confidence and when you go into a game as underdogs it's nice to come out with two points."

Updated: 11:02 Monday, September 01, 2003