JAMES FORD refused to blame referee Tom Crashley after a heavy penalty count helped Newcastle Thunder come from behind to knock his York City Knights side out of the iPro Sport League One Cup.

The Knights led 18-0 midway through the first half of a cracking quarter-final at Clifton Park, but two quick tries before the interval sparked a revival from the visitors and a dominant second half ultimately brought them a 38-24 victory, having taken the lead for the first time in the match with only six minutes to go.

Wakefield whistler Crashley came in for stick from home supporters as a number of decisions helped Newcastle get a roll on - the penalty count was 9-3 in their favour in the second half and 14-8 in all - but the visitors also had two tries ruled out, Jordan Meads particularly unlucky to have his disallowed for a double movement, and Ford said his focus was on his team's shortcomings, not those of the officials.

"It's not for me to comment on the officials' performances," he said. "There might have been some bewildering calls against us which seemed to give Newcastle momentum, but we have to control our composure under pressure. Once or twice that's been missing and has given Newcastle the opportunity to build that momentum.

"They were two pretty equal teams - but one has performed to their standards and one below their standards.

"They had one or two decisions maybe but that's rugby league and you have to deal with that."

A second-half try by Jonny Presley - set up by debutant Jamel Chisholm's athletic pat-back on the touchline - gave York respite from the growing pressure and put them 24-16 up on the hour-mark, but the momentum quickly swung back the Thunder's way and, after ex-Knights half-back Benn Hardcastle kicked a penalty to level the scores with ten minutes to go, two converted tries and another penalty secured their progress to a semi-final at Swinton. Oldham meet North Wales in the other semi-final.

Ford, not helped by the loss of on-loan debutant prop Luke Menzies to a knee injury in his first stint off the bench, said: "I thought we started the game really well. We controlled the ball and defensively we were dominant and, at 18-0, we were in control.

"We didn't finish the half as we would have liked, though, and ill-discipline cost us territory and possession. We gave Newcastle the opportunity to be in a game they shouldn't have been in at half-time.

"In the second half Newcastle got over the top of us in the middle and were able to play quick. We need to be physically better than we were in the second half.

"There were some individual performances I was really happy with - I thought Ed Smith and James Haynes were outstanding again - but some weren't good enough and need to improve.

"The positive thing is it's a pre-season competition and we're not going to get carried away by 40 minutes of rugby league that we weren't happy with.

"We need to learn from it, draw conclusions from it and make sure we move on as individuals and as a club before the league campaign starts."

* Tickets are still available for the annual York RL Hall of Fame sportsman's dinner, to be held at Chalkers Restaurant, New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club, Huntington Road, next Saturday night. Five former greats will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, while the special guest speaker will be outspoken ex-referee Ronnie Campbell. Tickets, priced £25, are available by phoning Gary Hall on 01904 634902.