*Updated with Match Facts

THE last match between York City Knights and North Wales was pretty amazing and the two teams served up another classic in Wrexham this time – bringing about the exact same 30-28 scoreline.

This time, though, it was York who were smiling at the end, with the victory lifting them to third in League One and thus in line for home advantage in a play-off semi-final against Swinton.

It was a very different encounter to that at Elmpark Way two and a half weeks ago.

That night, Crusaders, benefiting from a host of York errors, built a 28-0 first-half lead but only won the game late on with a controversial penalty after the Knights had incredibly fought back to level.

This one, conversely, shifted this way and that throughout.

The Knights had already been mathematically guaranteed a play-off place, courtesy of Rochdale’s defeat by Barrow on Saturday.

That result left both Barrow and Rochdale one point behind North Wales, who needed victory here to likewise secure a semi-final berth. The Welshmen must now win a tricky encounter at Newcastle for that fifth spot.

They took the lead here through the same player who had put them ahead at Elmpark Way, through the same means that had garnered them first-half superiority that night.

York’s back three had had a first-half nightmare underneath high kicks there and, from a measured Andy Moulsdale chip here, Andrew Oakden out-jumped Ben Dent to score.

But unlike that night, James Ford’s men soon replied – James Morland marking his return with a fine finish.

Dent, making amends, had superbly taken a Pat Smith chip, despite being tackled in the air by Oakden – an infringement which brought a penalty. Smith then fed Morland ten metres out and the centre showed deceptive strength to reach the line.

York then went ahead through the same means.

Oakden fluffed a Smith chip, winger Dent picked up and sent Morland in for his second. Dent converted.

Then home full-back Tommy Johnson knocked on a Jonny Presley kick – chasing the ball like a farmer chasing a chicken only to pat the bird forward. But Morland, with half a chance of a hat-trick thanks to Presley’s creativity, could not escape Ben Jullien and lost the ball too.

Morland, getting his second opportunity in the team since returning to the club from rugby union, was one of two changes to the 17 that beaten Hemel, fit-again Micky Learmonth also in, with Brad Hey and young Liam Richmond omitted.

Morland was also one of three alterations to the side that had lost to North Wales last month, with Harry Carter the replacement hooker this time and prop Jack Blagbrough also on the bench.

Injury-ravaged North Wales, with six players out for the season, had only 16 men that night but were back up to a full complement here, with fit-again Karl Ashall and Sam Peet returning on the bench.

It was former Halifax hooker Ashall – starting a brilliant performance - who created the equaliser, his hard, flat pass from dummy-half giving Joe Burke a simple finish, Johnson’s conversion making it 10-10.

But York quickly hit back, thanks to Presley.

His stunning show, go and change of pace took him through the line and he gave Jack Aldous the scoring pass – the prop marking his 100th appearance for York with his tenth try. Dent had an easy goal.

But North Wales again hit back, after a York forward pass and a Jullien run had the visitors on the back foot.

The ball was spread left where centre Christiaan Roets, on the run, had too much power for Presley to halt. Johnson’s goal made it 16-16 at half-time.

Presley created the first try after the interval, his grubber causing hesitancy in the defence with half-back partner Pat Smith darting in to pounce.

Dent goaled and could have eked up the lead but hit an upright with a penalty from in front, 31 metres out, after a foul on Blagbrough.

They were successful with their next chance, some 11 minutes later, Jordan Howden kicking the penalty after a high tackle on Pat Smith. The fact York went for the two-pointers suggests they are getting into play-off mentality.

However, a mistake on the restart saw North Wales retake possession and a world-class pass out of the back door by Ashall – something Rangi Chase would have been proud of - saw Johnson cross and convert.

A superb Nev Morrison run set the platform for York to extend their lead again, Kriss Brining scoring a trademark try from dummy-half despite home claims he bounced the ball down, Dent goaling.

Morrison then excellently diffused a Crusaders attack and also won a key penalty as Roets denied him a quick 20-metre restart to earn a harsh letter-of-the-law yellow card.

The hosts thus played most of the last ten minutes a man down but more brilliance by Ashall, a dart and another flipped pass, plus more controversial refereeing amid strong suggestions of a knock-on, gave Matt Reid a try.

Johnson’s goal brought about the 30-28 scoreline, before the Knights displayed more play-off mentality to stifle the last few minutes and see the game out.

MATCH FACTS

North Wales 28 Knights 30

Crusaders: Johnson, Oakden, Jullien, Roets, Massam, Moulsdale, Dallimore, Walker, Hudson, Burke, Reid, Wild, Duffy. Subs (all used): Ashall, Joy, Peet, Davies.

Tries: Oakden 10; Burke 30; Roets 37; Johnson 60; Reid 72.

Conversions: Johnson 30, 37, 60, 72.

Sin-binned: Roets 69.

Knights: Howden 8, B Dent 6, Morland 7, Minikin 6, Morrison 7, Presley 8, P Smith 7, Applegarth 8, Brining 6, Learmonth 6, E Smith 7, Tonks 7, Aldous 8. Subs (all used): Carter 6, Mallinder 6, Nicholson 7, Blagbrough 7.

Tries: Morland 19, 22; Aldous 33; P Smith 44; Brining 65.

Conversions: B Dent 22, 33, 44, 65.

Penalties: Howden 58.

Man of the match: Jonny Presley – the diminutive half-back again showed the form that made him the August Player of the Month, nipping here and there, taking on the line and causing the Crusaders defence several problems. His dance and dart to set up Jack Aldous' try was superb.

Referee: Tom Grant (Leeds) – the home fans weren’t happy with several decisions and York did possibly get a couple of 50-50 calls, but then so did the Crusaders.

Penalty count: 7-9

Half-time: 16-16

Weather: overcast.

Attendance: 722

Moment of the match: Jonny Presley's show-and-go to set up Jack Aldous' try was superb, but Nev Morrison, who had suffered such a nightmare the last time the sides met, deserves this accolade for the brilliant run upfield that laid the platform for Kriss Brining to score the game's decisive score. Morrison's superb take under a high kick in goal also secured that lead and led to a penalty which saw Christiaan Roets sin-binned. And all this with a suspected broken finger. The game's most mesmeric piece of skill, though, came from Crusaders' Karl Ashall - his blind pass out of the back door to send in Tommy Johnson had the entire ground fooled.

Gaffe of the match: the most notably costly error was Andrew Oakden's misjudgement under a chip that led to James Morland's second try for York which gave the Knights the lead for the first time.

Gamebreaker: York tried to kill the game in the last few minutes but it wasn't all over until the final hooter.

Match rating: the two teams were very well matched, just like in their last meeting, but, unlike that night when it was all Crusaders in the first half and all York in the second, this terrific contest shifted one way then the other in another wonderful advert for League One rugby league. The injury-hit Crusaders deserve to join York in the play-offs on showings like this, too.