BOSS James Ford was quick to laud the burgeoning talent in his side after James Morland became the latest youngster to stake a strong claim to feature in the all-important promotion play-offs.

The Press revealed last week that the 20-year-old centre was set to earn a recall to the line-up in Sunday's clash at play-off rivals North Wales Crusaders – only his second run-out since returning to the club from rugby union this summer.

And despite going up against highly-rated Warrington Wolves loanee Ben Jullien, he went on to score two tries in the space of three first-half minutes at the Racecourse Ground to set his side on the way to a thrilling 30-28 victory which lifted them to third in League One.

Fellow first-team rookies Jordan Howden, Micky Learmonth, Harry Carter and Brad Nicholson also played – amid rumours that both Nicholson and Greg Minikin were possible contenders for the League One Young Player of the Year award.

"We'd have a great under-23s side, wouldn't we?" joked Ford, who has also seen Kriss Brining, Ed Smith and Ben Dent come through the ranks to become first-team regulars in recent seasons.

"I've got a lot of confidence in the young boys at this club and they keep showing why."

On Morland, Ford added: "I've seen James for a number of years in the under-18s, the under-20s and now in the first-team ranks.

"I thought he was the right player to go up against Jullien with his pace. Jullien's an outstanding talent, which is why he is on Warrington Wolves' books, but I thought James has highlighted his own potential here.

"He took two tries well and he carried the ball well for a young boy. I'm very confident there's a very good player in James Morland and we're going to work our hardest to get it out of him."

At the other end of the age scale, Ford had high praise for veteran stand-off Jonny Presley, 31, who followed his Press Player of the Month award for August with the man of the match accolade in Wrexham.

"As I said last week, this is probably the best I've seen Jonny play in a long time," said the head coach.

"Anyone who has ever seen Jonny play, especially York fans, have been willing him to run at players. 'Run, Jonny, run – you're so dangerous when you do that'. I'm proud to see Jonny playing this well."

Meanwhile, Ford has admitted his team have tweaked their mental approach to games in the last few weeks to get into the practice of play-off football ahead of the knock-outs later this month.

Ford's team's free-flowing style earlier in the season won plenty of friends and helped to build the best points-difference record in the division, as well as the best points-for column until Swinton Lions put 84 points past hapless Oxford a week ago to become the tier's biggest scorers ahead of the final weekend of the regular season.

In recent matches, though, the Knights have played for possession and territory more, rather than going all out for tries, getting into pressure rugby mode.

Examples in Sunday's win in Wrexham were the shots at goal from two penalties and scrum-half Pat Smith's decision to kick the ball out of play in the corner late on to run the clock down, rather than go for another try.

Ford said: "We are shifting to play play-off football, improving our game management. I thought Pat (Smith) and Prez (Presley) managed the game on Sunday really well.

"The team is showing maturity. They've got the ability to score free-flowing tries and we're now starting to get that maturity in the boys to control the game and change the tempo when it's required."

Asked if one style detracted from the other, Ford added: "There's a time and place for both."