HEAD coach James Ford insisted there could be no comedown for York City Knights after their stunning high of last week. However, there was - James Feather’s try with three minutes left seeing them lose 22-20 at old nemeses Keighley Cougars.

A performance anywhere near the one that turned over hitherto invincible League One leaders Toronto would surely have brought another victory at Cougar Park.

But Ford’s troops were unable to reproduce any of that scintillating form, and their decision-making was particularly off-key - last week’s win therefore going to waste in the Super 8s race for the top five.

This game was a far cry from not only last week but also the previous visit in late June, when York won at Cougar Park for the first time since 2008 in a feisty affair.

Ford’s men were again ahead on the penalty count, but there was none of the nonsense that blighted that encounter and saw three Cougars and one Knight slapped with bans – ex-York second-row Josh Tonks still sitting out his five-match suspension after his red card that day.

The Knights showed three changes to last week.

James Haynes, a non-playing substitute against Toronto, as expected reverted to full-back in place of the suspended Ash Robson, while Tommy Saxton replaced the injured Dee Foggin-Johnston on the wing. Veteran hooker Andy Ellis was back on the bench.

Saxton was strong enough and scored a good try, but the sprightliness and pace of Robson and DFJ were sorely missed.

Keighley also made three changes to the side that had won at Doncaster last week.

Vinny Finigan came onto the wing for the unavailable Davey Dixon, while Neil Cherryholme and Gavin Reed replaced Josh Lynam and Harry Aaronson, who withdrew on the morning of the game due to illness.

Reed, making his debut, was formerly taught at Wakefield College by Ford.

The writing was on the wall for York from the off, when Kieran Moran held down Nathan Conroy late on in the opening set to give the Cougars an immediate attacking opportunity.

An uncharacteristic knock-on by Will Jubb, then a penalty, gave them another.

The defence passed those early tests, though, and a penalty gave them their first attacking platform – Adam Robinson coming within inches of giving them the lead, only to be pinged for a double movement at the whitewash.

Neither sides’ attacks were clicking against well-organised defences – until prop Moran simply powered over after 14 minutes, shrugging off former Knight Mike Emmett with surprising ease. Connor Robinson converted.

It remained nip and tuck until York extended their lead as Robinson’s delayed short ball opened things up for Joe Batchelor to stride home from 25 metres.

York’s attack was generally misfiring, though, Liam Harris not the twinkling star of recent weeks, and Robinson’s kicking game hit and miss.

Instead, Keighley hit back, and it was not undeserved.

Centre Adam Ryder made the try, excellent hands allowing his winger, Andy Gabriel, to dive into the left corner. Matty Beharrell converted.

They nearly scored in the opposite corner, Hamish Barnes just halted short on the last tackle down the short side by Saxton and Brad Hey.

But they did equalise on the half-time hooter, Gabriel speeding up to challenge for a Beharrell chip to the corner, outjumping Nev Morrison, juggling the ball, catching it and touching it down in one superb movement.

York had led 22-0 at half-time on their last visit to Cougar Park but had to hold on for a 25-18 victory in the second period against 12 men.

With Keighley having the slope after the break this time, as well as a full complement of players and an even scoreline, they were not only in it at half-time but probable favourites for victory.

Solid York rugby pinned them in their own territory until a poor refereeing decision to award the hosts a penalty for reefing, when Feather had simply lost control, got them out of there. Another penalty for accidental offside and then a harsh knock-on call against Jake Butler-Fleming, gave them a great platform.

They so nearly benefited as Feather went from dummy-half - Haynes appeared to be caught cold but got underneath the ball to prevent the touchdown.

Instead, York retook the lead.

Ellis went down the short side, Batchelor got out a brilliant offload around the tackle and Saxton got over in the corner.

It was all about territory again, Ford having seemingly instructed his side to kill the game at the top end.

However, when Robinson inexplicably ran the last tackle near half-way, they turned over possession.

From that platform, Ryder was held up over the whitewash but from a Beharrell chip the ball was knocked down and Finigan scored. York argued it had been patted forwards but referee Callum Straw waved the protests away. Beharrell’s conversion put his side ahead.

The Knights got possession back from the restart and immediately struck back – Hey with a brilliant finish through broken play.

They should have scored again after Robinson went back to kicking to the corner. Finigan miss-controlled the ball straight back to Batchelor but the second-row was unable to get out a scoring pass.

York still forged a good chance, but winger Morrison looked at the try-line instead of the ball and spilled Harris’ long pass.

Keighley forced a dropout at the other end with a lucky bounce but Connor Robinson intercepted to regain territory.

Again that should have swung the match the visitors’ way.

However, a ridiculous forward pass by Butler-Fleming ruined that position and then a poor penalty conceded by Zeus Silk for holding down gave the hosts another chance. This time they took it – Feather stepping passed Silk, with Beharrell’s conversion putting them 22-20 ahead with the clock ticking down.

A combination of Batchelor and Tim Spears won possession back from the short restart.

But when Jubb went down the short side, Morrison had little chance of squeezing in and York’s chances of victory were knocked into touch with him.