YORK City Knights boss James Ford hailed a "fantastic" record-breaking occasion at Bootham Crescent - but bemoaned the controversial refereeing calls that cost his side at least a share of the spoils on a dramatic opening day.

The Knights' biggest-ever crowd of 4,281 saw former world champions Bradford Bulls snatch a 22-20 victory with the last kick of the game as the Betfred League One season got off to a remarkable start.

However, the Knights had had a try in each half dubiously disallowed - the latter coming amid a remarkable finale - while the Bulls were given three penalty shots at goal in the last 22 minutes.

The second of them put the visitors a point ahead as the clocked ticked down and the third, after Connor Robinson's second drop goal had levelled things up again, saw them steal the spoils after the final hooter.

Said Ford of the occasion: "If you look at how this club has progressed from 14 months ago, it's remarkable.

"There was not going to be a club 14 months ago and now there's more than 4,200 at a fantastic game that was worthy possibly of the Middle Eights.

"Two teams really giving it their all, Bradford really well coached, and on another day we come away as winners.

"To have 4,000-plus is absolutely incredible for a League One club.

"Obviously Bradford played their part. I hope they have a good season - their fans deserve a bit of fortune.

"But I want to focus on my club. I'm really pleased with how we've progressed and the supporters have played a huge part.

"We want that kind of game, that kind of following, that kind of atmosphere - it's what we're after as a club."

The referee was London-based Aussie Mark Rossleigh. Ford said of his performance: "I think he's a decent referee and he's had a good game. He's just got one or two really important decisions wrong.

"A ref isn't going to get everything right. But the decisions they've pulled against us had a big impact on the result.

"We should also have taken our chances. But we're not far away. I'm pretty happy with the performance.

"If we had come out with a win, we would have been good value for it.

"Unfortunately in sport, most of the time there's going to be a loser and this time it was us."

In the first half Joe Batchelor was adamant he had touched down a Robinson kick. Late on, Robinson appeared to touch down a loose ball but Rossleigh said a Bradford hand had got there first.

Said Ford of the former: "It was a try, 100 per cent. I saw it clearly. Obviously it's hard for a referee. He's not got the big screen option in League One. Given the importance of the game I don't know why we can't have cameras. If this was a Super League game, that try would be given and we win the game."

On the second, he said: "I didn't see that so clearly. I don't want to guess so I cant really comment.

"On top of that, though, we created a couple of other chances we didn't take.

"We had chances to win the game. Credit to Bradford, though. They've hung on and found a way to win the game."

As for the three penalty goals, Ford said: "All of them were soft. He's found penalties against us that have given Bradford the opportunity to win the game.

"I don't know what it (the second one) was for. The players were bewildered. Normally you'd know what a penalty is for but everyone in the ground is flabbergasted.

"Again it (the last one) is soft. The referee knows if he gives that, it's swinging the game at the end."

The Knights, meanwhile, lost key man Graeme Horne to a knee injury in the first half.

Dual-reg half-back Matty Marsh also hobbled for much of the game with a dead leg, while Robinson finished the game with a leg injury too.

Asked if the performance overall had given Ford confidence of finishing in the play-offs, he quipped: "If we're not, I probably won't be here next year.

"I thought it was a proper rugby league game. It was fascinating. Both teams had parts of the game on top. Bradford got their noses in front. Then we did.

"That's what makes the sport so good. Both teams showed fight, skill and character. It was a fantastic game."

He added: "There are lots of positives. There was lots of grit and we showed we can play with the ball. It's a soft call in the end to take the game away from us. There's stuff we can build on and I'm sure we will get better."