CAPTAIN marvel Tim Spears says York City Knights cannot get "too far ahead of ourselves" after their eye-opening win over Oldham - but reckons the manner of victory can stand them in good stead for the business end of the season.

Spears, in his landmark 350th career appearance, was one of the standout performers as the Knights held on to win 24-22 at Whitebank after the two teams went tit for tat in a high-quality League One clash.

He has warned that many more tough challenges lie in wait, but he believes his team can take confidence aplenty from their performance - especially going into Sunday's Challenge Cup clash with Championship side Swinton.

Furthermore, having fallen just short at Whitehaven after that record-breaking epic play-off semi-final last year, and against title favourites Bradford Bulls in this season's big opener, he says getting over the winning line this time after another mighty close contest could be a significant step forward.

"You have to take confidence from performances like that so early in the year," Spears told The Press.

"It's also shown some of the boys what's required to win tough, tight games. Completion rate, patience, kicking well, chasing well, defending tough. Some games you don't win until the final hooter.

"Having that resilience and mentality to keep going to the 80th minute - when you do it and come through the other end, you learn what it takes to do so.

"Wins like this can stand you in good stead come play-off time. You need that composure, resilience, patience."

He also said it was crucial York got off the mark in the table, too.

"We got pats on the back after the Bradford game but we got nothing from it. If we'd got zero at Oldham too, we'd have been behind the eight ball before we even got going.

"We have Keighley and Doncaster coming up as well and both of those will be tough challenges.

"We couldn't have had a tougher start to the season but it will stand us in good stead."

Regarding Sunday's cup clash, he added: "There is not much difference between the top few teams in League One and teams like Swinton in the lower half of the Championship.

"You don't want to get ahead of yourself. It's a bit cliche but it's important to take it week by week, improve and look at the challenge in front of you."

Spears played three times for Castleford as a youngster, then six for Dewsbury, 111 for Batley and 201 for Featherstone. Sunday's game at Oldham was his 29th for York at the start of his second season with the club.

Not many players get to 350 in the modern era, but Spears has had no thoughts of hanging up the boots yet - and admits 400 is the "next logical" landmark.

He said of his 350: "It's a lot of games. Hopefully I've got a few more left in me. It's a nice landmark, something I can look back on with pride.

"I'm 33 but I really like playing for this club and what we're about.

"I don't think you can look too far down the track but, at the same time, I'm enjoying my rugby as much as ever, I'm feeling as good as ever and I think I've been playing okay. I love playing the game and while all that remains and I can still bring value to the team, then why wouldn't you want to continue.

"Everybody says you're a long time retired so enjoy it for as long as you can."

He added: "It's quite a nice feeling to get a good win in that 350th game too.

"It's the first York team to win at Oldham in eight years, and to beat a good team who have just come down from the Championship and who would fancy their chances of going back up, and in their own back yard - it just adds to it.

"It was a personal milestone, but if the result had not gone our way it wouldn't have meant as much. The team is more important.

"We knew Oldham would present a significant challenge. The completion rate was about 90 per cent for each team. The way they play is quite direct, they're big and they look to get tempo, and once they do they flood around the ruck really effectively.

"On top of that, the facilities over there aren't fantastic, and we were playing on a small plastic pitch which makes things a bit different again.

"Putting all that together, I don't think many teams will get a result there.

"We also had to play a bit differently. If we had come up with the same number of errors as we did against Bradford, we would not have won that game. Oldham don't give you many opportunities.

"They're low-risk and direct, and you have to go set for set with them, and to do that and win was really pleasing. It was a really good team performance.

"I was knackered at the end, but we got the job done."