Workington Town 22, York City Knights 18

Last night’s 22-18 defeat at Workington kept them adrift at the foot of the table – after another game that could have gone either way but ultimately didn’t go York’s.

They now have two games to save themselves, but they also need sizeable favours from elsewhere to escape the bottom two. The odds are very much stacked against them.

Their next match, their game in hand, is on Wednesday at Doncaster, the site of their last away win over semi-pro opposition – this coming in the Northern Rail Cup at the start of the 2012 season.

That they are on the verge of relegation this year is very much down to that awful form on the road, last night’s loss being their 24th on the trot in the league since a last-ditch win at Dewsbury two summers ago.

Workington boss Gary Charlton had bemoaned their busy fixture schedule – this their fourth game in 12 days – but he had five players back from injury or suspension.

They also had Declan Hulme and Paddy Flynn on dual-reg from partner club Widnes, with York, frustratingly, still having no-one from Hull.

The Knights, instead, were dipping into the under-20s again, with Jack Pickles and Brooke Broughton, who stepped back up to senior rugby against Hunslet at the weekend, being joined by youngsters Ben Dent and, most notably, Greg Minikin in the 17.

As revealed in The Press, Minikin stepped into James Ford’s boots at centre, the skipper – and U20s coach — ruled out.

Jonny Presley was also back as sub in place of Kriss Brining, who chose to cram for a university exam rather than get on the bus, while Luke Stenchion replaced an ill Jack Aldous.

Ben Dent was in for George Elliott, who failed his head test, and Ed Smith was back in for Ryan Mallinder.

The first few minutes were a tale of kicks.

Simon Brown missed a 40-20 by inches, and Town got out of their half thanks to a penalty. Soon enough a Peter Lupton chip to the corner saw Hulme score, York behind inside three minutes.

Knaresborough lad Minikin, with Smith inside him and Dent outside him, was a “gamble”, part of a young local trio forming York’s right side.

Yet it was they who got York back into the game, Johnston – another York lad – sending Smith away to interchange with Minikin and touch down, Tom Carr goaling.

Twice desperate defence held Town up over the try-line, before Johnston and Smith combined again at the other end, Smith seemingly tackled off the ball – no penalty given.

York then went agonisingly close as Sam Latus twice kicked down the left, with Sam Scott denied the try by a great Flynn cover tackle.

Town retook the lead on 27 minutes, a smart kick by Lupton, a run by Elliott Miller and an easy finish by Callum Phillips, Lupton goaling.

And more agony came York’s way as Hulme streaked away on an intercept – after poor Knights play – and, although Presley chased back to pull off an amazing tackle, referee Matt Thomason awarded the try, having judged from 50 metres away that Hulme had crossed the line, much to Presley’s understandable chagrin. Lupton goaled for a 16-6 interval lead.

With Hunslet having been winning at Sheffield and with Barrow drawing at Swinton, York were one more Town try from relegation.

It was the Knights who scored on the resumption, though, Carr’s long pass seeing Sam Latus dive low into the corner.

Then Scott crashed over from Brown’s short ball, Carr’s conversion levelling the scores, before he added a penalty to put his side ahead.

Carr, Presley and Dent also bravely bumped Elliott Miller into touch as Town looked sure to hit back following a penalty conceded by the Latus brothers.

York were on top this half but were hit by a sucker-punch, Jason Mossop the home try-scorer in the corner following a penalty.

Ref Thomason had doubts about its validity but awarded it after a chat with his touch judge, and Kayle Connor converted.

The Knights also lost Johnston to injury with nine minutes to go – one of the players capable of pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

A minor boost was a missed penalty by Connor but, much as they tried, York could not conjure up a winner, one final attack down the right seeing Dent shoved into touch ten metres from the line.

Results elsewhere in the end left York to live another day, but, while heading all the way to west Cumbria on a Thursday night is not ideal, the Knights had better get used to long journeys.

Barring a near miracle in their last two games, the likes of Hemel, South Wales, London and Gloucestershire are looming large on the Championship One map next term.

Workington Town 22, York City Knights 18

Workington: S Briscoe, Miller, Mossop, Hulme, Flynn, Lupton, C Phillips, Dowes, Mattinson, Acton, B Phillips, Morris, Rooney. Subs (all used): Olstrum, Robinson, Connor, Thackray.

Tries: Hulme 3, 37; C Phillips 27; Mossop 66.

Conversions: Lupton 27, 37; Connor 66.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Knights: Carr 6, Dent 8, Minikin 7, J Latus 6, S Latus 7, Brown 7, Johnston 6, Freer 7, Lee 8, Nicholson 6, Scott 7, Smith 6, Pickets 6. Subs (all used): Presley 6, Broughton 6, Pickles 6, Stenchion 7.

Tries: Smith 8; S Latus 42; Scott 45.

Conversions: Carr 8, 45.

Penalty: Carr 53.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Jack Lee – worked his socks off at hooker and for a spell at loose-forward.

Referee: Matt Thomason (Warrington) – okay.

Penalties: 8-9.

Half-time: 16-6.

Attendance: 576.

Weather: sunny evening.

Moment of the match: It was 18-16 to York, Town sent up a massive kick to the corner and Ben Dent was under intense pressure. Not only did he win the challenge, he made 45 metres to clear his lines. It wasn’t to be his or York's night, however.

Gaffe of the match: Sam Scott – otherwise a tower of strength again – twice lost possession when York looked well set in the danger zone.

Gamebreaker: Town’s winning try stole the spoils but York had a couple of chances to snatch them back late on, Ben Dent being pushed into touch with ten seconds to go.

Match rating: so so tense and again so so agonising for York.