THE difficult game for York City Knights this week was meant to be against North Wales on Thursday night.

However, London Skolars made a mockery of their lowly League One standing and last week’s surrender at Swinton to push their visitors all the way.

York won 30-22 to stay second but, in stark contrast to the 78-10 cup romp on this New River Stadium pitch at the start of term, this victory was only sealed by a brilliant counter-attack try on the final hooter by Greg Minikin, who is increasingly becoming their go-to man in times of need.

It made it ten wins in 11 for Ford’s men and, allied to results elsewhere, means they now have one foot in the top-five play-offs.

However, the last three have not been as convincing as boss James Ford maybe would have liked against sides in the lower half. Not that he was complaining; instead he was full of pride at how they again dug in for each other to seal the all-important points.

Indeed, like against Oxford last week when they played most of the match a man down, the Knights won thanks to determination and togetherness, rather than free-flowing, fun-filled rugby league that marked previous performances.

But they will probably need to display both elements when the play-offs come.

This Skolars performance was by all accounts far removed from their hammering at Swinton, with player-coach Jermaine Coleman a creative force and veteran forward Lamont Bryan, who can blow hot and cold, showing what previously made him a London Broncos and Featherstone player.

They immediately displayed a desire to spread the ball and, after their first attack, Coleman sent up a bomb to which Nev Morrison barely got a hand. After the scrum, Sam Nash scored from another kick.

It was already easy to see why Ford had been so full of praise for Skolars' improvement since Coleman took over.

They didn’t stay ahead for long, though, as York hit back with their first set in possession.

They made yards with every tackle and Jonny Presley opted to run the last, giving Minikin a half-chance with which to display his finishing ability.

York kept the pressure on and benefited via a good Ryan Mallinder finish on the back of a Presley half-break and Pat Smith’s intelligent pass. Ben Dent added the first of his four conversions.

Mallinder was one of four changes to the Knights side that had beaten Oxford, with Brad Hey, Ed Smith and Jamel Chisholm – back on the wing after a five-month absence and a loan stint with the Skolars – also returning to the 17. Jack Aldous was back, too, having missed 74 minutes last week due to his early bath.

It was Chisholm who scored next, on the end of some smart hands down the left. Not a bad way to mark a recall.

Skolars had to wait until the 26th minute to get into the red zone again, courtesy of a rare Minikin fumble and a penalty. They ran the last tackle but Chisholm read it well and he and Josh Tonks halted Aaron Small.

There was no romp at the other end, with York having few additional openings.

Chisholm had a lucky escape soon after the interval as he dropped a kick, with Small touching down the loose ball. However, a touch judge spotted a deflection from a Skolars hand before it got to the Knights winger and ruled a knock-on.

The Londoners did score soon, though, as Bryan got up a head of steam and sidestepped full-back Dent. Tommy Connick converted.

The pressure was on again and York were fortunate to eke up the lead to 18-10 with a Dent penalty, London having been penalised while in possession for daftness at a play-the-ball.

Skolars were back within two, though, on the back of a Coleman 40-20 as big prop Dave Williams forced his way over for a converted try, York’s defence working hard but being dragged in and out.

With little clicking for the Knights, a Morrison error – forcing an inside pass straight to an opponent – with 13 minutes left saw Ford leave his seat in the stands.

Morrison made amends with a try-saver on Will Lovell and, on the opposite wing, Chisholm did just enough to prevent Nash diving in.

But a turnover from the scrum kept Skolars on the front foot.

York needed something from nothing and it came firstly with a super defensive set that kept London pinned back and then a solid set in possession which ended with Jordan Howden’s smart grubber being scooped up and touched down by substitute Hey.

However, London regained possession from the restart and soon enough Will Martin crashed over, Connick goaling.

It was anybody’s game but York’s nerves held firm.

Jack Blagbrough’s big tackle saw Bryan spill the ball in centre-field, and Minikin cleaned up and combined expertly with Ed Smith, who capped a man-of-the-match performance by sending his mate streaking home.

Skolars: Anthony, Nash, Cook, Price, Paxton, Connick, Coleman, Martin, Bishay, Williams, Lovell, Faturoti, Small. Subs (all used): Robinson, Driver, Cox, Bryan.

Tries: Nash 3; Bryan 48; Williams 62; Martin 74.

Conversions: Connick 48, 62, 74.

Penalties: none Sin-binned: none.

Sent off: none.

Knights: B Dent 7, Morrison 5, Minikin 7, Craig 6, Chisholm 6, Howden 7, Presley 7, Applegarth 7, P Smith 7, Aldous 6, E Smith 8, Tonks 6, Mallinder 7. Subs (all used): Brining 6, Hey 6, Blagbrough 7, Nicholson 6.

Tries: Minikin 6, 80; Mallinder 13; Chisholm 18; Hey 71.

Conversions: B Dent 13, 18, 71, 80.

Penalties: B Dent 53.

Sin-binned: none.

Sent off: none.

Man of the match: Ed Smith – another big display from the second-row, with big hit-ups and bigger hits. He also had enough gas in the tank after a hard-working display to skilfully send Greg Minikin streaking home for the match-sealing try.

Referee: Tom Crashley (Wakefield) – okay.

Penalties: 3-8

Half-time: 4-16

Attendance: 323

Weather: mild.

Moment of the match: Scoring 18 minutes into your first game back after five months out of the team – and against former team-mates with whom you’ve recently had a loan spell – made it a good day for Jamel Chisholm, but the bigger moment, mixing excitement with relief, was Greg Minikin’s last-minute try to seal the points.

Gaffe of the match: Nev Morrison looked uncertain under bombs all day, his misjudgement under the first of the game leading to a Skolars scrum in the red zone and ultimately the opening try.

Gamebreaker: Skolars were eyeing a winner as dangerman Lamont Bryan ran hard again but Jack Blagbrough’s big tackle dislodged the ball in centre-field and Greg Minikin and Ed Smith did the rest, making the most of the free play as they beat men and played a one-two which saw Minikin streak home to seal victory before the final hooter sounded.