BOSS James Ford described talk of jinxes as “nonsense” and “boring” in the build-up to York City Knights’ crunch League One game at Workington.

He was only half-right.

Ford had never won in Cumbria as a coach, and York as a whole had not won here since 2009, hence regular questions about hoodoos.

However, his table-topping class of 2018 put an end to all that with a momentous 18-14 victory, which increased the club record run of wins to 12 – their last defeat ironically having come down the road at Whitehaven.

But “boring” this was not.

In yet another cracker in a season of crackers, Ford’s men - backed by a big and noisy travelling support - scored two brilliant breakaway tries to take the spoils and stay ahead of mighty Bradford Bulls at the top of the table.

But, boy, were they made to work by a third-placed Town team with obvious promotion aspirations of their own. Indeed, the home media pack reckoned this was the best spectacle at Derwent Park this season - better, even, than Worky's win over Bradford here.

Three hurdles still remain before Ford’s men can call themselves champions but this was maybe the biggest they had left – jinx and all.

Workington unsurprisingly fielded the same 17 that completed a stunning double over Bradford last time out – the result which helped York go top.

Ford made two changes to the side that saw off Hunslet, one enforced with on-loan Leeds prop Jack Ormondroyd unavailable.

Ronan Dixon came in up top, while Andy Ellis was fit to return at hooker, Will Jubb making way.

Dixon endured an ignominious start, dropping the ball in the first hit-up in front of his own posts. In York’s next set, Brad Hey fumbled at acting-half.

A penalty for accidental offside, plus a lucky rebound, had also maintained the pressure on York’s line.

However, defensive tests were passed and when penalties went their way, the visitors soon displayed threat, with Hey and Matty Marsh both going close - Elliott Miller with a miraculous tackle to deny the former.

Ford’s men did get some reward, though, as Dixon, ending his first stint better than he’d started it, won a penalty and Robinson converted for a 14th-minute lead.

York were beginning to win the arm wrestle but two fortunate penalties helped Town regain a foothold.

Indeed, throughout the game, whenever it looked like one team was getting on top, momentum either ended or switched – as highlighted by one Joe Batchelor involvement alone.

Racing back to cover a Sean Penkywicz chip and chase, the centre not only saved a try under his own sticks but somehow weaved a way upfield before winning a penalty near half-way.

At the end of the next set, Robinson slipped Graeme Horne through – only the scoring pass was forward.

Back at the other end, Town thought they had crashed over down the right but Miller was deemed held up - York's defence again superb.

As the drizzle got worse, the sides exchanged errors, but there was no let-up in the intensity.

The first try finally came in the 31st minute.

Cockayne made it, going down the short side, where Ash Robson crashed over by the touchline.

However, Robinson missed the goal and Town quickly hit back.

Sam Scott shot out to close down Oli Wilkes but the tackle was shrugged off and, from there, an overlap allowed winger Tyllar Mellor to score.

Carl Forber, in his 250th game for Workington, missed the goal, leaving York 6-4 up after an enthralling first half.

Town took the lead two minutes after the resumption, though, following a rare handling error by York full-back Matty Marsh coming out of defence.

With defenders dragged in and a quick play-the-ball going out, there was no stopping former NRL cult hero Fui Fui Moi Moi from crashing over.

Moreover, while Forber missed the easy goal, the Knights were now looking rocky, underlined when Robson and Marsh left a high kick for each other underneath the sticks.

Up step Connor Robinson to turn things around against the run of play.

With his team under the cosh, the half-back smartly picked off Forber’s low kick, sidestepped the first man and set off on a wonderful 90-metre sprint to the other end – celebrating the try on his way.

He added a cracking touchline conversion too.

Refereeing decisions were still going Town’s way, though, and the pressure returned – Tyler Dickinson being held up over the whitewash.

However, lightning struck twice.

A Jamie Doran kick this time ricocheted off legs and when the loose ball was slipped to Batchelor, the speedy St Helens-bound star raced 80 metres for his 21st try of the season and an 18-8 lead after 55 minutes.

The game, nevertheless, was far from up.

York began playing simple stuff, the plan to pin Town back and hold onto their lead rather than add to it.

But the hosts had to be more expansive – and they got their rewards with a Miller try, albeit with an apparent forward pass in back play.

That made it 18-14 with 14 minutes to go, and, with hearts in the stands all a flutter, a few more hairy moments came and went.

York on the whole saw time out well enough but, even when the final hooter sounded there was time for another flutter, as Batchelor dropped the ball and Town booted it goalwards.

Robson, though, hared after it and threw it dead - giving that boisterous travelling support both glee and relief.