Ford: It would be great to win title in front of York City Knights' home fans

The table-toppers saw off minnows Hemel Stags 56-6 at Pennine Way, with Connor Robinson notching eight conversions to equal Danny Brough’s all-time York RL record of 178 goals in a season, while fellow League One Player of the Year contender Ben Cockayne led the try-scoring with a hat-trick.

But, an hour later, Bradford Bulls won 24-16 at Oldham to remain only two points behind with one game to go.

The Bulls, who have a superior points-difference, also have a nailed-on home win against Hemel next Sunday, meaning the Knights will need a result against Whitehaven to take the sole promotion place. Haven, though, beat them in Cumbria earlier in the season and likewise need the points to bag a play-off place.

Ford said of the title battle with Bradford: “At the start of the season they beat us (with a penalty) in the last minute at Bootham Crescent. We had the opportunity to hit back at their place.

“It was always going to be close and it’s great for League One that it’s going down to the last weekend.

“I know we will have a huge crowd behind us at Bootham Crescent desperate to see us win. It would be great to cap the season in front of our own fans but we know it’s going to be very tough.”

Asked if he would prefer to win the league at home, or for Oldham to have done his side a favour this weekend to see them seal the title down in Hemel, Ford said: “Either really. We had to hope (to have the title sealed this weekend), certainly after how well Oldham played at our place last week.

“Still, if I could choose anybody’s position to be in now (York’s or Bradford’s), I would be in ours – playing at home in front of our fans.

“How well have they got behind us this season? They’ve been a massive part of our performances.

“We will focus on our preparation and on making sure it’s how it’s been all year – giving us the best chance of performing well.”

The Knights will be without centre Perry Whiteley next week after he damaged ankle ligaments against the Stags.

But Adam Robinson, who was a late withdrawal due to calf trouble and therefore missed out on a 250th career appearance, will “hopefully” be available.

Said Ford of Whiteley’s injury: “It doesn’t look too great. We’ll see how it settles down and then take the appropriate action.”

On veteran prop Robinson, he added: “He put the team first, saying he was not 100 per cent – that was smart and honest of him.”

York bagged 10 tries at Pennine Way, with Ford hailing his team's strong start - and Cockayne's treble.

Ford said: “Part of the performance were pretty good. We started well and got ourselves a comfortable lead.

“The game got a bit scrappy towards the end of the first half and there were some errors from us – I think we made four in our last six sets of the half which took any kind of fluidity or tempo out of the game.

“Hemel started the second half pretty well – they completed sets and put the ball in touch and made it difficult for us to get into a rhythm.

“I don’t think we were too bad. We were good in patches. But I have to commend Hemel’s efforts. It’s easy to fold when you’re 30-0 down but they didn’t and they kept working hard and were more than value for that try at the end.”

He added: “Looking at how Hemel’s edges defend, it’s important your half-backs are willing to straighten up and run, and that suits Benny really well – he’s good when he has the opportunity to run the ball.”

York had been huge favourites, but Ford added: “There are challenges in this division – journeys, really average fields to play on, small fields, strange decisions going out there.

“The atmosphere here is not the same as what we’ve been involved in over the last three or four weeks.

“There are lots of challenges – it’s not just the sides you face – and there were some down here with the field, the wind, and obviously Hemel are a vastly improved side.

“We’re going back to York with the points and we’ve set up what should be a great game against Whitehaven.”