“THAT’S my boy!”

So said head coach James Ford when his old protégé, Greg Minikin, scored a superb last-minute try to secure victory for York City Knights at London Skolars - and with it get one foot in the Kingstone Press League One play-offs.

The much-improved Skolars had fought back from 16-4 and 24-16 down to get to within two points and go in search of a winner. But Minikin then popped up with a counter-attack try.

It was his second of the day and 17th of the season, putting him one behind top-scorer Kriss Brining.

Asked what he immediately thought when the points were sealed, head coach Ford - alluding to the fact Minikin came through the Knights junior ranks under his tutelage - said: “That’s my boy!

“We always thought he had heaps of ability and a great future since he came through the door aged 16. Not a lot of people believed us but he listens to everything you say and he works hard at every aspect of his game and he shows regularly what a good player he is.

“He deserves everything that comes his way.”

Defeats for North Wales, whom the Knights host on Thursday night, and Barrow, to promotion rivals Swinton and Keighley respectively, mean victory in midweek will all but seal York’s top-five place.

They are still on course for second spot behind Oldham, too, which would give them two shots at grand final glory.

Ford put this victory down to team spirit forged during a season of off-field strife, not unlike last week’s 12-man win over Oxford.

“We showed an immense amount of character and pride when momentum went away from us. We struggled to handle Lamont Bryan but we showed desire to stay in the game,” he said.

“You can’t always be as polished as you’d like but that great character and solidarity in the group was the most pleasing aspect of the performance.

“The adversity we’ve dealt with means they are so together. They’ve overcome most barriers that have come their way and I’m absolutely proud of their efforts.”

York had kicked off as big favourites but Ford said: “It was tough.

“London were excellent, their completion rate was pretty high and their discipline was good. For large parts of the game it was set for set; a high-quality game.

“At the end of it we had a little bit too much class for them but I said they had improved a lot since Jermaine Coleman took over and, on the evidence of this game, he has a very good future as a coach.

“They’re more disciplined (than when York hammered Skolars 70-10 at the start of the year), not only with penalties but with how they tackled and with their defensive efforts.

“Jermaine’s instilled a work ethic and discipline and the structures they’ve now got in attack and defence are much-improved. I find it surprising they haven’t pushed more teams and he probably feels this was an opportunity missed, but I’m sure they’ll get more wins this season.”

Minikin, who is almost certainly on his way to Super League next season with Castleford, led the try-scoring with two and there was also one for winger Jamel Chisholm – his first for the club – on his recall after five months out of the side.

Said Ford: “I’m pleased for Jamma. He’s had a tough start (with York). He was probably first-choice at the start of the season but a couple of injuries and the form of the likes of Nev Morrison, Ben Dent and James Haynes made it hard for him to get a run.

“He’s a good, strong, fast thing and there were plenty of positives in his performance.”