Cougars 31 York City Knights 42 - GARY MOORBY will have nightmares about his side's battle with York City Knights for as long as he is involved in rugby league - and probably a little bit longer!

Fans will remember it as the game that was won - signed, sealed and almost delivered - before victory slipped from the grasp of their team.

With just 16 minutes to go the Cougars were leading 31-12 and looked likely to add to their score, before York centre Neil Law squeezed in at the corner following the first of a string of bizarre refereeing decisions which were to give the Knights a helping hand.

It would be wrong to blame the reverse in fortunes entirely on the referee, Cougars had such a commanding lead they should have been able to hold on to the win.

The 'game breaking' moment came five minutes before Law's try and was another questionable decision by referee P Bentham. He sent off Cougar fullback Matt Bramald for a high, try-saving tackle, on York prop Adam Sullivan, but it was difficult to see how his tackle could have been considered dangerous.

It was a crucial call because Bramald had been controlling the Keighley side throughout, urging them on in attack and using his experience and organisational skills in defence. Without him at the helm there was no one to calm his team-mates' nerves and prevent York scoring at will.

Every other member of the team, especially the senior players, will have to consider their own part in that final, fatal, 16 minutes. They will have to work out how they could have made a difference to the outcome - simply speaking to, and organising, each other would be a good place to start.

In contrast the Knights had an old head telling them the game was still within reach, driving them forward and lifting the spirits of players who were already dreaming of reaching the sanctuary of the changing rooms.

That man had played the same role at Cougar Park for years, and he wasn't even on the York team sheet. Jason Ramshaw, now a member of the York backroom staff, was on the field almost constantly throughout the crucial final minutes of the game. Although he didn't touch the ball his role in the Knights victory should not be underestimated.

Forget those final 15 minutes and the story is one of a brilliant Cougar performance, outclassing the York team that is tipped to be near the top of National League 2 come the end of the regular season in September.

They launched their onslaught just four minutes into the game when Danny Murgatroyd powered down field, Paul Ashton cut to the left and Matty Firth switched play to the right with a high ball. Karl Smith won the jump and palmed the ball to James Rushforth who raced through to touch down under the posts. Ashton added the first of his five goals to give warning that York were not going to have an easy ride.

Sullivan equalised after strolling through a gaping hole in the Keighley defence, but Ashton edged the home side ahead with a penalty.

Cougars powered straight back down the hill and another high ball was spilled by the Knights defence, allowing Matt Foster to collect and slip a quick pass to Matt Steel, who gave Ashton another easy conversion.

On 28 minutes York were handed possession from a controversial knock-on decision and Mark Cain took advantage to put his side back within two points before the Keighley side took a grip on the game.

Matty Firth celebrated in style after collecting a click pass from Ashton and going in under the posts and three minutes later Matt Bramald came up with the ball to squeeze over. (Just to even things out a little the referee missed a blatant double-movement on that one).

Ashton ended the half with a morale-boosting drop goal that gave the Cougars a 27-12 lead at the break.

The first try after the break was going to be crucial. If it went to York they would have a slender lifeline, but a try to Cougars should have seen the game sewn up.

Just two minutes in the half James Rushforth blasted downfield and impressive handling allowed Matt Foster to stretch out his arm and get a touchdown in the left corner.

Danny Murgatroyd and York's James Elston were sinbinned for fighting before Bramald also got his marching orders. Even though Cougars were down to 11 men there was no warning of what was to come, Phil Stephenson made a couple of impressive breaks as Keighley continued to threaten.

When Neil Law opened the floodgates with the first of York's six second half tries there was little to worry about as his side was too far behind, but they continue to move inexorably, and rapidly, towards the Cougar score. Two minutes later Dan Potter raced in to make it 31-22.

A superb Firth 4-20 kick went to waste and on 74 minutes Paul Fairfield's converted score took the visitors to within three points and just a minute later Danny Potter burst through a weak tackle for his second which edged York into a 34-31 lead.

Cougars were thrown a lifeline when the kick off was allowed to bounce into touch, giving them a scrum in front of the York posts. However, the Keighley side did not have the composure to take advantage and another missed tackle allowed Peter Fox to race in for the first of two late tries to add insult to the severe injuries already inflicted.

Moorby was left stunned by the defeat.

"I felt physically sick after the game. For the first 60 minutes we played out best rugby in the last 12 months, it was almost perfect. We totally dominated the team that is tipped to win the division, but then we fell apart completely.

"A string of decisions went against us, but we should have been able to stop York scoring 30 points in just 16 minutes. There can be no excuse for that king of performance even though we were a man down," he said.