TRY-SCORING hero Alex Godfrey has confessed he feared his last-gasp match-winning try on Sunday would be ruled out by the officials.

The 25-year-old flyer crossed in the dying seconds to register his second try and grasp victory from the jaws of defeat in a thrilling Powergen Challenge Cup match at Featherstone.

But the Knights' celebrations were put on hold for what seemed like an age as referee Robert Connolly conferred with a touch judge before finally awarding the try.

Godfrey, who had immediately implored the touch judge to give the nod, said: "I was a bit surprised the linesman's given it. It was a try - I never put my foot in touch - but the linesman was tossing the coin for decisions all game so I didn't know what he'd say.

"But thankfully he gave it. It was great play by Mark Cain to go on the short side on the last tackle and I'm over the moon I managed to get over."

The try saw the Knights -- already injury-ravaged and then down to 12 men after only ten minutes when Aaron Wood was sent off - win against all the odds and secure a quarter-final against Super League side Huddersfield Giants on March 28.

Godfrey said: "I can't believe we've gone to Featherstone, gone down to 12 men and won.

"I was on the floor when they scored (to take the lead near the end). I'd been defending the 40-20s and I was shattered.

"I thought we'd play well and the fans would have respect for what we'd done, but then again I didn't think the game was lost. Anything can happen in a minute, and this proves you should never let it go, always keep fighting. It's something we can always look back on."

He added: "I was a bit worried in the week because we had all the injuries. Richard Agar (coach) said we would be going there a bit busted up with a makeshift side but on Friday we found out Rich Hayes and Danny Seal were playing and as we got nearer the game the guys realised we could win it.

"He (Agar) said we had nothing to lose so go out and enjoy it - and we certainly did that.

"We played really well, fought for everything and scrapped for everything, and big raps go to the younger players like Yusuf Sozi and Danny Brough - they played like they've been in the game for ten years."

Godfrey also had words of encouragement for Wood, who was sent off for a high tackle inside ten minutes to leave the Knights facing a most improbable task.

"That's not Aaron's sort of game," he said. "Whether it (the red card) was harsh or not I don't know but they (Featherstone) came back with two tackles which were equally as bad but he's not been consistent with the cards."

Godfrey now reckons the victory sets the Knights up for the rest of the season.

"If we can go out with the same attitude we had on Sunday, I can't see why we can't go through the whole National League Two season without being beaten," he reasoned.

"We've put a big onus on our shoulders at Featherstone. After that performance we would be letting ourselves down if we get beat."

Huddersfield full-back Paul Reilly was to appear before the Rugby Football League's Disciplinary Committee this evening after being referred to them by the RFL executive committee for alleged striking during Sunday's Challenge Cup fifth round victory over Doncaster.

Updated: 11:16 Tuesday, March 16, 2004