MUCH of the pre-match talk had been about Neil Thorman, but in the end it was his brother, Paul, who had the decisive say against his home-town team.

And what a bite-yer-nails ending it was.

Gateshead had incredibly fought back from 24 points behind with half an hour left to level at 36-36 with six minutes to go. They had the momentum behind them, too, and a shock victory looked on the cards.

But the Knights found the resolve to regather themselves and, with the position perfectly set, scrum-half Paul stepped back and slotted over a drop goal with 90 seconds to go to spark wild celebration and a huge collective sigh of relief.

There was one potential twist to come as Whitehaven whistler Gareth Hewer awarded Gateshead a controversial penalty just inside the home half, a few yards in from touch, with seconds on the clock.

Thunder's Chris Birch - who ironically has taken Paul Thorman's goal-kicking record at Gateshead this season - had already booted six conversions from six, but this effort didn't have the legs, and the hooter sounded to signal a Knights victory which lifted the LHF National League Two leaders a point clear of Dewsbury, who had their own drop-goal shenanigans in a 15-15 draw at Workington.

The Knights' decision to allow loan ranger Neil Thorman to play against them came close to back-firing, though.

The little trickster played a part in the build-up for the equalising try by firing a pass out to Scott Collins, who had the time to find Tabua Cakacaka on a burst to the line. Thorman was then one of the quickest out of defence to deny the Knights a drop goal chance, shortly before brother Paul's match-winner.

But all's well that ends well.

It all began well for the Knights, too, as Chris Levy easily crossed from acting-half after Scott Rhodes was held up, Thorman goaling his first of five conversions.

The early lead was soon turned over, though, as Ian Brown's break was touched down by Joe Burley before a penalty against Darren Callaghan set the platform for a Craig Firth try. Eighteenth man Callaghan had been drafted into York's second row after Ian Kirke pulled up in the warm-up with a recurrence of a shoulder problem.

Thunder's preparations had been hit, too, as their coach broke down, meaning they got to York late and had little warm-up time, even though the kick-off was put back ten minutes.

Nevertheless, their hopes of getting into the play-offs had been boosted over the weekend by defeats for Sheffield and Keighley, and they also had probably their strongest 13 out for a change. And lifted further by their tries, they gleaned some ascendancy before the Knights' ability to find gaps down the middle saw them take charge.

Off-the-cuff rugby saw Chris Ross finish a fine move in the corner following good work by Callaghan and, after York were lucky to see Wade Liddell's try at the other end ruled out for a forward pass, a trademark 30-yard burst from dummy-half by Jim Elston put them ahead.

Big Joe Helme - who made a surprise return to the 17 after nearly two years out due to fire service commitments, with coach Mick Cook using the young prop's bulk to combat Gateshead's size down the middle - marked his return with a try, courtesy of Lee Paterson, who delayed and executed the pass superbly.

The loose-forward then broke through and won a penalty for holding down, which earned Liddell a yellow card and two more points for Thorman.

The lead increased after half-time as Callaghan's sharp pass saw Law bulldoze in from 20 yards. Law then slipped the ball out for Matt Blaymire to cross and it seemed Gateshead's hopes were over at 36-12.

But Alex Rowe powered through, Liddell spun over, Birch ignored the overlap to cross and then came Cakacaka's try.

Both coaches were disappointed with their sides' defences, with York getting too much space around the ruck and Gateshead too many off-loads out.

But the attacking rugby was at times superb and there were plenty of guts shown too, not only in Thunder's comeback but also the Knights' resolve to get the winner, a drop goal which, like Levy's against Hunslet, could prove all-important at the end of the regular season - especially as this game provided further proof of the importance of winning automatic promotion as Gateshead, who on this showing must win a top-six place, will provide another major threat in the play-offs.

Match facts

LHF National League Two

Sunday, July 24, 2005

at Huntington Stadium

Knights: Blaymire 6, Ross 7, Potter 6, Law 7, Fox 7, Rhodes 7, P Thorman 7, Sozi 6, Levy 7, Sullivan 7, Smith 7, Callaghan 7, Paterson 8. Subs (all used): Elston 7, Liddell 7, Helme 6, Forsyth 6.

Tries: Levy 3; Ross 22; Elston 32; Helme 37; Law 42; Blaymire 48. Conversions: P Thorman 3, 22, 32, 37, 48. Penalties: P Thorman 39. Drop goals: P Thorman 79.

Sin-binned: None. Sent off: None.

Gateshead: W Liddell, Neighbour, Brown, Forth, Peers, Hobbs, Birch, Pierce, Collins, Rowe, Cakacaka, Bradley, Burley. Subs (all used): N Thorman 7, Doherty, Doherty, St Bernard, Line.

Tries: Burley 7; Firth 11; Rowe 51; W Liddell 59; Birch 63; Cakacaka 74.

Conversions: Birch 7, 11, 51, 59, 63, 74. Penalties: None. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: W Liddell. Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Lee Paterson - He might still be awaiting his first try of the season but he did everything but score yesterday, especially in the first half.

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven). Rating: A few dodgy decisions for and against both sides.

Penalty count: 8-6

HT: 26-12

Gamebreaker: Paul Thorman's heart-stopping late drop goal to win it, plus Chris Birch's missed last-second penalty.

Attendance: 1,586

Weather watch: A little bit of a breeze.

Match rating: No good for anyone with a heart condition as Gateshead launched an incredible comeback to draw level from 36-12 down, only to be foiled by that late Paul Thorman one-pointer.

Updated: 11:26 Monday, July 25, 2005