WHAT a difference a week makes.

Just seven days ago, York City Knights were in turmoil. Defeat at Rochdale dropped them to seventh in Championship One, cards were marked for head coach James Ratcliffe, and fans were writing off the season.

But after a week of big decisions, the Knights responded in fantastic fashion – beating the odds, proving doubters wrong and overturning a Blackpool side who had not yet been beaten in eight league outings and last time out scored a record 132 points against Gateshead.

The drama couldn’t have been better either.

The Panthers thought they had won the game with four minutes to go thanks to a touchline conversion by Tom Hemingway following a try by winger Damian Munro.

But the Knights won the ball back from the restart after prop John Fallon bust a gut to catch Chris Thorman’s short kick-off.

And, with two minutes left, the set ended with a piece of off-the-cuff brilliance by Dennis Tuffour – and a match-winning try by fellow winger Tom Lineham.

Cult hero Tuffour, hitherto quiet but desperate to make his mark, came across field, and, when all avenues appeared shut, he flung out a one-handed, over-the-top, basketball-style cut-out pass to Lineham, who was hugging the touchline.

He caught the ball and darted to the whitewash – for one of those euphoric moments which make all the trouble and strife worthwhile.

It was a much-deserved touchdown for the teenager, too. He had had a superb game, answering questions over his defence and regularly making yards when helping out infield.

This, though, was anything but a one-man show. There were lots of excellent individual displays, but this was a team performance.

That ethic was also shown in the wild celebrations of the players both on the pitch and up the running track – chasing Lineham after he had raced away in ecstacy in front of the equally joyous Pop Stand.

Of course, it is only one game, but, on this showing, it vindicated James Ratcliffe and Dave Woods’ decision to axe big names Joe McLocklan and Danny Hill after question marks over their attitudes.

Would the Knights have shown the same pride and willingness to work for each other had they been in the team? Would they have won? Who knows, but what is for sure is that, without them, the team did show such spirit and they did win.

Unfortunately, only 535 fans turned up, others no doubt disenchanted by all the indifferent performances, culminating in last week’s loss at Rochdale. But those who came can also feel vindicated – for sticking by their club.

The coaches’ team selection was also justified. Danny Ratcliffe switched to scrum-half in place of the crocked Paul Stamp and, alongside fit again Chris Thorman, excelled. Their defence, decision-making and kicking game was a big improvement on recent efforts in the halves, not least from McLocklan.

Dan Wilson moved to Ratcliffe’s full-back slot and gave his best performance for the club.

Mike Mitchell was back at centre after his spell in the reserves and did nothing but good – including scoring the opening try.

Luke Hardbottle returned at loose-forward and was everywhere, not least in defence, where he fronted up against much bigger men. And Alex Benson was a welcome late call-up despite playing the full 80 minutes for the reserves 24 hours earlier. He replaced the unlucky Ed Smith, who was denied his debut after suffering a dead leg in his run-out on Saturday.

Benson played a part in a huge effort up front in which Nathan Freer, Fallon, big Brett Waller and Jack Stearman won the battle, overcoming some apparent dirty tactics from Blackpool bad boy Andy Hobson in the process.

Freer appeared to give his side an early lead only for referee Chris Leatherbarrow to instead award the Knights a penalty for offside – in the first of countless questionable refereeing decisions.

But the pressure was maintained and Thorman went down the short side to send Mitchell blasting in, Lee Waterman adding the first of his three conversions.

Blackpool centre Casey Mayberry found a gap after a reverse pass by Hemingway, who also added the first of his three conversions.

But ingenuity from Ratcliffe helped to regain York’s lead. He appeared to drop the ball but he dabbed it forward on the full – a fumble and kick in one movement – and Waterman won the race to touch down. Ratcliffe went off soon afterwards with an arm injury but returned in the second half.

The heavens opened and the game became error-strewn, Waterman booting the only points of the second quarter after Leatherbarrow finally noticed Blackpool were offside.

Leatherbarrow sin-binned Blackpool sub Paul Anderson for tackling Stearman’s head, but the visitors scored on his return after the interval, Jonny Leather sprinting in – from a pass so far forward it was like watching American football.

York hooker Jack Lee, thanks to a massive right-hand fend, scored to make it 20-10, but Blackpool were back in it when Mark McCully arced in – after another forward pass in the build-up.

Waterman missed a penalty and this seemed costly when Blackpool, having had a try ruled out for offside, went ahead after Munro’s late try – again after a forward pass in back play.

But Press man-of-the-match Lineham fittingly had the last word.

Match facts

Knights: Wilson 8, Tuffour 7, Mitchell 7, Waterman 7, Lineham 9, Thorman 8, Ratcliffe 8, Fallon 8, Lee 8, Freer 9, Ross 7, Duckworth 8, Hardbottle 8. Subs (all used): Williams 6, Benson 6, Waller 8, Stearman 8.

Tries: Mitchell 7; Waterman 18; Lee 51; Lineham 78.

Conversions: Waterman 7, 18, 51.

Penalties: Waterman 28.

Sin-binned: None.

Blackpool: Leather, Munro, Mayberry, Ainscough, Ballard, Forber, Hemingway, Holland, J Clough, Hobson, Walker, Helliwell, Haggerty. Subs (all used): Keavney, McCully, Anderson, Howarth.

Tries: Mayberry 12; Leather 45; McCully 57; Munro 76.

Conversions: Hemingway 12, 57, 76.

Penalties: None.

Sin-binned: Anderson 34.

Man of the match: Tom Lineham – several players shone in a real team effort, but the late match-winning try sealed the award for the winger who made several yard-gaining drives infield and is surely destined for higher tiers if he keeps performing like this.

Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow (St Helens) – the late change for Ronnie Laughton was terrible on Blackpool’s offsides and unaware of their apparently dirty tactics, and often gave the impression he had no idea what was going on. He probably shouldn’t grin smugly as he leaves the field to jeers.

Penalty count: 14-8.

Weather watch: changeable.

Half-time: 14-6.

Attendance: 535.

Moment of the match: comments from the crowd during a break in play, after more bizarre officiating. “Read the rule book while you’ve got a minute, ref,” bellowed one. “And let the touch judges have a look,” rejoined another.

Gaffe of the match: the touch judges’ failure to spot that Stuart Howarth’s scoring pass to Jonny Leather was so far forward it was nearly thrown into next week.

Game-breaker: Dennis Tuffour’s remarkable one-handed, over-the-top, basketball-style cut-out pass to Tom Lineham, followed by the winger’s smart finish.

Match rating: this game showed all that is good and some things that are bad in rugby league, but it was an absolute cracker.