York City Knights powered their way into the top six of League Two with a 50-28 win at Swinton.

Following the early dismissal of Swinton prop forward Bruce Johnson, Lee Mapals scored a hat-trick and the Knights went in 40-0 up at half-time.

Knights assistant coach James Ratcliffe was annoyed that they let Swinton back into the game in the second half.

He told BBC Radio York: "Whereas we should be celebrating, the second half performance was not acceptable."

Overall, Ratcliffe was satisfied with the result.

"To come away to Swinton who are in a similar position to us, a very young team, we've looked like a side who can play at the top of this league for long periods of the game," he added.

No win's going to be easy in this division Knights coach James Ratcliffe

The Knights were boosted by the return of Adam Sullivan. Ratcliffe said: "He's given us a bit of firepower in the middle of the park and offered us options.

"He's not come up short today, his engine was maybe running a bit low (after a winter playing in France) but the more he comes into our patterns the stronger I believe he'll become around the middle of the park."

The second half slump is of great concern to Ratcliffe because he fears they cannot afford such lapses in the games to come.

"No win's going to be easy in this division. Next week we play Keighley and then it's London at home. They're both massive games."