Hull FC 19-18 Wakefield: Hull captain Gareth Ellis provides precious farewell gift in Super 8s victory
Hull captain Gareth Ellis provided a precious farewell gift with the all-important try in a 19-18 Super 8s victory over Wakefield that keeps his side on course for the double.
The Challenge Cup winners trailed 12-6 at half-time but drew level early in the second half with a solo try from Marc Sneyd, before Ellis - playing his last home match ahead of his retirement - crashed over for the try that put them in front for the first time nine minutes from the end.
However, the drama continued right to the final whistle as winger Mason Caton-Brown scored Trinity's third try six minutes later and Liam Finn, having added the difficult conversion, failed with a drop goal 18 seconds from the end that would have tied the scores.
Indeed, with referee Phil Bentham unsure, it took video replays to finally determine that Finn's kick went inches wide of the target.
The outcome was tough on Wakefield who were the better side for most of the game but now need neighbours Castleford to beat Wigan on Sunday to keep alive their semi-final hopes.
The visitors led by six points at half-time thanks largely to the superb kicking of veteran half-back Finn which created tries for Hull old boys Joe Arundel and Jacob Miller.
Winger Ben Jones-Bishop expertly palmed the ball back for Arundel to touch down in the 10th minute while Miller was right on the spot after his half-back partner's grubber kick stopped inches short of the dead-ball line.
Finn kicked one conversion and added a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Hull full-back Jamie Shaul was sin-binned for holding down Miller following a dangerous break by centre Bill Tupou.
They might have had a third try when substitute forward David Fifita broke through the first line of defence on a barn-storming run but was shepherded off the pitch by a gang tackle.
Their confidence dented by three successive defeats, Hull were out of sorts for most of the first half, with stand-off Albert Kelly, sporting a dyed hairstyle, failing to live up to his new image with a couple of handling errors inside the opening quarter.
Trailing 10-0, they pulled a try back after 27 minutes when Fonua out-jumped Caton-Brown to touch down Sneyd's pinpoint kick to the corner in familiar fashion and Sneyd added the touchline conversion.
The home side were forced into some desperate defence while down to 12 men but they kept their line intact and drew level on the return of Shaul when Sneyd jinked his way through the Trinity defence and twisted out of Caton-Brown's tackle to score.
Sneyd converted his own try and Hull thought they had taken the lead for the first time when second rower Danny Washbrook, a late replacement for Manu, crashed over the line only for video referee Ben Thaler to disallow the try for an obstruction in the build-up.
Hull missed another chance to go in front when Sneyd was off target with a penalty but Ellis showed them the way when he powered his way to the line in the 71st minute.
Sneyd added the conversion and opened up a seven-point lead with a drop goal, which proved the difference in the end.