IT may have been a season to forget for the City of York Ladies but there were sighs of relief this weekend when the club avoided an unwanted fourth relegation.

Three of the club’s top four sides have finished bottom of their respective tables and been relegated – but York VI managed to break that trend with a little help from York V on a dramatic final day of the season.

It could so easily have been another tale of woe as defeat against University of Leeds VI at Huntington School would also have condemned York VI to the ignominy of finishing bottom of the table in Yorkshire Women’s Hockey League division four north.

However, goals from Heidi Fletcher and Claire Hargreaves secured a 2-1 morning victory which meant they would stay up IF University of Leeds V failed to beat York V.

All eyes were on the lunchtime clash and York V would not let their club-mates down. A solitary goal from Rachel Hildreth and a sterling performance from goalkeeper Abu Tugwell secured a 1-0 victory for mid-table York V.

The result condemned both University of Leeds teams to the drop and saved York VI from relegation.

York II, who have enjoyed their best ever season by finishing fourth in the YWHL premier division, extended their unbeaten run to 10 games with a 6-2 victory over relegated Chapeltown. York got off to a good start when Vicky Skilton scored from a tight angle.

Further goals from Lily Rowntree and Corinne Wray secured a 3-1 interval lead Although Chapeltown pulled another goal back, COY took control of the contest with further goals from Skilton, Wray and Rowntree.

York III have finished bottom of the premier division and lost 4-1 at home to Harrogate II in their final game with Rebecca Feetenby on target. There was a ninth consecutive defeat in division one for relegated York IV.

Playing at home, they lost 4-0 against mid-table Lindum II who broke the deadlock midway through the first half and continued to attack, winning a series of short corners.

Good defending from Lauren Morton and Charlotte Mattock kept the visitors at bay and there were also good clearances by Jen Kent, Kate Roberts and Merri Tomlinson. Lindum broke York’s resistance in the second half, scoring another three goals.

Georgia Kaye found the net as York VII ended a disappointing season in division five north with a 4-1 defeat at University of Leeds VII.

They have finished next to bottom of the table but no clubs are relegated.