A YOUNG City of York Hockey Under-12s ‘B’ side battled valiantly but failed to win a game at a blustery Halifax in the Yorkshire Youth League.

Two new members made their debut and the side were without their goalkeeper – York having to borrow ’keepers from Doncaster, Bradford, Chapeltown and Brigg during the day.

York took the opportunity in this session to try out new positions, but played in their normal positions for the first two matches with Sean Smith and Neil Smith in defence, Tom Brett and Harry Radcliffe in midfield and Denholm Horn and George Doyle in attack.

In the first match against Chapeltown, only solid defending from Neil Smith and Sean Smith prevented any first half goals.

Chapeltown scored early after the break, but York then sprang into life and had much of the possession for the remainder of the game.

Radcliffe and Doyle went close, but York were unable to score.

The second match against Brigg was also very close and even with nothing to split the teams – the game ending in a 0-0 draw.

York then took on a very strong Bradford side, but put up a good fight and started to gel together as a team.

But the experience of the Bradford side soon told and they took a 2-0 lead. York kept their heads up, but were unable to close the gap.

Next up were Kingston-upon-Hull and York again battled well in a tight match to carve out a 0-0 share-all.

The final match against Doncaster was an exciting affair with Radcliffe and Doyle going close several times.

A great strike from Radcliffe in the second half saw York’s first goal of the day, and they tried to hold onto their lead, but Doncaster rallied and levelled towards the end of the match.