CITY of York III celebrated their Yorkshire Hockey League Division Three title for a second week in a row after an emphatic 12-2 defeat of Lincoln II.

The Thirds thought they had done enough to clinch it last week with second-placed York University having finished their games two points behind.

But a mid-week announcement that the University had been awarded three points by the league from a game they forfeited left City of York III with everything to play for in their final match.

Up-for-it York took less than five minutes to go ahead through John Bemrose, who completed his hat-trick inside 15. A fourth by Peter Perryman from a short corner put them 4-1 up at half time and Lincoln duly collapsed under the force of the York attack in the second half.

Ali Brennan hit two, Bemrose added two more to his tally, Alex Burton weighed in with another brace and Graham Cook and Adrian Nye scored one each to complete a remarkable rout and re-secure the division three title.

City of York IV beat Old Malton 6-2 away to finish fourth in Division Five having been bottom at Christmas.

Visitors York were unfazed by the appearance of three former club-mates in Damien Greig, Matt Merrick and Ed Shouksmith and immediately took control with Malcolm Cossey, Les Reed and Mike Couttie netting to put them well up at half time.

Shouksmith struck two for Old Malton to get back in the game but further goals from Couttie, Chris Smalley and Simon Costerton - all from open play - took the final tally to 6-2.

Goal star Ben Foster added another two to his season total as City of York VI saw off Lincoln 3-2 to finish seventh in Division Eight.

Foster scored ten goals in nine games when he joined to re-ignite their season and was once again on the mark after Oliver Scully put them in front.

A single goal from Leighton Shaw was enough to deny City of York VII a win in their final Division Nine match of the season against Acomb.

Some fine saves by Acomb's stand in goalkeeper and man of the match, Chris Fairburn, kept it goal-less at half time before Shaw fired in the winner.

City of York's first, second, fifth and eighth teams finished their fixtures last weekend.

Acomb Men's I played out a thrilling final Yorkshire League division two fixture against Leeds II losing 6-5.

In a game with no impact on promotion or relegation, Acomb decided to swap normal positions amongst themselves. A Dave Richardson strike was almost immediately countered by two Leeds goals from penalty corners.

Acomb equalised through Baz Whitfield and then went in front with a fierce strike by Stuart Baxter.

The second half continued in a similar fashion with both sides exchanging goals. Man of the match Matt Dickenson scored twice for Acomb but the Tangerines' defence conceded four second half goals.

York Ladies finish on a high

MID-TABLE City of York Ladies completed their North League premier division season with a hard fought 3-1 win over Timperley.

York dominated early on but had a narrow escape when 'keeper Dawn Hopkins and Kate Longbotham combined to prevent a breakaway goal.

York opened the scoring in the tenth minute, Pam Rowbottom making the most of Kate Rorrison's right-wing centre to score from a few yards out.

But York were pegged back five minutes later, Timperley equalising from a penalty corner.

York regained the initiative soon after half-time, Lorraine Pearey scoring from a penalty corner.

Timperley pressed for a second equaliser but were unable to capitalise on a string of penalty corners.

It was only in the final minute that York could breathe easily when Mandy Nesbit broke up a Timperley attack and advanced round the 'keeper, a short pass allowing Rowbottom to make the game safe with a simple tap in.

In division five of the Yorkshire League, City of York Ladies III finished the campaign with a 5-0 win at neighbours Acomb II with goals from Becky Copperthwaite (2), Lucy Stubley, Sharon Caddie and Sarah Hughes.

In division two, Leeds conceded the points to City of York Ladies II who missed out on promotion.

Acomb Ladies II ended their season with two defeats in as many days to bring to a close a season which saw both ladies sides relegated. Saturday's 5-0 loss at City of York III was followed by a 6-0 defeat to Chapeltown.

City of York Girls 'A' team finished fifth overall after the final session of the Yorkshire Youth League.

Playing in the top division, they drew 0-0 with Driffield 'A', and lost 1-0 to runners-up LA Metros. Jessica Green scored in York's 3-1 defeat to Ben Rhydding and York lost their final game 3-0 to Wakefield 'A'.

York 'B' played in the 'C' league and drew 0-0 with LA

Metros 'B', lost 4-1 to Leeds, and drew 1-1 with Doncaster, Emily Grimbley on target in both.

Updated: 10:10 Tuesday, April 06, 2004