MIDFIELD teenage trio Olly Couttie, Luke Ramli and Peter Evans were at the hub of City of York's 3-2 win at Southport.

The young tyros kept their cool in a fierce Northern Hockey League premier division encounter which was as stormy as the weather.

The Lancashire side adopted a physical approach and took the lead after five minutes. But the frenetic opening calmed down after a Southport player was shown a yellow card and York assumed control.

A brilliant 29th-minute run by James Gilbert saw him weave his way through three defenders to push home the equaliser.

Two minutes later York were awarded a penalty but the stroke was saved. Then, as City applied more pressure, two short corners were awarded and from the second Nick Carter hit a post.

However, on the stroke of half-time Southport broke away and regained the lead.

After the interval York raised their game and played some excellent hockey amid the physical stuff with Gilbert and Chris Wilson carving out chances which Jason Russell failed to take.

The equaliser came at the end of the third quarter, however, when Nick Carter converted a penalty stroke. After that the visitors hit the woodwork twice but were rewarded for their efforts when a foul on Wilson earned another penalty which Carter duly despatched.

In the final minutes Southport put York under constant pressure, but City's defence stifled the home attacks and won a hard-earned victory.

York seconds continued their impressive form in the North League division one (East) with a 3-2 win over Gateshead in a cracking game at Huntington School.

Fourth-placed York edged out the visitors, who were in third spot before the game, thanks to goals by Adam Simpson, Richard Jenkin and Glyn Humphrey.

York broke away down the left against the run of play to open the scoring when Simpson volleyed home after his initial shot rebounded off the Gateshead 'keeper.

Gateshead levelled before half-time but York continued to look dangerous on the break and with 20 minutes left Jenkin's drag flick at a short corner was put away in the bottom corner.

Five minutes later York broke down the right and the cross gave Humphrey a simple close-range tap-in.

Gateshead responded with a bout of fierce pressure and were rewarded with another goal. That set up a tense final few moments in which the work of James Redpath in central midfield and strong tackling by Paul Sanguin, Rob Anderson and Simpson were crucial.

The remaining York sides had a rest weekend apart from the seventh team, who won 2-0 at Sheffield University Bankers IX in Yorkshire League division nine with a brace of first half goals from Richard Tanner-Smith.

Lifted to the power of ten

A 3-2 win against Harrogate has given City of York Ladies ten points from the last four games, consolidating a mid-table position in the North League premier division.

With the whole of the weekend league programme played at a single venue in Leeds to allow umpiring assessments, York forfeited home advantage and, despite a bright start, they fell behind when a quick-passing Harrogate move allowed Petra Dunne to score.

But York soon pressed and were rewarded when Kate Longbotham equalised with a deflected shot from a penalty corner, only for Dunne to give Harrogate a half-time lead, touching the ball in at the near post.

York, who fielded juniors Jess Barnes and Steph Pearson for part of the game, drew level again ten minutes into the second half when Sarah Lawrence picked up Lorraine Pearey's pass, worked her way to the goal line and provided a well-placed cross for Karen Howells to score.

Howells' purposeful drive down the left wing then set up Sally Sleightholme, who put York in front with a flicked shot into the top corner.

Although temporarily losing a player to a yellow card, a nervous York held on to win thanks to skilful ball-retention by Pam Rowbottom, who had a fine game, some cool play by veteran defender Ann Robinson and a series of saves by 'keeper Dawn Hopkins.

City of York Ladies II and III had a weekend free of Yorkshire League games, while in division six, City of York Ladies IV drew 2-2 at Sheffield Hallam V.

Travel problems meant York were ill-prepared at the start, conceding two goals in the first ten minutes.

But, after a spirit-raising half-time team talk, they hit back when Katie Stafford scored twice soon after the break and, with Anna Parkinson making a good debut, York finished the stronger.

Jane Foster was on target to give Stamford Bridge Ladies a 1-0 win in the Costcutter York and District Hockey League against Malton.

Player of the match Lucinda Wood won possession in midfield and passed the ball out right to Claire Wright, who crossed to Foster to score the only goal of the match.

Bridge had several chances in the second half which they put just wide.

Acomb draw discomfort

ACOMB men's first team threw away a 3-0 lead when they were held to a draw by Leeds University II in Yorkshire League division two.

Ian Roberton's early goal was followed by a Matt Dickenson penalty corner strike and a Pete Hilton close-range effort.

But slack marking allowed the speedy students to get back in to the game and steal a point.

Acomb II did well to beat under-strength division nine leaders Sheffield Hallam VII 6-0.

Leighton Shaw opened the scoring for the Tangerines and with Adam Piggin, Mark Gibbons and Jason Sharpe shining in midfield, Andy Smith was able to make it 2-0.

Shaw went on to complete his hat-trick, while Mark Gibbons and Sharpe added further goals.

Updated: 11:13 Tuesday, February 17, 2004