City of York Ladies swept to North League first division safety with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at bottom of the table Broom.

Needing just one point to ensure survival, York made a good start against the County Durham side when skipper Lorraine Pearey scored with a low shot after a penalty corner.

Playing against a strong first-half wind and driving rain, York found themselves playing against ten opponents when a Broom player left the pitch through injury.

That effectively ended any hope Broom had of getting back into the game but it was not until midway through the second-half that York made the game completely safe.

Pearey netted her second from a narrow angle and a fine piece of approach work.

Sally Sleightholme immediately added the third goal from close range.

After a poor start to the campaign York only lost one of their last six matches and managed to finish above local rivals Driffield in the final table.

At the top Leyland Motors edged out Sheffield on goal difference to become league champions and go forward to the end of season play-offs for a place in the National League.

In their final rearranged league match Acomb Ladies I won 6-3 at Bedale after being 2-1 down, Megan Harlock scoring a hat-trick.

Third-placed Acomb's other goalscorers included Vicky Winters and Kerry Rafton.

Updated: 12:40 Tuesday, April 10, 2001