Hockey: Thornicroft's strike seals victory for City

City of York continued to inch their way up the Northern Counties Hockey League premier division with a 2-1 victory over Durham University.

Matthew Roberts was outstanding in York's defence as Durham's skillful side were allowed few opportunities to threaten.

As the first quarter came to a close, York were already getting the edge in midfield to enable forwards Robert Hines and James Gilbert to cause problems.

It was Hines who put York ahead. The ball was controlled well at a short corner and a strike from Glyn Humphrey was blocked but Hines tucked the ball away in the ensuing scramble.

Durham hit back with a spell of concerted pressure but York held firm and eventually the students equalised after a magnificent cross from the right.

York lost their composure for a five-minute spell but weathered the storm and regained the lead with a short corner switch routine which enabled player-coach Mike Thornicroft to put City back into the lead with a flick into the top corner.

The tempo of the game increased to a frantic level and Gawaine Hogg had to leave the field for striking the ball away after the whistle.

Durham swarmed all over York, whose James Riley made some great saves, one from a short corner and two from open play.

When York got back to full strength they defended in depth and were able to finish winners and extend their unbeaten run to five games.

City of York III were involved in a seven-goal thriller against Leeds University II at Huntington School, the students winning 4-3.

The University, the Yorkshire League division four leaders, went 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, but Simon Williams pulled one back with a short corner strike.

Jim Mackay and John Armstrong started to run the show for York, who were putting on their best display of the season, but Leeds University went further ahead on the stroke of half-time with a hotly-contested goal.

Leeds then made it 4-1, but York, with Ben Dutton and Garth Jones showing lots of determination, would not give up and Armstrong pulled a goal back after being set up by Oliver Scully.

A few minutes later Williams trimmed the lead still further with a well-worked third goal, but despite late pressure York could not salvage a point.

Pat Birch's 15th minute goal gave City of York IV a 1-0 victory over Doncaster IV.

Malcolm Cosey and Mike Couttie dominated midfield and youngster Andrew Pooley put in a sterling performance at right defence while Tim Moon was resolute in defence.

City of York V made a positive start against Adel IV but could not sustain it and went down 3-1.

Mark Burn was left exposed in York's goal as Adel went 2-0 up, but Richard Tanner-Smith almost replied when he fired in a shot which was cleared off the line.

Russell Grant had a goal disallowed for York before Tanner-Smith swept the ball home from an acute angle to keep York in the hunt.

York were unlucky not to equalise when Tanner-Smith hit a post, then Peter Feasby missed a sitter before Adel cashed in on a poor clearance to complete the scoring.

Bradford University III beat City of York VII 1-0 on a slippery grass surface at Bradford.

Wingers Malcolm Dutton and Andrew Dent always posed a threat for York, could not find a finishing touch to their approach work. James Owen and Edward Marsden had good games in defence for York.

City of York Under-18s slid out of the RAF Careers Youth Hockey Association Cup on penalties on an icy pitch against Slazengers.

Edward Shouksmith knocked in York's equaliser from open play after Slazengers held a 1-0 interval lead from a short corner.

At that stage York were on top. However, with the pitch becoming more frozen it was decided to call a halt to the game after 55 minutes and the tie was settled on penalty strokes, Slazengers winning 4-3.

City of York Under-16 boys lost 3-0 to both Doncaster and Grimsby, while the Under 12 girls team went down 1-0 to Wakefield and drew 0-0 with Ben Rhydding.

Matches involving City of York II, VI and VIII were all postponed.

York fail to make advantage count

York Women's Hockey Club were unable to make home advantage count in their North League division one game against Sheffield, losing 2-0.

York started the game in third place, two points behind Sheffield, and although they had territorial advantage for much of the game were beaten by a couple of Sheffield goals inside two minutes mid-way through the first half.

York threw players forward in the second half but were thwarted by obstinate Sheffield defending and a failure to make the most of a string of penalty corners.

Sally Sleightholme came closest to scoring but it was not York's day.

The Yorkshire league games involving York's second and third strings were both postponed because of snow.

Acomb Ladies II did taste some action and enjoyed it beating Slazengers II 4-0 in division six.

A Jane Markland hat-trick eased Nestle Rowntrees to a 4-0 home win over Whitby in the Costcutter York and District League after an own goal had gifted them the lead.

Misery for Acomb

Acomb I endured a miserable time at Horbury, where they crashed 5-0 to Slazengers in the second division of the Pritt Roller Yorkshire League.

They travelled through sleet and snow to take on the leaders and fell behind after a 10th minute penalty corner.

Slazengers had only five shots on goal and scored with them all, while Acomb created several chances but failed to take advantage of any of them.

With Acomb II's game cancelled, the third team had good support as they beat Adel 5-1 with a Jim Craggs hat-trick and other strikes from Adrian Nye and Tom Whitfield.

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