Crown stays just out of City's grasp

Ready to pounce: City of York Hocley Club's Chris Dutton, left, causes problems in the Wigan goalmouth during his team's 2-0 victory. Picture: David Harrison

But in a weekend of mixed fortunes, York then lost to Disley 1-0 in a re-arranged game to keep their championship champagne on ice.

Wigan were expected to offer a stern test for the York club's first team having beaten title rivals Doncaster II 2-1 last week.

The game was played at a tremendous pace with strong tackles the feature of an aggressive but fair game.

After end-to-end play in the opening exchanges, York eventually established control enjoying long periods of possession.

York opened the scoring after a fierce cross by Roz Ramli was met by Mark Thirlway who jabbed an angled ball over the advancing 'keeper and into the net.

In the second-half, York continued to dominate the play and doubled their advantage when Thirlway scored his second from a short corner. Glyn Humphreys added City's third when his goal-bound shot was deflected in from a defender's stick.

The win gave York a two point lead at the top of the table, meaning three points over Disley would have secured the championship and automatic promotion to the premier division.

Not surprisingly, the match was a tense, scrappy with York thankful to 'keeper James Baughan for keeping the scores blank at half-time.

After the break, York had much of the possession but failed to pose any real threat. Disley were awarded a penalty flick after a goalmouth scramble which was converted to give them the lead.

Super sub James Gilbert then came off the York bench and secured a penalty stroke for his team but Mike Thornicroft failed to convert.

York must now beat Deeside Ramblers in their final game of the season to take the title and promotion.

At the other end of the spectrum, City of York II's Northern Counties League division two status will be determined this weekend after going down 3-1 at the hands of Newcastle University.

After holding the students to 0-0 at half-time, York threw the game away in the second-half as passes went carelessly astray.Newcastle took the lead from a penalty stroke.

Graham Cook then levelled for York after a long dribble saw him beat the 'keeper with a fine reverse stick hit. But it proved a false dawn for York, who conceded two more goals in an undisciplined display that could cost them dear, according to coach Nigel Herd.

York II now have just fellow strugglers Hull II left to play in a straight dog-fight for survival.

City of York III had a useful 5-1 win over Wakefield III to ease their relegation fears.

But York still need to win their next two games if they are to stay in division three next season.

York were 1-0 down at the end of the first quarter through sloppy defending but rallied to equalise through Matthew Pickering before Simon Leather nosed them in front.

Two second-half strikes gave Leather his hat-trick and York wrapped up the win with a fine goal involving eight players and scored by Pickering.

City of York IV had no game but City of York V 'A' faced superior opposition in Lincoln Imps II.

It was York who the lead, however, when Richard Tanner-smith capitalised on a 'keeper error.

Lincoln brought the scores level at half-time and took advantage when York were reduced to ten men after the break to score three times.

Ten-man City of York V 'B' went down by the same score to Huddersfield IV.

After falling behind to an early goal, Oliver Couttie linked up with his dad, Mike, to equalise for the battling York side. But in the second-half, the extra man began to tell and despite sterling work by Doug Thompson at sweeper Huddersfield scored three more goals to romp to victory.

City of York VI 'A' lost 1-0 at Normanby Park III having enjoyed most of the play.

Park had their 'keeper to thank for two superb saves from fierce shots by Edward Shouksmith before snatching victory from a late break.

City of York VI 'B' were well-beaten 4-1 by Grimsby II.

Grimsby were 3-0 up at half-time before Paddy Johnson pulled one back for York after the break.

But hopes of a dramatic fight-back were dashed when Grimsby scored a fourth to make sure of victory.

City of York Under-12 Boys 'A' had a disappointing day in their final Yorkshire Youth League games of the season, losing to Sheffield 1-0, Lincoln 2-0 and Bradford 3-0.

City of York Under-12 Boys 'B' finished as joint winners of their last session drawing 0-0 with Ben Rhydding, beat Wakefield 1-0, Oliver MacDonald scoring, City of York Girls 4-1, MacDonald scoring again and Richard Simpson grabbing a hat-trick, before finally beating Almonbury 2-0, Simpson netting again and Jonathon Cambridge.

In the same competition, City of York Under-12 Girls having lost to the boys team beat both Almondbury and Wakefield 4-0 but were beaten 5-0 by Ben Rhydding. The scorers for York were Donna Smith with five goals, Maxine Lickard with three and Lucy Butcher.City of York Under-16 Girls drew 0-0 with Swalwell, beat Sheffield Bankers 1-0, thanks to a Louise Dickson strike, before losing to Sheffield 'A' 2-0 in their Yorkshire Youth League programme.

It was a creditable final showing for the teenagers with the three opponents all in the top six.

Acomb prove two into one will go

Acomb Ladies first team played just one match against Leeds University but enjoyed two wins.

With the Leeds' umpire failing to show for the league match Acomb were awarded a 3-0 win.

But having not played for a number of weeks, the York side agreed to play the game as a friendly and ran out 3-2 winners.

Acomb were 1-0 down after ten minutes but pulled a goal back from Sally Kelsey.

Acomb scored again from a short corner when Ruth Butterworth's strike was saved and Vicky Winters swept home the rebound.

Butterworth them made the score 3-1 in Acomb's favour before half-time.

Poor finishing after the break prevented Acomb from extending their lead and sloppy defending allowed the students to bag a second goal late in the game.

Acomb Ladies shared the spoils in a hard-fought 2-2 draw against higher-placed Sheffield IV.

The score was 1-1 at half-time, Laura Ward equalising for Acomb after Sheffield had taken an early lead.

And after the home-side went 2-1 up in the second half, Acomb battled back again and equalised through Debbie Parker to secure a point.

Acomb Men I beat rivals Scarborough 2-0 with a polished performance.

Stuart Baxter gave Acomb a deserved lead midway through the first-half and then doubled his side's advantage with a firm strike from a short corner after the break.

Acomb II finished their season on a high with a 3-2 win at Hull University II.

Keith Wilson and an Adrian Nye brace made sure of the Acomb win.

Acomb III lost by a late goal at Ben Rhydding, having struggled to adapt to the home side's grass pitch.

Howells' double strike clinches promotion

Two first-half goals from leading scorer Karen Howells in the season's final North League division two game sealed York Women's Hockey Club return to the top flight at the first attempt.

The 2-0 win over league leaders Ben Rhydding means York have avoided the prospect of a play-off to secure promotion.

In a game of two-halves, York weathered the early Ben Rhydding storm to take control and the lead through Howells' short-range shot, set up by skipper Jen Evans from a fifth penalty corner.

Howells' second came just before the break, bursting in from the left side of the circle to fire in a from a narrow angle from ten yards.

Ben Rhydding, needing a win to secure the championship, came back strongly in the second-half but were met by tenacious York defending, encouraged by coach David Lancaster on the side-lines.

Lynne Gowland, in the York goal, earned her corn 15 minutes from time with a fine penalty stroke save to maintain the two-goal advantage.

Fighting against relegation, York Women II gained a crucial 2-0 win at Bedale to almost certainly ensure survival in division one of the Yorkshire League.

Louise Dickson gave York a first-half lead with Gay Walker adding a second after the break.

In the Costcutter York and District League, Nestl Rowntree kept their title hopes alive by the narrowest of margins against Stamford Bridge.

'Trees Jane Markland scored the only goal of the game mid-way through the first-half.

Further poressure from Nestl was soaked up a well organised Bridge defence. Kate Kelly was 'Trees player of the match.

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