CITY of York missed a great opportunity to open up a clear lead in the North Premier League first division when they were beaten 4-3 by Wigan.

Victory would have put them in command at the top as joint leaders Doncaster had their game frozen off.York were first to settle on a frozen synthetic surface at Wigan with Jason Bemrose making some telling runs down the right.

But Wigan were first to strike when York gave the ball away in midfield and 'keeper James Baughan was left with no chance.

City of York continued to give the ball away with careless passing on each occasion the home side cashed in by scoring and surged into a 3-0 lead inside 15 minutes.

At that stage City of York sent on James Gilbert and he transformed the game with dazzling stick skills and dynamic runs which brought his side two short corners.

They were well crafted short corners, but York could find no way past the Wigan net minder until Gilbert exchanged passes with Mark Thirlway after another probing run and pulled a goal back.

But another midfield error immediately enabled Wigan to restore their three-goal lead before half-time.

Eventually York's midfield quartet of Mark Little, Mark Moisley, Glyn Humphreys and Gilbert began to click and suddenly City of York were swarming forward.

Forceful right flank play enabled Thirlway to snap up a well taken goal and then a cross from the left saw Thirlway reduce the arrears to 4-3.York were now in control but Wigan defended stoutly and denied York a precious point.

City of York II were thrashed 5-1 by leaders Newcastle University in the East Pennine section of the second division of the North Premier League.

City of York III missed out in an exciting Pritt Roller Yorkshire League third division goal feast with Wakefield III, going down 6-5.Trailing 2-0, York reduced the arrears with a Chris Allerton penalty stroke, but two defensive errors saw Wakefield surge into a 4-1 interval lead.

Two opportunist goals by Pat Birch put York right back in contention, but Wakefield had the sharper cutting edge in front of goal and netted twice more to make it 6-3 and seemingly put the match beyond York's reach. But a good open play goal by Chris Allerton and a thunderous shot by Simon Leather put York within a goal of their opponents.

York continued to create chances, but were denied by both woodwork and goalkeeper so Peter Foulsham's side were unlucky not to get some reward for their efforts.

A snow covered Oaklands pitch did little to assist good hockey as City of York IV and Hull YPI drew 2-2. For York, who led twice, Graham converted a short corner and Page a penalty flick.

Improving City of York VB drew 1-1 with Ben Rhydding IV, Jackson hitting the York equaliser 10 minutes from the end.

Oliver Couttie score City of York VI B's consolation as they were routed 11-1 at Ramgharia II. Bob Maltby played valiently in the York defence to stem the tide.York, who played the second half a man short after an injury to Nick Clarke were well served by Malcolm Dutton on the left wing.

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