York agony as big victory can't stop relegation

York needed to beat visitors Timperley to have any chance of staying up - and did so in style with skipper Christian Gregg scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 win.

But relief turned to disbelief when they heard fellow strugglers Alderley Edge had scored a last-minute winner to beat second-placed Hull. That meant the Cheshire side escaped relegation and York were condemned to the drop.

Poor results since Christmas have been York's downfall and the thumping victory over Timperley proved too late.

They made a cracking start when excellent inter-play between Roderigo Garcia and Ben Foster set up Gregg's opener.

Timperley applied pressure but the backline of Alex Topsfield, player-coach Gawaine Hogg and Matt Couttie held firm until the end of the first quarter when Timperley equalised.

But the leveller seemed to spur York on to greater things and by half-time goals by Gregg and Foster gave York a 3-1 interval lead.

In the second half York had to work hard to protect their lead but they finished the stronger side and added further goals from Gregg and Foster.

City of York III's Yorkshire League division one promotion hopes were dealt a blow as they lost 6-4 to Halifax I.

York came from behind to lead 2-1 with goals from Jeremy Pilch and Richard Cockram. The visitors hit back to equalise but John Pierce's goal ensured that York went into the interval leading 3-2.

It was a different story after the break as defensive errors were punished and Halifax rattled in four goals. John Pear was forced off with a hand injury before York pulled one back near the end through Pierce.

Tim Jolley gave City of York VII the lead at Slazengers IV in division eight but the Wakefield-based side hit back to win 2-1 as York failed to make the most of their territorial advantage.

City of York IX were beaten 5-0 by Gainsborough II in the semi-final of the Division 10 Cup.

The rest of the York teams were not in action.

Acomb wind down

ACOMB men's team completed their Yorkshire League division two programme with home defeats over the weekend.

They took the lead against LA Metros II with a tap-in by Ian Roberton after good work by Nick Linfoot but the visitors levelled from a rebound at a short corner and went ahead through a mis-hit at a short corner.

Skipper Chris Foster swept in an equaliser shortly before half-time and after the break Tangerines' goalkeeper Steve Church kept the visitors at bay with some fine saves until he was finally beaten for Metros to win 3-2.

The following day the Tangerines had the majority of possession against Ramgahria with some good build-up play from Dave Bell, Chris Foster, Simon Theaker and Mark Gibbon but lost 1-0.

The visitors scored the only goal against the run of play and Acomb had chances to level with Roberton and Nick Linfoot going close.

Acomb Ladies II lost 7-0 to Leeds V despite a great display by Liz Harrison.

Ladies surprise students

CITY of York Ladies completed their North League schedule with weekend home games against Durham University and Poynton II.

Safe in mid-table, York surprised champions-elect Durham by taking a two-goal half-time lead, Paula Clough scoring with a first-time shot from a penalty corner before setting up Pam Rowbottom who scored the second goal from close range.

The students responded well in the second period and were rewarded with a penalty goal after concerted pressure unsettled the York defence.

Goalkeeper Dawn Hopkins then made several fine saves but, when it seemed that York would hang on for the win, Durham equalised with a late goal to share the points at 2-2.

The re-arranged match against Poynton had little bearing on final league positions for either side as they played out a 1-1 draw.

Sally Sleightholme gave York the lead from a clever reverse pass by Lucy Butcher midway through the first half only for Poynton to equalise straight from the restart for a share of the spoils.

Double drop

CITY of York Ladies II and III have both suffered relegation.

The second team went down from division one after a 2-2 draw at neighbours Acomb.

Heather Stafford and Vicky Skilton gave York a two-goal lead at the break but, with York hampered by injuries to Steph Young and Sara Londsbrough, Acomb levelled in the second half through Wendy Watson and a fine penalty corner strike by top scorer Kerry Woods to share the points. Daniele Courtine played well in defence for Acomb.

York's third team were also relegated after losing 4-0 at home in division four to Heckmondwike.

City of York Ladies IV consolidated their mid-table position in the same division with a 1-1 draw at Salendine Nook, who equalised in the second half after Katie Stafford had given York an early lead.

Tough battles

CITY of York Hockey Club's Under-13 girls found the going tough in the North Mini-Hockey tournament at Durham University.

They lost 1-0 to Roseberry in the last minute, drew 1-1 with Merchant Taylor School (Bethan Taylor scoring), lost 2-0 to Altrincham, 2-0 to Cheadle Hulme, 2-0 to Kirkham School and 3-0 to Wakefield GHS, who progressed through to the national round.

Hockey results

Men's National League

North: Brooklands MU 2, Bournville 2; Leek 7, Lichfield 0; Nottingham 6, Harrogate 6; Sheffield Hallam Civica 1, Doncaster 1; Stourport 5, Formby 1.

Men's Northern Counties League

Prem Div: City of York 5, Timperley 1; Kingston upon Hull 0, Alderley Edge 1; Sheffield UB 5, Bowdon II 1.

Yorkshire Men's League

Premier Div: Kingston-upon-Hull II 2, Brigg I 1; Sheffield Hallam II 8, Boston Spa I 1; Sheffield UB III 8, Leeds II 3.

Div 1: Bradford I 1, Rotherham II 1; City of York III 4, Halifax I 6; Lincoln II 1, Huddersfield I 6.

Div 2: Dinnington I 4, Ben Rhydding III 2; Doncaster IV 1, Wakefield III 0; Halifax II 2, Slazengers II 1; LA Metros III 4, Sheffield Univ Bankers V 2; Sheffield Hallam IV 4, Gainsborough Rose I 2; Sheffield UB IV 6, Normanby Park I 0; Sheffield UB V 1, Wakefield III 3.

Div 3: Airedale I 1, Leeds Univ III 4; Huddersfield II 1, Driffield I 7; Leeds III 6, Thirsk I 0; Old Malton I 0, Harrogate III 3 (game awarded, Old Malton I dropped out of league).

Div 4: Boston Spa II 3, Sheffield Hallam V 1; Chapeltown II 6, Tadcaster Magnet I 0; Kingston-upon-Hull IV 3, Grimsby I 0 (awarded to Hull as Grimsby did not have a team); Normanby Park II 2, Huddersfield III 6; Rotherham III 6, Bradford II 1.

Div 5: Gainsborough Rose II 4, Slazengers III 1; Huddersfield IV 3, Leeds IV 1; King Cross I 1, Doncaster V 6; LA Metros V 3, Harrogate IV 3.

Div 6: Lincoln III 1, Rotherham IV 3; Sheffield UB VIII 5, Huddersfield V 1; Wakefield IV 1, Ben Rhydding V 2; West Yorkshire Police I 3, Boston Spa III 3.

Div 7: Huddersfield VI 2, Bradford III 0; Scunthorpe I 3, Normanby Park III 1; Thirsk II 0, LA Metros VI 11; Wakefield V 2, Old Malton II 4.

Div 8: Ben Rhydding VI 7, Scarborough II 2; Harrogate V 6, Syngenta I 0; Leeds V 4, LA Metros VII 1.

Div 9: Ben Rhydding VII 0, Doncaster VII 4; Normanby Park IV 2, Kingston-upon-Hull V 2; Rotherham VI 0, Halifax III 1; Sheffield Hallam VIII 2, Rotherham V 1.

Yorkshire Women's League

Premier Div: Boston Spa I 1, Sheffield Hallam II 4; Bradford II 2, Chapeltown I 2; Doncaster II 1, Leeds I 0; Skipton & Airedale I 1, Wakefield II 3; Slazengers I 3, Sheffield Hallam II 2.

Div 1: Acomb I 2, City of York II 2; Bingley Bees I 5, Halifax I 0; Leeds II 6, Lockwood Park II 2; Sheffield Hallam III 2, Tadcaster Magnet I 1; Wakefield Wanderers I 4, Ben Rhydding III 1.

Div 2: Cleckheaton I 1, York St John's I 3; Northallerton I 1, Harrogate III 2; Pudsey I 4, Doncaster Independent I 1.

Div 3: Halifax II 1, Bingley Bees II 0; Horsforth I 2, Richmond I 2; Legiolians I 2, Leeds III 4; Netherwood I 2, Syngenta I 2; Slazengers II 2, Dewsbury Kirklees I 5; Horsforth I 2, Leeds III 0; Richmond I 3, Netherwood I 0.

Div 4: Ben Rhydding IV 2, Wakefield IV 3; City of York III 0, Heckmondwike I 4; Harrogate IV 4, Skipton & Airedale II 4; Leeds IV 2, Sheffield Hallam IV 0; Salendine Nook I 1, City of York IV 1; Ben Rhydding IV 3, Heckmondwike I 1; Leeds IV 0, Wakefield IV 0; Salendine Nook I 2, Skipton & Airedale II 0.

Div 5: Chapeltown II 5, Colne Valley III 0; Otliensians II 0, Ben Rhydding V 1; Sheffield Hallam V 0, Old Johns I 5; Thirsk II 3, Horsforth II 0; York St Johns II v Halifax III postponed.

Div 6: Leeds V 7, Acomb II 0; Lockwood Park Dragons III 1, LA Metros IV 4; Tadcaster Magnet II 1, Sheffield Hallam VI 0; Wakefield V 0, Slazengers III 3; Slazengers III 2, LA Metros IV 0.

Updated: 10:08 Tuesday, April 04, 2006