CITY of York Hockey Club ladies I climbed above visitors Chester I with a 2-1 victory in the North League premier division.

The home side bounced back from their defeat the previous weekend to move up to fifth place in the table, despite not playing their best hockey.

York piled on the pressure in the early stages, but they failed to create a clear cut chance.

The breakthrough finally came when York applied pressure in the ‘D’ and Sarah Holmes managed to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle.

Having forged into the lead, York began to play quick passes and break quickly, but they were unable to add to their lead before half-time despite winning a couple of penalty corners.

After the interval, York doubled the lead from a penalty corner as Sam Binns picked out Ali Butler, whose deft touch at the back post deflected the ball into the net.

York’s concentration slipped and Chester pulled a goal back, but any threat of an equaliser was snuffed out by the defence.

City of York II picked up their third win of the Yorkshire League premier division season, beating Harrogate II 2-1.

Harrogate took the lead from open play, but York responded with a series of penalty corners and levelled with a set play struck by Annabelle Lee.

York’s ’keeper was yellow-carded late in the second half, but they regrouped and player of the match Ruth Laybourn drove hard down the left wing before playing the ball into the ‘D’, where Paula Clough turned and slipped the ball into the net.