Hockey: All-Yorkshire duel goes to Leeds amid finale uproar (From York Press)

Hockey: All-Yorkshire duel goes to Leeds amid finale uproar

10:15am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Sport

Luck was out for City of York III at their Leeds counterparts in a controversial 2-1 Yorkshire League division two loss.

After Tim Lister went close, York had to survive five short corners in a row thanks to several saves from man-of-the-match Brian Ignjatovic and stern defence from Chris Scoffield.

The deadlock was broken when, from a short corner, Lister passed to Alex Herriott who flicked past an advancing ’keeper into the net.

However, soon after, Herriott was yellow-carded for dissent.

From an early questionable decision in the second half, Leeds broke to level. Lister was then thwarted by a superb save from the home ’keeper before controversy flared in the dying minutes.

Ben Foster’s driving run and pass was kicked away by a Leeds defender. Foster regained possession but his next pass was intercepted and while York were in uproar that a short corner had not been awarded to them, Leeds raided. Ignjatovic made a stick save only for the ball to rear against Matt Andrew on the line to go into the net for a dubious winner.

In division three, City of York IV fended off a strong start from visiting Leeds to create a raft of chances. But only one was taken – Jonny Kilmartin on target.

Greg Sykes converted a short corner soon after the break, but with 15 minutes left Leeds bagged a soft goal before then filching a leveller.

City of York V leapfrogged hosts Leeds V into second place in division five north after beating their promotion rivals 2-1.

York battered Leeds for the opening 20 minutes and could easily have scored six, but were denied by the home side’s ’keeper.

Leeds took the lead on the break as York over-committed to attack, but York continued to press in the second half and Sam Blackburn equalised. With only a couple of minutes to go, Tony Brimble converted a short corner to deservedly seize the three points.

Just one goal was enough for City of York VI to prevail over Ben Rhydding fifths in division five north.

Excellent first-half approach play by James Hogg, Keith Wilson and Rob Abell failed to be converted and the second half followed the same pattern until Richard Tanner-Smith was on target at the back post to seal triumph.

City of York VII hit back from a half-time deficit to draw 1-1 with Acomb II in division six north.

Acomb spurned several chances after taking the lead and York made them pay with a second-half penalty corner, converted by Will Bowen.

There were heavy division seven defeats for both City of York VIII and City of York IX. The eighths crashed 8-0 at home to Boston Spa IV.

The ninths went ahead early on through Adam Iyer. But visitors Slazengers equalised by half-time before hitting three unanswered goals.

Matthew Horn, promoted from York’s youth team, had an excellent debut.