Hockey: City of York men beaten at Whitley Bay (From York Press)

Hockey: City of York men beaten at Whitley Bay

10:24am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Sport

A RE-ARRANGED North League premier division clash left a six of the worst feeling for City of York Hockey Club men’s first team.

Away to Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, the York ranks were toppled 6-3 and this despite taking an early lead through Suart Smyth from the first penalty corner after five minutes.

Chris Wilson then went close following good work from Alex Cockram, whose pace and directness caused the hosts problems all game.

York conceded a Whitley Bay and Tynemouth penalty corner on the quarter hour and then went behind from another. In a generally open game, it was the home team who were capitalising on their opportunities scoring a third before half-time.

The second half could not have started worse for City of York as Whitley Bay and Tynemouth scored two goals without reply. Man-of-the-match Smyth and Mike Carter linked well with the forward line whenever they could and Carter notched to reduce the arrears.

Carter then hit a post from another penalty corner, again won by Cockram, who got himself on to the scoresheet latching on to a pass from midfielder Steve Paterson.

With time running out, York conceded one more on the break and required a smart save from goalkeeper Jonathan Chappell to prevent any further damage. York host Brooklands on Saturday.

Yorkshire League division one leaders City of York II got off to a flier in the resumption after the festive break, beating visitors Huddersfield Dragons II to maintain their 12-point lead.

Huddersfield almost took a shock lead earaly on when a long ball put a striker through one-on-one with home ’keeper Jonathan Doyle, but he stretched to take the ball off the end of the raider’s stick.

The home side forged ahead when Dan Tompkins finished Peter Perryman’s short corner.

Midway through the half, York’s lead was doubled in bizarre circumstances without a home player touching the ball. A ‘16’ for Huddersfield was played across the face of goal, hitting the ’keeper and going in for an own goal.

Huddersfield pressed early in the second half, but another defensive mistake allowed Pete Fitton a clear run on goal and he lobbed the ’keeper.

Man-of-the-match Fitton scored his second when he swept home after his initial shot had been saved.

In the final two minutes, York grabbed a fifth when Dave Navin’s run drew the defence and he slipped in Richard Chandler to find the bottom corner.