Hockey: York men's I edged out at Timperley (From York Press)

Hockey: York men's I edged out at Timperley

10:40am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport

IN a see-sawing North League premier division encounter, City of York Hockey Club men’s first XI were edged out at Timperley.

Both teams started strongly, though York had the better of the initial chances without converting.

That proved crucial as the hosts hit a double blast on the counter to lead 2-0.

York rallied spiritedly. A short corner flick by Mike Carter halved the arrears before the same player drew level in similar fashion.

Then, after half-time, York went in front with a well-taken reverse stick shot by Steve Patterson.

But the lead did not last long as Timperley responded with another one-two before a late raid confirmed a 5-3 defeat for York, who next week entertain Whitley Bay.

There was a nervy finish for City of York II before they finally prevailed 5-4 over Doncaster II in Yorkshire League division one.

The hosts led three times – 1-0 through Will Broadbent, 2-1 through Rich Chandler, and 5-2 through Pete Fitton (2) and an own goal.

But York sat off their men in the closing stages and conceded two goals on the break before holding out for the points.

The hard route was taken by City of York III to a maximum haul in division two.

They beat Lincoln Roses 3-2, coming back twice from deficits.

Alex Herriott’s first-time shot brought the first equaliser and then the second was bagged after half-time by man-of-the-match Rob Chamberlain after incisive wing play from Hugh Richards.

The winner was seized in the last five minutes when Chris Schofield’s first-time shot was slapped over the line by Pat Herriott to give fresh impetus to their promotion bid.

City of York IV shared the spoils at Rotherham II, where the visitors led 3-1 at half-time through Greg Sykes, Zach Moore and Nick Casterton goals.

Unfortunately, they let Rotherham back in the second half, converting two short corners for a 3-3 draw.

Free-scoring City of York V routed Harrogate IV 7-2 to go top of the division five north standings.

Peter Richardson and Mark Moisley struck early goals only for the visitors to level. But by half-time York were effectively out of sight thanks to a Nick Carter strike and an own goal.

The hosts’ supremacy was underlined after the break with unanswered goals from Graham Cook, Chris Allerton and skipper Neil Reader.

In the same division, City of York VI relied on goalkeeper Dave Horn’s excellence to preserve a scoreless draw against Thirsk II.

City of York VII got back to winning ways with a 3-1 success over Boston Spa thirds in division six.

City’s performance was sluggish in the first half, with new players and a revised formation not quite clicking.

Boston Spa took the lead from their only short corner midway through the half. But after the interval, City raised the tempo and urgency and Pat Birch equalised after strongly challenging for a loose ball in the circle.

Harry Heyes deftly deflected a shot past the Boston ’keeper before Birch hit a decisive second. Newcomers Andrew Brewster and Matt Horne excelled in midfield.

Despite leading 1-0 at half-time over division seven anchor club Rotherham IV, City of York VIII paid for a raft of missed chances.

York’s defence was solid, with Nick Longster, Danny Vaughan, Nick Fitton and Steve Thomson stifling Rotherham’s efforts, allied to good saves from Tom Starbuck.

Vaughan kept up his record of scoring from penalty corners to put York ahead.

But despite numerous second-half opportunities, York could not add a vital second and Rotherham levelled before sneaking a winner with ten minutes to go.

City of York IX secured a convincing 1-0 win at Barnsley to maintain their recent good run.

In a luckless first half, they had an effort disallowed and a penalty flick saved.

A series of bizarre umpiring decisions followed in the second half, but York continued to boss the game, and finally got their reward, with a sweeping move expertly converted by Alex Triffitt.

The City of York men’s development team, York Badgers, lost 4-2 at Airedale.

Trailing 2-0, they levelled either side of half-time through an Andrew Hyams brace.

Reinforced by several men’s second-teamers, Airedale returned to the front with ten minutes left and then forced another for an unmerited 4-2 triumph.