Hockey: SUBS plot prompts downfall of York (From York Press)

Hockey: SUBS plot prompts downfall of York

11:25am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Sport

City of York men’s I team were comprehensively beaten 6-2 by a SUBS team desperate to avoid relegation from the North Hockey League premier division.

And the reverse now means that the York ranks have to win at least one of their two remaining games to avoid the threat of the drop.

The Sheffield students showed their intent from the start of the game playing at a high tempo and not allowing City of York to achieve any sort of rhythm, or opportunity to play their normal flowing style of hockey.

The home side scored after only three minutes and, although York replied within five minutes when Alex Cockram fired home from a penalty corner, it was the home side who soon restored their lead and then went further ahead to be 3-1 up by half-time. After the break, City of York became increasingly frustrated by some curious umpiring decisions and continued to struggle to cope both with the home side’s direct approach and a lack of form in their own play.

The SUBS hosts scored twice more without reply to effectively take the game beyond their reach.

Ben Bull pulled a goal back when his smart shot on the turn hit the roof of the net, but SUBS completed the rout with a sixth goal just before the end. Towards the end the umpires punished a couple of poor challenges and temporarily reduced the home side to nine men but, even then, City of York were unable to take advantage. York now have a four-week break because of Easter and University term times before embarking on the first of their last two rearranged league games, knowing at least one victiory must be notched to keep them out of the relegation zone.

Neither City of York II or City of York III had fixtures.

City of York IV moved another place up the Yorkshire League division three table with a convincing 3-1 win over Leeds Adel III.

York started brightly and Nick Casterton opened the scoring only for York to surrender possession softly to concede an equaliser.

In the second half, York dominated and Harry Heyes finished off an excellent attack down the left. Soon after, Danny Vaughan slotted the ball home from a short corner. Heyes also hit the crossbar.

Fluent forward play underpinned a 4-0 triumph by City of York VI in division five north.

First-half domination failed to break the deadlock, but that changed after the interval when a mazy solo goal from Henry Wilson opened the floodgates.

James Hogg beat the Halifax ’keeper with a low strike across the goal and, after several fine saves from ’keeper Tom Starbuck, York returned to close out the game.

Rich Tanner-Smith struck from a short corner, initially saved only to be smashed home by Tanner-Smith on the rebound.

On the final whistle, another rebound from Tanner-Smith fell to Mark Turner who duly drilled the ball into the net with interest.

Honours were shared between City of York VII and Halifax IV in division six north.

York went ahead after ten minutes when Joe Sumpner’s firm slap shot gave the Halifax ’keeper no chance.

It was the start of an eventful game for Sumpner. He went off injured after being struck on the knee, returning in the second half only to be struck on the side of the head by a wild Halifax clearance.

Halifax drew level midway through the second half after a period of pressure.

In division seven, City of York VIII were unhinged by Tadcaster’s superior passing which confirmed an emphatic 6-1 triumph. The consolation goal was bagged in the second half by Andy Potts from a James Fitton lay-off at a short corner.

Just a day later, City of York VIII were held 3-3 by City of York IX to share the division seven spoils.

Alex Triffitt bagged a hat-trick for the IX ranks, who deservedly led 2-1 at the break and 3-2 with ten minutes remaining.

But their club rivals, who earlier scored through Andrew Brewster and Danny Vaughan, piled on the pressure to secure the draw with a Pat Birch strike.

There was still time in a pulsating finish for Triffitt to hit a post with a late effort.

City of York men’s development team (City of York X) disposed of Thirsk 4-3 to finish the season top of the table.

Within ten minutes, Thirsk were two goals to the good.

York pulled a goal back before half-time when Jack Harrington’s long cross was tipped in by Andrew Hyams.

York fought back in the second half, and equalised after ten minutes with a cracking shot by Sam Engleman from the right side of the ‘D’.

But almost instantly, Thirsk regained the lead after a series of penalty corners all but one of which had been repelled by York ’keeper George Good.

York refused to give in, and, after Hyams scored, the comeback was completed a few minutes from time with another Hyams tap-in from another accurate long ball from Engleman.

York’s final match will be a home play-off encounter against Worksop, the south division’s top team.