CITY of York Ladies have finally kept a clean sheet in this season's North Hockey Women's League Premier Division.

Fighting to avoid relegation, the Ladies had been waiting 18 games for a 'shut-out' but secured a goalless draw against Wakefield II at York University last weekend.

They still have a mountain to climb as they are eight points adrift at the bottom of the table with only four games to play.

They also have the worst defensive record in the league after conceding 74 goals at an average of just over 4 goals per game.

Last weekend's result was even more remarkable as the side had been decimated by illness and injuries and were missing coach Paul Evans.

Fortunately, the club's second team was without a fixture in the Yorkshire Women's Hockey League and was able to provide stop-gap replacements.

Wakefield, who started the game 12 points higher up the table, had a full compliment of 16 players and soon put York goalkeeper Alice Cullen under pressure.

However, York's defence, marshalled by Lauren Boddison and Jenna Gallagher, repeatedly won the ball back to spark a counter attack.

York grew in confidence and Wakefield became increasingly frustrated, resulting in several of their players being sin binned for dissent.

With Lorraine Pearey, Hannah Smith, and Lindsey May O'Brian excelling in midfield, York won several penalty corners but could not find a way past the Wakefield goalkeeper.

Vicky Skilton then struck the post as York agonisingly missed out on a first victory of the season.

Wakefield defender Jo Hughes was red-carded for dissent after the final whistle and will now be banned for the rest of the season.

While that will be a blow to Wakefield's survival hopes, York will be looking to build on this encouraging result when they host Didsbury Northern on Saturday.