CITY of York have been relegated from the North Hockey Men’s League premier division following defeat to Sheffield University Bankers.

With only one victory all season, COY are 10 points adrift at the bottom of the table and have only three more games to play.

Dan Ellwood’s early strike provided optimism but the mid-table Bankers turned the screw and equalised by the end of the first quarter.

The game was an end-to-end affair but COY’s survival hopes suffered a fatal blow when the Bankers scored for a second time midway through the second half.

With Oliver Couttie driving forward at every opportunity, COY often looked dangerous.

In the closing minutes, they came agonisingly close to an equaliser when a centre from the left zipped across the face of goal but was not forced home.

York II kept alive their survival hopes with a hard fought 1-1 draw at Harrogate II in the Yorkshire Men’s Hockey League premier division.

York took the lead mid-way through the first half courtesy of Patrick Herriott.

The home side drew level four minutes after the interval but the result leaves bottom club York two points off safety with four games to play.

In division one, York III returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Leeds V. Gareth Boyd, Alex Herriott, and Ben Foster the men on target.

York IV were beaten 6-2 at home by division two leaders Doncaster III.

But York V remain in the division two relegation zone after a 4-2 defeat by bottom-of-the-table Worksop I.

Worksop took the lead before York equalised through Nick Kay.

The home side surged into a 4-1 lead and Rob Barker’s late goal was no more than a consolation.

Tadcaster Magnets I lost 6-3 at second placed Brigg II.

York VI endured an afternoon to forget in division four north - suffering an 11-0 humiliation at Bradford II.

However, York VII moved into top spot in division five north thanks to a 6-1 victory over Harrogate V.

Rob Bradley-Consitt broke the deadlock before Harrogate levelled.

But Cameron Mackay restored City’s lead from a short corner and second half goals from Mikey Jacobson, Paul Rowntree, George Trowsdale and Bradley-Consitt made it a comfortable victory.

Leaders Halifax III dropped to second spot after a 3-2 defeat against Tadcaster Magnets II.