York Hockey Club men’s 1st XI dumped on by league pace-setters Leeds University (From York Press)

York Hockey Club men’s 1st XI dumped on by league pace-setters Leeds University

10:09am Tuesday 24th November 2009

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City of York Hockey Club men’s 1st XI suffered an agonising 2-1 loss to North League division one leaders Leeds University, succumbing in the last minute at Oaklands.

York made a positive start, snapping into tackles and with the students rattled, City took the lead when the ball fell to Tom Feasby in space in the ‘D’. He superbly lifted the ball over the ’keeper into the corner of the net.

Both sides enjoyed good periods of possession without carving out any clear chances and it remained 1-0 at half time.

The second half saw Leeds Uni play much higher and they equalised when they converted the rebound after an initial strike from a penalty corner had been saved.

York responded by dominating possession, but were unable to find a breakthrough.

In the final minute, Uni launched another counter-raid and won a penalty corner, which was converted to deny York a deserved point.

Away to Lincoln I, City of York II began the game with only ten men and soon trailed.

Back at full strength, they improved significantly, but at the start of the second half City lost the initiative and Lincoln’s pacey strikers scored four more goals.

There were notable performances from Ben Smith and Myles Rawlings but no points from nine Yorkshire League premier division games does not augur well.

There were no such problems for City of York III who beat visiting Leeds Adel Carnegie III 3-0 in division two.

From a short corner, Ed Shouksmith put City ahead followed by a Greg Sykes strike scored from a narrow angle. City continued to dominate though their lone second-half reward was a Patrick Herriott goal.

City of York IV, away to Leeds III, suffered a Thierry Henry moment when the ball was kicked into the ‘D’ and then kicked past the ’keeper – and the ‘goal’ was allowed.

The score remained 1-0 until after the break when division three Leeds put away two more goals before a late consolation from Andy Wilson.

Self-belief was at the core of City of York V’s 2-0 division four vanquishing of Leeds IV.

Chris Allerton scored from a short corner and, with Matt Todd, Matt Collinson and Ian Wiggins excelling in midfield, the win was confirmed by an Allerton penalty.

A second-half strike from Matthew Newlove, who had two earlier efforts disallowed, gave City of York VI the points in their division five trip to West Yorkshire Police I. Chris Nichols was pleased with the clean sheet.

Some 24 hours later, the VI ranks surged into a comfortable 3-0 lead over visiting Leeds University V with a brace from Newlove and a solo Harry O’Patrick goal.

But the hosts did not kill the game off and the University side countered doggedly with three goals, capped by a late deflected leveller, to share the spoils.

After taking a 2-0 lead through Keith Wilson and Josh Longster, City of York VII were pegged to a 2-2 division five draw by visitors Ben Rhydding IV, despite fine defensive work from Dave Ewing.

York almost snatched a winner, but James Wilson’s rasping shot hit a post.

Strikes from Neil Reader and Harry O’Patrick restored parity to City of York VIII in foggy conditions at Leeds V, who took an early 2-0 lead.

But that was where the division seven duel slipped away as the hosts added another seven goals without reply for a 9-2 success.

After late call-offs, City of York IX lost 3-1 at Halifax V in driving wind and rain on an exposed pitch high on a Pennine hillside. The consolation goal was notched by Martin Gorton.

Twice City of York Badgers trailed at Doncaster, and twice they rallied to level before then running away with the game to seal a 6-3 triumph.

On target were Matt Hays (3), Lewis Inman (2) and Matt Andrew.

Goalkeeper excels in defeat

AN early goal by Paula Clough proved a false dawn for City of York HC ladies firsts who lost 3-2 to hosts North League division hosts Kendal.

York goalkeeper Dawn Hopkins made several key saves, but was still beaten three times before half-time.

The visitors improved after the break, but only had a lone reply through Laura Horne.

Despite a second penalty save in as many weeks York ladies II XI’s Verity Nouch was beaten twice as her team-mates lost 2-1 at home to Ben Rhydding in Yorkshire division two.

Vicky Skilton scored York’s goal.

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