Hockey: Defiance by Doyle does job for York (From York Press)

Hockey: Defiance by Doyle does job for York

10:54am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Sport

CITY of York men’s second team got the new Yorkshire Hockey League premier division season off to a perfect start with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Rotherham.

Goals from Danny Ellwood, Dave Navin and Chris Bolt gave York the victory, but they owe their win to a man-of-the-match performance from goalkeeper Jonathan Doyle who pulled off some crucial saves to keep his side in the game.

Rotherham enjoyed the lion’s share of possession early on, but never really threatened the York goal. They were made to pay when the visitors took the lead through Ellwood’s penalty after Rory Ainslie was fouled in the D.

Rotherham pulled level mid-way through the half. A speculative ball into the D found a home attacker who saw his initial shot saved by Doyle, only for the rebound to fall perfectly for him to convert.

York got their noses in front again early in the second half however. Navin expertly touched home Ellwood’s penalty corner to make it 2-1.

A sustained period of Rotherham pressure followed. Doyle made several important saves before eventually being beaten again when a deflected ball was put home at the back post.

Again York responded, and they showed impressive resolve to regain the lead almost immediately when Bolt fired home a powerful strike having rounded the ’keeper, allowing York to see out the game with no further scares to clinch a crucial early three points.

City of York IV were forced to come from behind twice to secure a 2-2 division three draw against a young Doncaster side.

Doncaster went ahead through a scrappy goal halfway through the first half before York equalised through Dennis Hooton from a well-worked short corner.

Doncaster took the lead again in the second half but Rob Chamberlain equalised for York with about ten minutes left. York pressed hard for a winner but couldn’t steal the points, the draw proving to be a fair result for both sides.

City of York VI lost 6-2 at Wakefield fourths in division five north as they tired towards the end of the game.

Wakefield took the lead through an own goal before Rob Smith levelled with a strong finish at the back post.

Despite valiant defence from Matt Marshall, Hugh Richards, and Elliott Dobson the home side were able to open up a good lead, and a goal from Richard Tanner-Smith was not enough to get York back into the game.

There was a better outcome for City of York VII, who edged past Harrogate 1-0 in a close fixture thanks to a goal from Pat Birch.

York were on the front foot for much of the first half and the pressure eventually told when Birch converted from a penalty corner.

Despite producing a series of chances York were unable to increase their lead, allowing Harrogate to come back into the game. However, excellent defending from Dave Ewing and Graham Mackfall deprived Harrogate the chance of an equaliser and allowed York to close out a narrow victory.

After the joy of winning the league cup and the disappointment of missing the cut for division six, the new City of York VIII squad triumphed 4-0 over Wakefield. York took the lead through Rich Robson after five minutes and they were forced to hold off a strong Wakefield fight-back before increasing their lead.

A Henry Wilson penalty flick made it 2-0 before a second Robson goal put York 3-0 up before half-time. Danny Vaughan rounded off the scoring late in the second half to give his side the perfect start to the new season.

It did not go so well for COY IX. They slumped to a 5-0 defeat at home to Nomanby Park.

The away team raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half, and despite York improving after the break, they could not prevent conceding another two goals.

City of York Badgers maintained their 100 per cent start to the new campaign with a 10-4 demolition job at Thirsk.

City found themselves a goal down early on. However, York managed their way to a 4-3 half-time lead thanks to strikes from James Fitton and Andrew Hyams, and two from David Cragg.

After a tactical switch at half-time, City tightened their defence and played thrilling counter attacking hockey to run out 10-4 winners.

Fitton and Hyams both completed their hat-tricks, while Matthew Horn and Ben Mould each bagged a goal.