PROMOTED City of York men’s I lost the initiative in the North Hockey League division one title race with two defeats in the space of five days.

Table-topping City surrendered their unbeaten record in a 3-2 defeat by Harrogate I and they were then edged out 4-3 by title rivals Sheffield University Bankers on Saturday.

York are now only one point ahead of the Bankers, who have a game in hand.

After an intense opening 20 minutes, York took the lead as Ben Bull dribbled through midfield and pulled off a powerful reverse-stick shot which eluded the Sheffield keeper and a defender on the line.

York could have been awarded a penalty stroke soon afterwards, when the keeper seemed to foul Dan Ellwood but it was not given and Sheffield equalised via a short corner.

York again took the lead from Ant Bull’s strike from the top of the ‘D’ after Sheffield were unable to clear the ball.

Both sides were awarded green cards for various offences before Sheffield again equalised from open play.

When a Sheffield player was shown a yellow card, York took advantage and Ben Bull put his side 3-2 in front.

York were guilty of pushing too far forward in search of a clinching goal and Sheffield were able to break and equalise for the third time after the York defence were stretched by a fast break.

York then had a player yellow-carded and, with only two minutes left, Sheffield again broke through from defence to grab the winner.

With seconds to go, York were awarded a short corner but the final whistle was blown with the away side circling the ‘D’ in search of an equaliser.

City of York II were 4-2 winners at home to Halifax I in the Yorkshire League premier division.

Midway through the first half Mike Carter found Chris Dutton at the top of the circle, and he put a shot low into the bottom right corner.

In the second half, three goals came in a frantic ten-minute spell, with Carter bagging a brace from well-executed drag flick routines, either side of a Halifax goal.

Halifax scored again with ten minutes to go, but an excellent run by Dan Tompkin found Pat Herriott to slot home from close range.

City of York III lost 4-0 at Lincoln Roses II in division two, with goalkeeper Tom Swift turning in a man-of-the-match display.

City of York IV clinched the division three title with a 4-0 home win over Chapeltown II.

The hosts led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a Greg Sykes penalty, earned by Henry Wilson.

York continued to dominate in the second half and sealed the win with goals from Russell Bowry, Wilson and James Fitton.

City of York V led Boston Spa II through a Neil Reader goal in division four north, but the visitors hit back to win 2-1.

A 2-0 win was a poor return for a superb City of York VI display against Tadcaster Magnets II in division five north. First-half goals from Freddie Vahey and captain Andrew Potts sealed the win, but City could have had many more as they missed two penalties.

In division six north, City of York VIII lost 4-3 to Ben Rhydding VII.

The York scorers were Andy Dent, Martin Gorton and Nick Longster.

City York Badgers lost 2-0 to Harrogate. Cara Mackay made some superb saves.

York Press:

IN-FORM City of York ladies I stretched their unbeaten run to six matches with a 3-0 victory at home to Brookland Poyntons II in the North Hockey League premier division.

The win in their final home game of the campaign finally staved off the threat of relega - tion with one game remaining.

York dominated the early stages, with Rebecca Birch and Lorraine Pearey moving the ball around well. Katie Birch proved an unstoppable force, winning three short corners on the trot, while Laura Horne had a few near misses.

Attacker Lindsay O’Brien also tested the Brookland keeper with some fierce reverse-stick shots, but the game was 0-0 at half-time.

Lou Bessey and Sam Binns defended well as York claimed a clean sheet, while Katie Birch broke the deadlock.

After good work from Steph Wilkinson and Hannah Lawrence, Lindsay O’Brien made it 2-0, while Lawrence got the third with a reverse-stick effort.

City of York II drew 2-2 with Brigg I in the Yorkshire League premier division thanks to goals from Lauren Elwood and Celia Wright.

Second-placed City of York III drew 1-1 at Ben Rhydding III in division two. A shaky start saw York trailing from a short corner, but Kelly Hunter levelled before half-time.

City of York V beat Selby II 4-0 in division seven northYork led 3-0 at half-time with an early goal from Charlotte Mattock, set up by Lily Rowntree, followed by strikes from Trish Shaw and Lily Rowntree. Rowntree added a fourth from a short corner.

City of York are through to the semi-finals of the Over-35s National Trophy after beating Leamington on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Leamington took the lead but City levelled when a penalty corner strike by Jo Perryman was converted by Vicky Skilton.

Again Leamington went ahead, but Perryman made it 2-2 with a short corner strike. In the penalty shootout Faith Civico, Chris Giles, Skilton, Jo Clayton and Lorraine Peary scored, while Julie Halford saved Leamington’s third attempt.

Ten out of ten for Tangerines

ACOMB men’s I recorded their tenth successive Yorkshire Hockey League division four north with a 5-0 victory over York University III.

The Tangerines’ last defeat came against the students in mid-November, but there was no danger of a repeat in the reverse fixture.

Acomb opened the scoring with a penalty corner strike by Jamie Robinson in the tenth minute and a defence-splitting pass from Dave Richardson saw Robinson double the lead ten minutes later.

Table-topping Acomb had two good chances to extend the lead further before the break but Pete Hilton and Ryan Forster were wasteful.

Forster made amends by scoring in the first minute of the second half, while man of the match Robinson secured his hat-trick with another penalty corner routine three minutes later.

The hosts were unable to trouble the Tangerines’ defence of Dave Bell, Dave Brown and Paul Kellett. Stuart Baxter led the assault and, from a penalty corner, Forster deflected in a Robinson shot for the fifth goal.

Acomb II lost 2-1 at fifth-placed Halifax IV but still secured their division five north status for next season thanks to results elsewhere.

The hosts struck first but man of the match Mike Humphries equalised before the break. After chances for both sides, Halifax claimed the winner.

Acomb ladies lost 3-1 to runaway Yorkshire League division two leaders Selby I, with Kerry Woods scoring the Tangerines goal.