AFTER finishing last season with more than 100 goals, City of York Hockey Club's men's firsts opened their North Hockey League premier division season with a 5-0 win over Gateshead.

They opened their account early on, with Alex Cockram driving through the middle of the pitch and slotting home after a quick one-two with Dan Ellwood.

York then added a second from a similar passage of play, again from Cockram’s dribbling, with Ollie Fryer diving to deflect past the goalkeeper and establish a 2-0 lead at the break.

Fryer added his second on the resumption - this time picking up the ball from Matt Horn at the back post for a tap-in - and a reverse-shot into the bottom corner from Cockram added their fourth.

Gateshead were finally silenced by York’s fifth and Cockram’s third after a swift one-two with Ben Hull.

City of York II opened their North Hockey Men's League division two east season with a 3-1 loss at Richmond 1sts.

City took the lead in the opening ten minutes when Kilmartin touched home Tim Lister's cross and, with Richmond unable to get past skipper Jonathan Doyle, it was 1-0 at the break.

The game changed a minute into the second half when Richmond were able to sweep forward and score at the back post.

York lost their composure on the ball and also fell victim to some bizarre bad luck. A ball into the D from Richmond hit the umpire's foot and fell kindly to a striker to sweep home. City couldn't convert subsequent chances and, at the other end, Richmond converted a penalty corner.

A new look City of York V acquitted themselves well in a 2-1 defeat to Bradford in Yorkshire Hockey Association division four north.

They created plenty of chances but failed to convert and conceded from a short corner late in the first half. They fell further behind soon after the restart and lost their way a little before finishing strongly.

York won several short corners, one of which was dispatched by Tony Brimble.

City of York VII fell to a 3-1 home loss against Mirfield I in division five north.

It was scoreless at half-time with Mirfield having been denied by some brilliant saves by keeper James Titterington.

Mirfield started the second half stronger and took the lead when they were awarded a penalty flick. That became 2-0 after some neat play around the edge of the York circle led to Mirfield slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

With five minutes to play, City secured a lifeline when a mazy run down the wing by Harry Heyes led to a ball across the circle where Jono Scutt was lingering at the back post to lift the ball over the keeper.

York went on the attack in search of an equaliser but were caught on the break.

The York Development side included five new youngsters in their game against Thirsk.

York controlled much of the play in the first half with some good passing movements and were unlucky not to open the scoring with Zack Pierson and Cameron Mackay both going close. Player of the match Lorna Rore defended extremely well and thwarted many Thirsk attacks.

The second half saw Thirsk get three goals in a ten minute spell but York continued to press hard and got their reward when Mackay scored from a short corner following a good attacking movement by Robert Bradley-Consitt.