CITY of York Hockey Club men's firsts recorded their fifth draw of the season when they drew 5-5 with North West strugglers Bowdon in the North Hockey League premier division.

Uncharacteristically slow out of the blocks, and having to cope with heavy wind and rain,York still took the lead when Alex Cockram picked up a ball on the left, beat his marker, played a one-two with fellow forward Chris Wilson and pushed the returning pass into the goal.

But they soon fell behind to three quick goals and trailed 3-1 at the break.

Harsh words at half-time had the desired effect as, within a minute of the restart, good combination play between Cockram, Oliver Couttie and Tom Feasby resulted in Cockram being fouled just as he was about to finish.

He dispatched the penalty stroke into the roof of the net.

Bowdon restored their two goal lead after a shot squeezed its way past stand-in goalkeeper Elliot Walker and the setback spurred City into action.

Tireless work from Ben Bull in the City midfield was rewarded when he won a short corner. This was expertly finished by Couttie after a well-worked routine.

From the restart, they won another short corner and, following another routine, Cockram completed his hat-trick when he fired a drag flick past the helpless Bowdon keeper.

After fashioning a series of chances to take the lead, the breakthrough came when Tim Silcock dispossessed the Bowdon right back and drove into the circle.

With City players queuing up in the middle to score, Silcock pushed the ball past the keeper to give York a 5-4 lead.

They were denied victory, though, when a misplaced pass sent a Bowdon forward through on goal to equalise.

Promotion chasing Chapeltown 1 hammered City of York 2 7-1 in division two east.

City matched the league leaders well in the first 35 minutes and took the lead seven minutes in when good pressing of the Chapeltown back line forced a turnover and Dan Tompkins found Sam Engleman in the D. He turned the keeper and defender well to fire home.

Chapeltown were back level within the quarter hour from a penalty corner and they took the lead five minutes later from another well-worked corner. City finished the half strongly but were unable to capitalise on their chances and remained 2-1 down at the break.

Chapeltown struck the killer goal six minutes into the second half. The strike turned the tide decisively in their favour and they added a further three goals in a ten minute spell which put the game firmly beyond City.

A good seventh, late on, after some good passing moves opened up the opportunity for Chapeltown to grab the goal with a first time deflected finish.