CITY of York’s nightmare season goes on in the North Hockey Men’s League premier division.

Beaten 6-0 by Bowden II at the weekend, COY are nine points adrift at the bottom of the table with eight games to play

York’s players worked hard and showed the right attitude but this was not enough to get anything out of the game.

York II wasted a golden opportunity to move up the table after throwing away a four-goal lead against Grimsby. Victory would have lifted COY off the bottom of the Yorkshire Men’s Hockey League premier division as they battle to avoid relegation. They had to settle for a solitary point as Grimsby scored four times in the last 15 minutes to earn a 5-5 draw.

James Fitton put York ahead before Grimsby levelled. Alex Lake scored from a flick and when goals from Richard Chandler (2) and Patrick Herriott made it 5-1, victory looked all but assured. However, complacency may have been York’s downfall.

With 15 minutes to go, Grimsby pulled a goal back from a short corner and proceeded to score two more in open play. There were just seconds remaining when Grimsby levelled from another short corner.

York III were denied a third consecutive victory in division one when losing 6-3 at third-placed Slazengers. The home side opened up a two-goal lead with well-executed counter-attacks.

A third goal followed from a penalty corner but Joe Lancaster converted five minutes before the break. Slazengers scored three more goals but City’s never-say-die attitude delivered late goals from Dan Hyden and Lancaster.

Hamish Broadbent scored a consolation goal as a makeshift York V side slumped to a 7-1 defeat at Lindum III.

Leaders Harrogate IV were too strong for fourth-placed York VI in division four north.

Harrogate opened the scoring from a short corner. Henry Wilson equalised but Harrogate had gone 3-1 ahead by the interval. Wilson converted a flick to keep York in the game and Bryce Tuckett scored late on but Harrogate emerged 6-3 winners.

Andy Wilson scored the winner as York VII enjoyed a 3-2 victory over clubmates York VIII at Huntington School. A shock was on the cards when goals from Chris Allerton and Ali Birch gave the development players from York VIII a two-goal lead. But Paul Rowntree’s goal started the fightback and Rob Bradley-Consitt levelled before Wilson settled the contest.