CITY of York would surely love to play Timperley every week in the North Hockey Men’s League.

The Cheshire based side are COY’s only conquests in the premier division this season and were so nearly beaten again this weekend.

Unfortunately for COY, they had to settle for a 1-1 draw after leading for the majority of the contest. The result not only denied COY their only possible ‘double’ of the season but it also left them 10 points adrift at the bottom of the table with just four more games to play.

Alex Lake fired COY ahead in the 25th minute with an angled drive into the left hand corner of the net.

Striker Jack Purrington then missed a golden opportunity to double the lead after squeezing past the goalkeeper on the byline.

Timperley equalised on 55 minutes when COY defender Mike Hugill was ruled to have made a stick tackle and the resultant penalty flick was converted.

Things are also looking tough, meanwhile, for York II who are three points adrift of safety in the Yorkshire Men’s Hockey League premier division.

There was no shame in this weekend’s 3-2 defeat since opponents Sheffield Hallam III are now top of the table entering the final five games of the season.

York always knew it would be tough so set up their team to counter-act Sheffield’s strong midfield. The tactic appeared to be working early on when Ellis Farmery converted from inside the D to give his side the lead. York missed an opportunity to double the advantage in a one-on-one situation with the Hallam goalkeeper and were duly punished when Hallam equalised from a short corner.

York’s marking and pressure paid off when they regained the lead. From a short corner, Patrick Herriott’s first shot deflected into the air off a defender’s stick but play continued and, on the volley, he smashed the ball home.

York stuck to their gameplan and limited Hallam to just a couple of chances. However, Hallam still managed to equalise from one of their rare openings to set up a tense finale.

There was nothing to choose between the two sides until 10 minutes from the final whistle when Hallam got around the back of York’s defence and grabbed a cruel winning goal.

York III travelled to strugglers Hull University with great expectations but threw away a two goal lead and returned with nothing.

Alex Herriott and Chris Dutton had given York a 2-0 lead but the home side pulled a goal back midway through the first half.

Jonny Kilmartin’s penalty corner restored a two goal cushion but Hull narrowed the deficit just after the break.

It was one-way traffic after that, with Hull in complete control buoyed by enthusiastic support from the sidelines.

York’s characteristic composure slipped and the equaliser soon followed. York struggled to find any rhythm and Hull scored three more goals without reply to finish 6-3 winners.

In division four north, York VI were beaten 3-1 at home by Boston Spa II. Karim Ramli had given York the lead but a strong Boston Spa line-up fought back to win by two goals.

York IX were no match for Thirsk & Malton III – losing 6-1 in their division six north clash at Huntington.