CITY of York Ladies I suffered a 2-1 home loss to Bowdon II, as the visitors leapfrogged City into sixth place in North Hockey League division one.

The hosts started the game slower than Bowdon, whose high tempo forced City to defend hard.

However, a good showing from the back line and strong saves from keeper Ella Deighton kept the scores level at the break.

A fired-up City side took Bowdon by surprise with their attacking play after the resumption.

The hosts’ player-of-the-match, Emma Albery, put them ahead with a fantastic reverse strike, but two Bowdon counter-attacks turned the game on its head.

Despite City’s best efforts, they could not find the equaliser.

City of York Ladies IV's Yorkshire League division two clash with third-placed Hull University was postponed and rearranged for this Sunday.

Leeds IV gained ground on City of York Ladies V in division four north, as they ended City’s four-match unbeaten run.

The visitors capitalised on City's slow start to the game, only being prevented from breaking the deadlock by strong defending and skilful goalkeeping from Abi Tugwell.

Leeds eventually took the lead through a shot that crept between everyone’s legs, and the advantage was doubled by an own goal following a scrap in the ‘D’.

City found their feet, and pulled a goal back through Hayley Briggs with her first of the season.

Second-half strength and determination denied Leeds any further goals, but nothing more came for City either as they fell 2-1.

Lynne Bowes was the player of the match.

In the same division, City of York Ladies VI remain without a win, as they were beaten 10-0 at leaders Scarborough.

The team fought to the end, and were successful in pulling together sets of play, but were ultimately overcome by their hosts.

City of York Ladies VII claimed their first win of their division five north campaign with a 3-0 home victory over Airedale.

The hosts dominated the opening period – sustained pressure and a good passing game was eventually rewarded with a goal from Victoria Mortimer.

Airedale tried to get an immediate response, but City held firm until the half-time whistle.

It was similar in the second half, with the frustrated visitors pushing hard to get a goal.

However, York were the next to get on the scoresheet through player-of-the-match Mortimer again, having resisted the Airedale pressure.

A series of Airedale short corners came to nothing, and once more having soaked up the pressure, City scored, this time from a short corner through Anna Duffus.