CITY of York Hockey Club Men II recorded their joint-highest finish for four years despite ending their Yorkshire League premier campaign with a 4-1 defeat at Bradford.

There was little riding on the game as Bradford were guaranteed a second-placed finish whatever the outcome, while City were always going to remain fourth.

However, the game was played at an intensity that would suggest otherwise.

City made made a sloppy start and should have been a goal down after a matter of seconds, but Jonathan Doyle made a fine stop.

It proved only a stay of execution, though, as City failed to heed the warning signs and fell two goals behind with only six minutes on the clock.

City responded well and started to get into the contest as the two sides played out an entertaining and even half, with the visitors gaining gaining several circle entries but without finding the killer touch.

At the other end, Bradford continued to look dangerous and were only prevented from adding to their lead thanks to man-of-the-match Doyle, including a superb stick save just before half-time.

City made the breakthrough they deserved 10 minutes after the restart with James Fitton converting a penalty corner for his 11th goal of the campaign and joining Dan Hyden at the top of the scorer charts for the second team.

As the visitors pressed for an equaliser, the game became stretched and Bradford grew in potency on the counter and added two more goals in the closing stages.

Fitton came close to getting another in the final minutes, but his volleyed effort went just wide.