AN historic debut clash against Doncaster ended in defeat for City of York Hockey Club men’s first XI.

The clash saw York welcome Doncaster to their Huntington School base for the first time in the North League premier division after the visitors were relegated from the National League.

Unbeaten so far in their bid for an instant return, Doncaster proved powerful opposition by posting a 4-2 win.

Both teams started well, looking to play positive attacking hockey.

Doncaster made the breakthrough scoring after a quick break down the right and doubled that lead just before half-time with York guilty of squandering several openings.

The second half started similar to the first with both teams creating opportunities before City nicked a goal back.

Quick passing down the right enabled Alex Cockram to provide a reverse stick pass into the ‘D’ with the excellent Max Keller moving past his marker to slap the ball over the Doncaster ’keeper.

Unfortunately, Doncaster were soon two goals clear again after a well worked short corner.

The hosts countered when Paul Hemsley evaded defenders and Cockram, who was later red-carded, slapped the ball in.

But the last action was with Doncaster with a late fourth goal in a match characterised by disciplinary issues and disputed decisions.

Yorkshire League division one doldrums deepened for City of York II when they crashed 6-3 to hosts York University I.

Buoyed by their share-all with Boston Spa in their previous outing, York started the brighter and were in front in the opening ten minutes. Roz Ramli fired a ball into the ‘D’ and Richard Chandler got the decisive touch to deflect the ball home.

After a string of penalty corners Uni were level, the initial drag flick rebounding off a post straight to a striker to apply a simple finish.

York then fell behind from another penalty corner before David Clamp made an outstanding stop to deny the students a third before half-time.

Despite a strong start to the second half, the visitors were undone by a goal against the run of the play to leave it 3-1 and then as York pressed forward the students zapped in a quick brace of goals for a 5-1 lead.

City battled back and Alex Fletcher reduced the arrears. In the final few minutes the Uni grabbed a sixth, before Dave Rogers’ ball was deflected home by Fletcher.

It will not be long before hostilities are resumed with the two sides scheduled to meet again next week at Huntington School.

Without their regular ’keeper, City of York VIII were thrashed 9-0 by hosts Leeds Adel VI in division six north.

City of York Badgers shared the honours with Bradford 1-1.

They dominated the early exchanges after fine midfield work from Callum Green, Callum Ross, Hamish Broadbent and Alice Birchall.

Early in the second half Bradford took the lead against the run of play, but York’s development side continued to press forward and deservedly equalised through Ben Mould.