A DESPERATELY poor season was capped by a woeful end to the North League premier division by City of York Hockey Club men’s first X1.

They headed to Whitley Bay and Tynemouth and suffered utter northern discomfort as they were swamped 6-3 by Whitley Bay.

The game started off slowly before Whitley Bay scored first. York countered when the excellent Alex Cockram hammered in a leveller for a half-time of parity.

Both teams came out swinging in the second half and again it was Whitley Bay who scored first. They then doubled their lead after a pacey raid.

A surging run from Cockram from his own half opened up the home defence and he netted after a neat one-two with Patryk Karamuz.

Cockram then completed his hattrick with a powerful reverse stick shot.

But slipshod marking allowed the Bay crew to rattle in three more goals without reply. They would have had a seventh but for a fine penalty save from keeper Dimitris Varsamidis, a rare high point in a season of relegation lows.

City of York II beats visitors Bradford I 2-1 to secure Yorkshire League premier division survival in their final game.

After quelling a fast Bradford start, York’ broke the deadlock, a fluent move ending when man of the match Dan Tomkins deflected home a cross from Dave Rogers.

Soon after Bradford equalised, a great chance to go back in front went awry when Dan Ellwood’s penalty was saved.

A tight second half was settled in York’s favour when Ellwood netted the winner from a Tomkins cross to see the team finish in eighth place and confirm a first consecutive season in the top tier for the first time in five years.

From a sloppy opening, City of York IV recovered to down Chapeltown II 5-3. York led 3-2 at half-time through Rob Bowry, Greg Sykes and Phil Hughes. Bowry and Sykes notched after the break for a maximum division two haul.

City of York V were 4-2 winners at home to basement side Ben Rhydding V in division four north.

Short corners from Nick Carter either side of half-time put City in control and Tony Brimble added a short corner goal before Chris Allerton netted.

The customary stout defence of City of York VI went missing in the division four north tie against Thirsk I.

Thirsk were gifted three easy goals to force York into playing catch-up. But a counter-attack stretched the lead to 4-0 by halftime.

York got back to their more usual defensive solidity in the second half with Dave Ewing’s return.

Clive Mills-Hicks and Tony Neeve took a lead from Ewing and the hard work of the mid field helped York to assume control, though the RED RAIDER: City of York Hockey Club men’s II player Dan Tomkins goes close to scoring Picture: Frank Dwyer PRESSURE: City of York Hockey Club men’s II player Pat Herriott, left centre, in the thick of goalmouth action, while, above, Jonathan Kilmartin tries to force the pace Pictures: Frank Dwyer problem was York could not translate the pressure into penetration and lost 4-0.

City of York VII wrapped up their division five north home campaign with a solid 2-1 win over Boston Spa.

In a lively start, Paul Rowntree set up a tap-in for David Cragg in the first minute but the strike was bizarrely disallowed - the goalposts deemed to be placed on the incorrect line.

City continued to press, but Boston gained the lead with a rare counter. But parity was soon restored, following a brilliant dribble into the D and cool finish by Pete Fitton.

Despite controlling the majority of the game, goal-shy City squandered a number of opportunities.

Boston Spa tried to exert their physical presence with a number of enthusiastic challenges, one of which led to a yellow card.

In the last seconds, Richard Tanner Smith sealed a deserved win with a brilliant reverse stick shot into the top corner.

Leeds VII, boosted by higher grade players, beat City of York VIII 8-2. Tim Downie scored both goals in the division six north tie.