Hockey: Ben Bull hatrick as York men's I beat Timperley (From York Press)

Hockey: Ben Bull hatrick as York men's I beat Timperley

10:07am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Hockey

BIG Ben struck three times for City of York Hockey Club’s men’s first XI to keep 2012 ringing with a vengeance.

Since the return of the North League premier division the senior York ranks have gone from being bottom of the table at the end of 2011 to posting three successive triumphs.

The latest conquest was a 4-3 toppling of visitors Timperley with Ben Bull leading the way. He bagged a hat-trick to seal the hard-fought win.

City of York started strongly and opened the scoring from a penalty corner with Bull turning the ball in after an initial effort from Alex Cockram was saved.

Timperley hit back fortuitously when a deflection teed up a visiting raider to place the ball past goalkeeper Jon Chappell from close range.

With Mike Carter outstanding in defence, York roared back and again Bull was on the mark.

Straight after half-time, a well worked routine straight from the training ground saw Stuart Smyth deflect the ball past the Timperley goalkeeper.

As the hosts dominated, Alex Cockram, Rich Cockram and Lee Cuffe all went close.

The hard-working Cuffe intercepted the ball and combined with skipper Chris Wilson to tee up Bull for his hat-trick.

Timperley though refused to bend and scored twice in the latter stages to set up a tense finish.

However, York had enough cool heads to ensure they secured all three points.

City of York II are six points adrift at the bottom of the Yorkshire League premier division after a 2-2 home draw with Ben Rhydding.

City let slip a two-goal lead in the last ten minutes after forging ahead with goals from Dan Ellwood and captain Alex Fletcher.

Jack Purrington and Josh Longster were both denied by the visitors’ ’keeper in the first half, while Fletcher had a goal controversially disallowed.

Away at Leeds Adel Carnegie II, City of York III suffered a 4-2 defeat in the Yorkshire first division.

By half-time they trailed 3-0 and the task increased when the hosts bagged a fourth goal within the opening minute of the re-start.

But York regathered their composure and virtually dominated the second half, playing with skill and precision. Matt Andrews had a shot saved by the ’keeper but Rob Prentice rammed in the rebound.

Prentice was on hand a few minutes later to score from a pass delivered by Patrick Herriott and from then on City pulled out all the stops.

Five short corners were forced but City were unfortunate not to score.

City of York IV played what their skipper, Tim Lister, described as their worst game of the season but perhaps the unpredictable, bumpy pitch at Hull III had something to do with the below-par show.

Hull took full advantage, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes, the first after City had given away the ball and the second from a short corner. City halved the deficit after Zach Moore had driven the ball hard into the Hull “D” for Rob Chamberlain to deflect it into the net.

In the second half, things were much more even. Lister had a chance for the equaliser but his reverse stick sweep went wide, while Matt Hays should have clinched a leveller but his shot went over the bar.

City of York V were pegged back to 3-3 after leading fourth-placed hosts Leeds Adel Carnegie IV 2-0 at half-time in division five north.

Richard Tanner-Smith opened the scoring for York from a short corner and Andy Wilson doubled the lead after a well-worked counter attack before the break.

Leeds pulled a goal back but another counter in the second half saw Wilson slide the ball under the Leeds ’keeper. Leeds continued to attack, throwing everyone forward, and they eventually drew level.

In the same division, promotion-chasing City of York VI beat their seventh team club-mates 4-0.

First half goals from Graham Cook and Nick Kay were followed up by goals in the second period from Matt Todd and Neil Reader.

City of York X’s game at home to Slazengers IV cancelled due to a frozen pitch.