CITY of York men’s I slipped closer to the relegation zone after a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at home to Ben Rhydding in the North Hockey League premier division.

The Minster city side were downed by a last-minute penalty stroke at Energise, which saw second-from-bottom Ben Rhydding draw level on points having played a game more.

York skipper Chris Wilson had earlier forced a smart save from the Ben Rhydding ’keeper in the first minute, although the visitors hit a post midway in the first half. At the start of the second half, both sides forced penalty corners, Ben Rhydding converting theirs.

Eventually, City of York got some reward for their endeavours when Alex Cockram scored from a penalty corner with ten minutes left.

But as a draw loomed, the visitors snatched the points after York goalkeeper Jon Chappell was harshly judged to have illegally denied a goalscoring opportunity. City of York II appear doomed to an immediate return to Yorkshire League division one after a 3-2 defeat at home by Halifax I.

The game was held up as York defender Tom Grainger required treatment for a gash near his eye, but as he went to hospital his side refocused and took the lead when Dave Rogers’ penalty corner managed to find a way into the net.

A Halifax penalty corner brought the scores level on the stroke of half-time and after the break the visitors went ahead when a penalty stroke.

York grabbed an equaliser through Chris Bolt despite Rogers being sent to the sin-bin.

But with only four minutes to go, a lapse in concentration yielded a Halifax winner.

City of York III were at Grimsby I, where they fielded a largely untried side after players were drafted in from lower ranks.

Charlie Green, man-of-the-match Chris Scoffield and ’keeper Brian Ignjatovic all shone but could not stem a 7-2 division one defeat.

The City goals were notched by Andrew Pooley and Peter Richardson, while Ignjatovic produced a brilliant penalty save.

Employing a new formation, City of York IV countered from a goal down to hosts Leeds University V to level through Ben Foster, who also notched the winner in the second half from an Alex Lewis break. The division three win owed much to James Wilson’s sterling defence.

At home to Bradford II, City of York V shared the spoils in a ten-goal division five north thriller.

Leading 3-1 at half-time through Chris Dutton (2) and skipper Dave Dick, the hosts then trailed 5-3 only for Dutton and Dick to both strike again to restore parity.

Elsewhere in the same division, Tony Brimble and Graham Cook goals saw City of York VI beat Driffield 2-1, while City of York VII held Harrogate III 1-1 with Rob Smith netting an equaliser.

City of York VIII lost 2-1 to Halifax V in division seven north, Tim Ball netting the consolation.

In the same division, City of York IX lost their derby with Acomb II 2-1 despite leading at half-time through Alex Triffit. York’s rookie ’keeper Jack Feasby was outstanding.

City of York X (Badgers) toppled visiting Barnsley 3-1 with goals from Matthew Horn, Andrew Hyams and Henry Wilson, who converted a penalty flick before Barnsley replied.