Hockey: City of York men one point from survival (From York Press)

Hockey: City of York men one point from survival

10:27am Tuesday 27th March 2012 in Hockey

A POINT is all City of York Hockey Club men’s I need from their final game to survive in the North League premier division.

The team turned in one of their best performances of the season in a 4-3 home defeat to champions Wakefield.

Now they only need to draw at home to Formby when the curtain comes down on the season at Energise on Saturday.

Wakefield began strongly and scored twice in the first 15 minutes, as well as hitting the crossbar. City of York stuck to their task and, on 20 minutes, forced a penalty corner which was turned in by Alex Cockram.

The home team were then denied from another penalty corner when the Wakefield ’keeper pulled off a great save. Just before half-time, Wakefield broke quickly to extend their lead with a disputed goal. After half-time, City of York took control of the game and netted from a penalty corner through player-coach Ollie Coutti.

From the restart, City of York drew level when Steve Paterson pounced on a mix-up in the visitors’ defence and scored with a reverse stick shot from the top of the circle. Wakefield regained the lead and, despite putting everything into the last 20 minutes, City of York were unable to find another score.

A fine goal-line clearance by Mike Gamble kept the deficit down to one goal. City of York II were relegated from the Yorkshire League premier division after losing 4-0 at Leeds II on Sunday, having beaten Hull II 6-2 the previous day.

Against Hull, York forged into a 3-0 half-time lead with goals from skipper Alex Fletcher, Peter Fitton – teed up by man of the match Danny Ellwood – and Josh Longster.

Hull pulled one back early in the second half from a short corner before Ellwood and Fitton combined again to make it 4-1.

Hull again hit back from a penalty corner, but York scored further goals through Longster and Chris Bolt.

The following day they were unable to repeat the feat against promoted Leeds, despite a superb performance by ’keeper Jonathan Doyle.

City of York V went down 3-2 at Harrogate IV in division five north.

Harrogate took advantage of a poor York display to lead 2-0 at half-time and they added a third early in the second period.

York’s Richard Tanner-Smith scored from a short corner and David Dick deflected the ball over the ’keeper, but City were unable to snatch a deserved draw.

In the same division 24 hours later, City of York VII were beaten 2-1 by Harrogate IV.

Harrogate led 2-0 at the break and Tanner-Smith pulled a goal back for York after the break with a reverse stick strike.

City of York VIII drew 3-3 with derby rivals Acomb II in division seven north.

Acomb opened the scoring when Rob Kendrew got on the end of a cross from Phill Monk.

The Tangerines doubled their lead shortly after Kendrew and Harry Ellis linked up to create a goal for John Armitage.

York pulled a goal back before half-time, but Acomb made it 3-1 when Tom Whitfield fired a shot towards goal and it took a deflection in off Kendrew’s stick.

However, York rallied brilliantly to level the scores at 3-3.

In the same division, City of York IX beat Bradford III 2-1 on Saturday and followed that with a 5-2 defeat against Airedale II on Sunday.

Against Bradford, Andy Dent opened the scoring after a goalmouth scramble.

Bradford drew level early in the second half, but a short corner from Tim Downie took a deflection off a Bradford player and secured the win for York.

York trailed Airedale 4-1 at half-time and were unable to recover.