DESPITE a battling performance against the odds City of York Hockey Club men's first XI were cruelly denied at the last by hosts Doncaster II.

Twice York fought back from a goal deficit to regain parity against a team, who fielded several of their National League first-teamers. But just as York looked to have done enough to stash a share of the Northern Hockey League premier division points, Doncaster seized on a defensive error to pinch a last gasp strike and inflict a morale-sapping 3-2 defeat.

An early infringement led Doncaster to take the lead which was then cancelled out by a Chris Wilson strike to finish off an Alex Cockram cross.

The game was honours even for the opening minutes of the second half but Doncaster again took the lead only for Cockram to level with a drag flick into the bottom corner. Lee Cuffe came agonisingly close for a winner for the visitors, a miss which proved costly when Doncaster snatched their late decider.

Luck was distinctly out for City of York II. They entertained Gateshead I with a bare XI players and when trailing 2-0 in the first half lost Matthew Cattal, whose forearm was fractured by a fierce shot.

York battled on stoically and even after a Gateshead third goal replied through Tony Brimble. But the inferior numbers told and they lost 6-1, a margin which would have been wider but for heroic goalkeeping from Brian Ignjatovic.

After a poor opening 20 minutes, City of York III trailed 2-0 to Ramgarhia II. But Graham Cook, with a fine solo effort, and Stuart Burke levelled the duel going into half-time.

The York ranks dominated the second half but could not find a way through and were hit three times on the counter-attack to lose 5-2.

Skipper Tommy Brooks slammed City of York IV's display at home to Normanby Park I as atrocious'. But in spite of this the hosts triumphed 3-1, rallying from a goal down with a brace of strikes from Sam Blackburn and a Tim Lister effort.

Starring displays from Chris Scofield, Alex Herriott and James Wallis underpinned City of York V's 2-0 triumph at Scarborough I. Jon Wiggins released Chris Allerton for the opener, with the game sealed by a long-range sweep shot from Steve Johns.

Deadlock ruled in the goalless exchange between City of York VI and visitors Tadcaster Magnets I. For the hosts, former York 1st XI stalwart Phil Clark excelled in defence in only the second game of his return to competitive hockey.

A thunderous shot from Michael Sansoni rescued a share of the spoils for City of York VII in a 2-2 draw at Leeds Adel Carnegie, who had shaken off the loss of a scrappy goal to Keith Wilson to lead 2-1 at half-time. York gave their all after the break and were rewarded by Sansoni finishing off a cross from Tim Jolly.

In their first game for five weeks, City of York VIII showed little rustiness in disposing of Doncaster VI 3-0. Rob Prentice, debutant Simon Hall and Neil Reader were the marksmen.

Fielding eight Under-14s' players, City of York IX were desperately unlucky to go down 3-2 to a last-ditch winner at Normanby Park III. Miles Rawlings put York ahead and though they then conceded two goals, a Luke Smith leveller looked to have secured a point until the hosts' late intervention.

City of York X claimed a victory and three points after LA Carnegie VIII could not raise a tam.