CITY of York I were surprise 2-1 winners of the North Yorkshire derby at Harrogate thanks to Nick Carter and Ben 'Fozzie' Foster goals.

Harrogate are expected to be up among the Northern Hockey League premier division title-chasers this season but came up against a superb York defence.

York played on the break and came closest to breaking the deadlock when Carter was thwarted by an excellent save.

Harrogate pressed hard after the break, but York's excellent marking quelled the hosts' raids.

York broke out to great effect when Chris Wilson took the ball down the right and delivered it to Olly Couttie, who was fouled, leaving Carter to convert a penalty stroke.

A tense and exciting game moved up a notch, but York's defence, in which Dave Brooks was outstanding, kept Harrogate at bay. Goalkeeper Jimmy Riley made one excellent save and Couttie stopped another goal-bound effort on the line.

York were more decisive in the final quarter with Couttie and Alex Gutteridge shining in midfield and the visitors went 2-0 up when 'Fozzie' Foster rounded the home 'keeper.

Harrogate's pressure yielded a late goal, but York held on for a worthy victory.

Chris Dutton scored the only goal of the game as City of York II beat Sunderland I in Division Two East.

York were worth more goals but found the visiting goalkeeper in outstanding form and he was beaten just once when Dutton converted after good work by Rob Blackburn.

Sunderland hit back with a shot against a post and Steve Prankett cleared another effort off the line.

Goals by Matt Fletcher (2) and Ali Brennan gave City of York III a 3-0 home win over Airedale I in Yorkshire League division three, while Martin Parrott in goal displayed exceptional skills.

Net-minder Steve Church was even busier as he prevented a disjointed City of York IV from an even heavier drubbing as they went down 9-4 at Normanby Park in division five.

Park went 3-0 up after ten minutes before Mark Smith pulled one back for York, although the ball did not appear to cross the line.

When Sam Blackburn reduced the arrears from a short corner, York looked as though they were in with a chance, but Park banged in three more goals before Pat Birch scored to revive City's spirits. But they fell apart in the closing stages before Blackburn added his second goal.

It was a different story for City of York V, who returned from Brigg III with a 5-0 win in division seven. David de Silva enjoyed a field day with a first half hat-trick.

Tom Sorby added a fourth before half time and York underlined their superiority late on when Kyle Hogg netted from David Rowlands' pass.

City of York VI lost 3-2 at home to Sheffield Hallam VI in division eight after a poor second half display.

An excellent first period saw York lead 2-1 with goals by James Wallis and Clive Mills-Hicks but they lost their way after the break and Hallam took full advantage to turn the game round.

Goals by Ben Foster, skipper Alistair Blacklee (penalty) and Tim Jolly put City of York VII 3-0 up at Grimsby II in their division nine encounter.

But the arrival of a replacement umpire saw the game swing Grimsby's way, with the visitors claiming that all Grimsby's second half goals should not have stood as they rallied to beat York 4-3.

An inexperienced York VIII lost 4-1 at home to Harrogate VI, Alex Herriott scoring the York goal.

Graham Cook (2), David Da Silva and Karim Ramli were on target as City of York beat Ben Rhydding 4-1 in the first round of the England Veterans' Cup.

Updated: 08:38 Tuesday, October 07, 2003