City of York Ladies competed well in the first half of their North League match at Chester but fell away after the break, allowing Chester to take the points with a deserved 3-0 win.

Although York were never entirely happy with enforced changes to their midfield formation, they twice come close to opening the scoring when Sally Sleightholme and Kate Rorrison each shot narrowly wide.

But, after York 'keeper Dawn Hopkins had made several good clearances, the key moment in the game came with the last action of the first half when Chester scored from a penalty corner.

That breakthrough seemed to spur on the home side who added a second goal soon after the interval while, as at Whitley Bay two weeks ago, York became progressively more disjointed, giving the ball away with confidence-sapping regularity.

It was from an intercepted York pass that Chester scored their third goal, an excellent cross-shot giving Hopkins no chance of saving.

York will now hope to pick up points in the final three games of the season to ensure a mid-table finish.

Meanwhile, in division two of the Yorkshire League, City of York ladies II lost 3-0 away to a stronger and quicker Tadcaster I.

In division six, City of York ladies III extended a fine run of victories with a 3-0 home win over Tadcaster II.

On target for the hosts were Becky Copperthwaite (2) and Lucy Stubley.

In the same division, City of York ladies IV drew 1-1 at York St John's II, Kay Gibson equalising for York after St John's had taken the lead with a shot deflected past debutant York' keeper Emily Carlisle.

Updated: 09:11 Tuesday, March 11, 2003