YORK St John's Ladies made a confident start to their Yorkshire League division four campaign with a 6-2 home win over Lockwood Park II.

It took them less than ten minutes to open the scoring through Liz Wilcock, who went on to complete her hat-trick. Goals by Hannah Mitchell and Becky Moore gave St John's a 5-0 interval lead.

Lockwood Park pulled a couple of goals back in the second period, one being a penalty after the ball hit a defender on the foot.

St John's put together a series of attacks late on and were finally rewarded with a goal from captain Annabel Lee to complete the scoring.

St John's Ladies II thrashed Tadcaster Magnet II 9-0 in division six with goals from Hannah Smith (5), Alison Wilkinson, Louise Grapes, Clare Cave and Lisa Weeble.

City of York Ladies II opened their Yorkshire League division two campaign with a 3-0 success at Richmond.

After a period of Richmond pressure, Sue Draper scored for York before half time and added another after the break. Anne Harrison got a late third.

In division six, City of York Ladies III scored twice in the first half against their club colleagues, City of York Ladies IV, and then defended well for a 2-0 win. Becky Copperthwaite and Anwen Hughes scored the goals but the juniors in the fourth team gave a spirited display.

City of York Ladies I completed their warm-up for the North League season with a 3-0 win against Durham University.

Karen Howells gave York the lead after a tenth-minute penalty corner, Sally Sleightholme adding a second goal before half time.

Tutored by former York coach David Lancaster, the Durham students then kept York out until newcomer Katie Tindall scored in the final minute.

York's opening North League game is against newly-promoted Colne Valley next Saturday.

Nestl Rowntrees drew 0-0 at Pickering Black Swan but were indebted to a spectacular save by 'keeper Natalie O'Connor who saved a first-half Pickering penalty flick.

Updated: 11:26 Tuesday, October 01, 2002