CITY of York Hockey Club's first team have completed their preparations for the new league season.

They beat Stockton I 5-2 in their final friendly before losing 4-0 to the higher-ranked Sheffield University Bankers I in the first round of the English Hockey Association Cup.

York were missing seven regulars for the trip to South Yorkshire but still put in a determined performance against Sheffield.

York almost took a surprise lead when Roz Ramli's cross from the left just evaded his forwards.

Two goals in each half earned Sheffield a comfortable victory but York were well served by the pacy Chris Wilson in midfield. German teenager Volker Biederich went close with some short corners and Gordon Jennings enjoyed a competitive game in defence.

Despite missing several players because of a stag party, York were too strong for Stockton the previous day.

Kyle Hogg tore Stockton apart down the flanks with his speed and incisive running.

Goals from Hogg, Chris Dutton and Luke Griggs put York 3-0 at half-time, but with Paul Sangwin sin-binned Stockton dragged themselves back into the game at 3-2.

However, Biederich set up several York attacks with some terrific aerial balls and York scored twice more through Hogg and Dutton.

Coach Nigel Herd said: "The pre-season has gone extremely well for City of York with the side demonstrating their ability to play a tight game in defence and simple passing going forward, creating many opportunities.

"The system we are playing at the moment lends itself well to the players we have, though it will be interesting to see how this fairs against Rotherham next week."

There were goals galore as York II drew 4-4 with Bradford I.

Trailing to a penalty stroke, York equalised when Roz Ramli turned in a wayward Rob Blackburn strike.

Bradford hit back with two more goals before Beiderich reduced the arrears with a penalty stroke.

York equalised when the young German blasted the ball into the top corner after good work by James Owen.

Another penalty restored Bradford's lead but the scorer was sent off for over-zealous celebration and their ten men couldn't hold out as Graham Cook put away the fourth penalty stroke of the match to equalise for York.

Both sides were going for victory in the dying minutes, with York also reduced to ten men when Blackburn was dismissed for retaliation.

There was also a dismissal as York IV lost 4-0 against Bradford II, although most observers thought sweeper Jules Bellerby was unfortunate to be ordered off when the score was 3-0.

Bellerby and centre-back Johnny Jenkins had been York's top performers.

York's young fifth team twice hauled back a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 against a quality Bradford side.

The West Yorkshire side went 2-0 up before skipper Bernard Chase finished off a good move down the left to get York back into it.

Bradford then made it 3-1 but driven on by Chris Smalley on the right of midfield they managed to level the scores with goals by James Still and Alex Cockram.

City of York VI found themselves a goal down inside two minutes at Boston Spa III and went on to lose 5-0, Tom Sorby coming closest to scoring for York.

Neil Reader scored the only goal of ther game as City of York VII won 1-0 at Bradford III.

His goal came five minutes before the break after Dave de Silva got round the back of the Bradford defence and pulled the ball back into the centre.

Although York dominated with Damian Greig controlling midfield, Bradford put on some late pressure and it needed excellent defending by Phil Lancaster and fine goalkeeping by Matt Merrick to snuff out the danger.

Updated: 11:55 Tuesday, September 25, 2001