Battling City of York Ladies are looking towards a 'Broom' to sweep away fears of the drop.

A weekend double of games brought defeat and a victory to leave them needing one point from their final game at Chester-le-Street club Broom to guarantee North League first division survival.

Double duty did not start well for the City of York crew, who lost 3-0 to Sheffield. But relegation-defying hopes were rekindled within 24 hours when they beat Blackburn 2-0.

York competed well against Sheffield, but the critical difference was that while their promotion-chasing opponents scored one of their two penalty corner chances York failed to find the target from any of their six similar openings.

Sheffield opened their account in that vein just before half-time, and, despite Sarah Lawrence prompting well for York, the visitors scored two goals in quick succession midway through the second half.

Against Blackburn York had the tonic of a sixth-minute penalty only for Cath Hewerdine's stroke to graze the left-hand post.

Nerves continued to jangle and York were indebted to Ann Robinson for a goal-line clearance before injury reduced their rivals to ten players 15 minutes into the second half.

York promptly took advantage. Sally Sleightholme found space to score after Sally Powell had been foiled by the Blackburn 'keeper.

York had to wait until the last two minutes before entering the comfort zone when Hewerdine and Karen Howells combined to tee up Sleightholme for her second goal.

* In division seven of the Yorkshire League York III drew 2-2 at home to Horsforth. They countered from a goal down to lead 2-1 at half-time with a brace of Helen Shilleto strikes only to concede a second half equaliser.

Updated: 13:02 Tuesday, April 03, 2001