CITY of York Hockey Club Men I dropped to ninth in North Hockey League premier division after a 4-1 home defeat to Brooklands MU II.

Missing key players, City nevertheless turned up to their second home game of term in good spirits following last week’s win at Formby.

But the hosts were found wanting at both ends of the pitch as Brooklands showed their class early, turning in chances in the third and sixth minutes to set York on course for their second home defeat of term.

At two down, City fought back well but, for the most part, they could not provide the incisiveness that the division demands, although Mike Carter halved the deficit going into the break.

City were more dominant in the second half but disjointed team play saw them concede twice more without reply as the visitors probed the Brooklands defence, but without success.

The newly-promoted City can take positives from the game but there is still room for improvement. This weekend, City travel to unbeaten table-toppers Wakefield.

City of York II put in their best performance of this Yorkshire League premier division season - despite finding themselves on the wrong end of a nine-goal thriller at Sheffield Hallam III.

The first half of the 5-4 defeat was very even, with Hallam taking the lead midway through, only for City to hit straight back and equalise through Chris Newton.

But the game came to life in the second half, with Hallam going 2-1 up before City equalised again through Dom Firth following a good team move.

A 10-minute spell saw the home side score three in quick succession but City continued to play and pulled a goal back from Dan Tompkins following a good run from Richard Chandler.

Newton reduced the deficit to a single goal with his second of the game and City dominated the final 10 minutes as they searched for an equaliser, which they almost got with two minutes to play when James Fitton’s reverse stick effort hit the post and rebounded agonisingly across the face of goal.

On Saturday, City host 11th-placed Wakefield II.

City of York III lost 4-0 at home to division one leaders Leeds IV. York lie eighth ahead of this weekend’s trip to sixth-placed Hull University.

City of York IV drew 1-1 at Acomb in division two, with Chris Wilson on target. For full details, see the Acomb report.

City of York V are second bottom in division three following 5-2 defeat at home to third-placed Grimsby.

This weekend sees City travel to winless basement side Thirsk II.

City of York VI suffered 4-1 at division four north high-fliers Harrogate V. John Barrett got fifth-placed City’s only goal. Next weekend, City host Halifax III.

Division four north’s bottom side City of York VII lost 5-0 at home to second-placed Wakefield IV. City travel to Leeds VII at the weekend.

City of York VIII drew 2-2 at Bingley Bees in division five north. Philip Ellwood and James Gilbert were on target to deny Bingley a win for the first time this season. It gets no easier for the eighth team, with table-toppers Boston Spa III visiting City next.

City of York IX lost 4-1 at home to Leeds Adel V in division five north. Ninth-placed City travel to 11th-placed Harrogate VI at the weekend.

City of York X lost 5-0 at Harrogate in Men’s Development north division. High-fliers Bradford IV are City’s weekend visitors.