A RUN of seven games without a win came to an end as City of York men’s I beat University of Durham II 3-1 in the North Hockey League premier division.

The Huntington School victory moved City of York five points and four places above the relegation zone with five games of the campaign remaining.

The threat the visitors posed was clear when they won three penalty corners in the first five minutes, but York ’keeper Jon Chappell and the defence dealt with them well.

City of York started to exert some pressure and won penalty corners of their own, the second of which gave Lee Cuffe the opportunity to deflect the ball in from close range for the opening goal.

The hosts went close to doubling the lead when a fast breakaway by Mike Carter and Alex Cockram was met with some excellent goalkeeping. The lead was doubled from another short corner, with Ben Bull providing the decisive touch.

Two minutes into the second half City of York were awarded a penalty stroke and Alex Cockram converted his third from the spot in the last three weeks.

City of York then showed great determination to hold onto their lead with an excellent defensive display, with Mike Gamble leading the way by thwarting several attacks by the students.

The visitors did manage to pull one goal back, but City of York were not going to be denied their first win of 2013.

It was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for City of York II as they drew 2-2 at Old Malton I a week after clinching the Yorkshire League division one title.

The host enjoyed the best of the opening stages and they were thwarted twice by ’keeper Jonathan Doyle before they took the lead.

Captain Alex Fletcher equalised from a penalty corner after half-time, but Malton went in front against the run of play.

Having not tasted defeat for 17 games, York were determined to keep their run going and grabbed an equaliser from another penalty corner when Matt Hays reacted to the loose ball and found the roof of the net.

In the last 30 seconds of the game, Malton broke but man of the match Doyle made a brilliant save.

Depleted City of York III crashed to a 5-1 home defeat by promotion rivals Halifax I in division two.

York trailed 2-0 at half-time and the slipped 3-0 behind early in the second half before they hit back with a superb team goal finished by Mark Moisley.

A Ben Foster short corner strike then hit a post, while Halifax were denied by man of the match Brian Ignjatovic in the York goal.

York had the better of the second-half possession, but Halifax hit them with two late goals as they chased the game.

City of York IV had nothing to show for a dominant performance at Halifax II in division three.

A penalty corner strike by Greg Sykes gave them a half-time lead but they lost 2-1 as Halifax netted two penalty corners.

Goals by Sam Blackburn, Mark Moisley and Nick Carter earned City of York V a 3-0 home win over Bradford II in division five north.

In the same division, a much-changed City of York VI side were held to a 1-1 draw at Driffield II.

A superb individual goal by James Hogg got York on the scoresheet, while ’keeper Dave Horn ensured City emerged with a point.

City of York VII were edged out 1-0 by visitors Huddersfield V in division six north.

York dominated the match but lacked a cutting edge in attack and Huddersfield snatched the points with a scrambled goal which went in off a defender’s leg.

Harry Heyes went closest for York in the second half, but his reverse stick shot was saved.

Adam Iyer’s hat-trick helped City of York VIII secure their first win of 2013 – a 5-3 success against Hull University III in division seven.

York trailed 2-0 before Andrew Brewster took an Adam Iyer cross and beat the ’keeper from the penalty spot.

Iyer levelled the scores before half-time after receiving a push from Matt Horne at the edge of the ‘D’.

Hull then regained the lead, but a long pass from Steve Forde allowed Iyer to dribble round the defence and level. The defensive line-up of Nick Fitton, Freddie Vahey, Steve Thomson and Nick Crelin, along with ’keeper Tom Starbuck, kept the opposition at bay.

A penalty corner strike from Danny Vaughan put York ahead again and a third from Iyer secured the points.