NORTHERN Hockey League premier division leaders Brooklands II were given a scare by City of York.

The Manchester-based side, who included six former National League players in their line-up, were given an early fright as York went 2-0 up. But class told in the end and Brooklands recovered to win 6-3.

York made a cracking start with Fozzie Foster picking up a loose pass and cracking the ball in after four minutes.

With the return of John Jenkin after injury bolstering York's midfield and Alex Cockram working closely with Foster, York looked dangerous.

Cockram netted his first goal at this level when he converted Foster's pass to put York 2-0 up.

But the game turned in the 20th minute when Brooklands reduced the arrears with a penalty flick. That was the signal for the home side to pile on the pressure and they cashed in on York errors to reach the interval 4-2 ahead.

James Gilbert hauled York back in to contention with a third City goal but they then lost skipper Alex Gutteridge with a hamstring injury and Brooklands regained control and netted twice more with clinical finishing in the final quarter.

City of York II let victory against Lincoln I in NHL North East Division slip away in the closing stages.

York took an early lead when Roz Ramli's free hit from outside the circle was deflected in to the air and Simon Grey hit it home on the volley.

Martin Parrott, York's net-minder, did well to save a Lincoln short corner. Alex Fletcher also stopped a second short corner on the line.

Grey and Ramli both went close to increasing York's lead but Lincoln equalised five minutes from the end.

City of York IV's fightback at Huddersfield III proved in vain as they went down to a 3-2 Yorkshire League division four defeat.

Sam Blackburn and Jamie Tough pulled goals back but York could not find an equaliser.

Tim Jolly had plenty to be happy about as his hat-trick gave City of York VII a 4-1 home victory against Harrogate V in division eight.

Harrogate opened the scoring but Jolly pounced for the equaliser after John Brooks' shot from a short corner had been blocked.

Jolly fired York ahead from a quickly taken free hit by Brooks and completed his treble by converting a short corner. Skipper Richard Tanner-Smith sealed York's win.

Andy Stannard had a fine game in midfield and Brian Ignjativic was secure in goal.

Goals by Tom Sorby, Danny Turton and Andy Dent earned City of York VIII a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield VII.

Turton was brilliant in the centre of midfield where he was well supported by James Goodall and James Wallis.

City of York V had no game and City of York VI's game at Bradford III was postponed.

Men's Northern League

Premier: Brooklands 6, York 3; Oxton 9, Ben Rhydding 4; Southport 3, Aldelrey Edge 4; Timperley 2, Durham U 3.

Div 1: Doncaster 2, Tynemouth 3; Leeds U 1, Chester 1.

Div 2E: York 1, Lincoln 1; St Georges 1, Wakefield 4; Norton 5, LA Metros 1; Sheffield UB 1, Gateshead 2; Stockton 5, Slazengers 1.

Yorkshire Men's League

Div 1: City of York III 2, Acomb I 4; Gainsborough Rose I 3, Bradford I 3; Huddersfield I 0, York University I 2; LA Metros II 4, Rotherham II 3; Leeds II 1, Normanby Park I 0.

Slazengers II 0, LA Metros III 4.

Div 3: Driffield I 4, Sheffield University VI 1; Kingston-upon-Hull III 4, Leeds University IV 1; Leeds University III 3, Harrogate III 2; Tadcaster Magnets I 0, Thirsk I 2.

Div 4: Grimsby I 3, Boston Spa II 2; Huddersfield III v City of York IV postponed; Kings Cross I 1, Old Malton I 7; LA Metros IV 1, Slazengers III 4; Leeds III 6, Kingston-upon-Hull IV 2;

Div 6: Ben Rhydding V 4, Huddersfield VI 0; Harrogate IV 3, Leeds IV 0.

Div 7: Boston Spa IV 0, Wakefield IV 4; Bradford III v City of York VI postponed; Slazengers IV 1, Sheffield Hallam VI 3; Thirsk II 1, Tadcaster Magnets II 3; Wakefield V 2, York St John's I 2.

Div 8: Acomb II v Grimsby II postponed; City of York VII 4, Harrogate V 1; Leeds University VI 3, Chapeltown III 1; Old Malton II 6, Sheffield University Bankers IX 1.

Div 10: Ben Rhydding VIII 1, Wakefield VI 1; City of York VIII 3, Huddersfield VII 0; Halifax IV 8, Kingston-upon-Hull VI 1; Harrogate VI 3, Rotherham VI 3; LA Metros VIII 2, Doncaster VII 3.

Updated: 09:26 Tuesday, January 25, 2005