CITY of York's hopes of moving in to the top four of the Northern Hockey League premier division were shattered by bogey team Oxton.

The visitors arrived at Huntington School in fourth place, just one above York, who were without five of their regular players.

The under-strength York side set the pace in the first 20 minutes but could not score and Oxton, regular victors over York, snatched the only goal of the game against the run of play through Richard Sutton after a goal-mouth scramble.

The match became more even after the break with Simon Burnett in goal making several good stops for York.

The longer the game went on the more desperate York became and frustration set in when a Fozzie Foster shot appeared to strike a defender on the foot on the line but no penalty stroke was awarded.

In the final quarter York were reduced to eight men at one stage, having two players yellow-carded for foul tackles and another sin-binned because a substitute off the pitch was also carded.

One of the knock-on effects of first team calls saw a weakened City of York II lose 3-1 at Wakefield I in their NHL division two clash.

Wakefield took the lead with a reverse stick shot but Lee Cuffe levelled from a rebound at a short corner.

But within minutes, Wakefield restored their lead when York gave the ball away in defence, and they then added a third.

York tried to play catch-up hockey in the closing stages but the match was beyond them when they were reduced to ten men in the final quarter.

City of York III ended Leeds University II's six-match winning streak in Yorkshire League division one with a 2-1 win.

Matt Todd put York ahead after 20 minutes but the students hit back to equalise eight minutes later.

Mark Burn, in the York goal, made two great saves, while Jamie Tough, promoted from the fourth team, had a fine game on the right of midfield.

Graham Cook's short corner strike earned City a well-deserved win.

Andy Wilson was City of York IV's scorer as they went down 3-1 to an impressive Leeds III side in division four. Wilson also hit the upright.

David de Silva scored twice as City of York V hammered Sheffield University Bankers VII 5-0 in division five.

Richard Tanner-Smith, de Silva (2) and Tom Sorby put York in control. Marksman de Silva went off injured for a period but his replacement Steve Archer came on and did well.

A short corner strike from Wayne Stevens put the icing on the cake for York.

Goals by Richard Cockram, Les Reed (2) and Greg Sykes gave City of York VI a 4-3 win at neighbours York St John's I in division seven.

City of York VII were crushed 9-3 at Grimsby II in divsion eight. Neil Reader and Keith Wilson (2) netted for York after the interval.

Updated: 09:05 Tuesday, November 23, 2004