CITY Of York Hockey Club's men's first team suffered a frustrating weekend.

They let slip a three-goal lead to draw 4-4 in the league on Saturday and were knocked out of the English Hockey Cup by Harborne the following day.

Kyle Hogg fired York ahead at Harbourne, who drew level before half time.

Mark Little restored York's lead but the home side cashed in when Ashley Watson went off with a back injury with his place taken in goal by Roz Ramli.

A yellow card reduced York to ten men and Harborne made the most of their numerical superiority, going on to win 5-2.

York had looked on course for maximum points in their Northern Hockey League premier division home clash with Bowden.

They had been working on a new formation under vice-captain Nick Carter's management and it soon paid dividends with an Oliver Couttie goal after four minutes.

Mark Little then pounced on a loose ball after a short corner to make it 2-0 and Fozzie Foster added a third goal before the interval.

James Gilbert and Peter Evans came close to increasing York's lead but the home side lost their way and Bowden ran riot in a 15-minute spell to take a 4-3 lead.

York eventually regrouped and after a series of short corners Little netted the equaliser.

A much-changed City of York II lost 5-2 at Gateshead in North East One, Lee Cuffe scoring both York goals.

Laurence Thornton, Andy Wilson and Jamie Tough were on target as City of York IV won 3-1 at Old Malton I in Yorkshire League division four. Dave Horn made some key saves for York.

David De Silva scored four goals as City of York V ran riot against West Yorkshire Police.

Despite trailing twice, York stormed back to win their division five encounter 8-3 with Steve Patterson (2) and Richard Cockram among the scorers as they avenged the defeat they had suffered the previous week.

Points were shared in City of York VII's 2-2 draw at Scunthorpe I in division nine, Mark Dransfield scoring both York goals. Brian Ignjatovic had a great game in goal.

City of York VIII took another battering, this time going down 10-1 at Harrogate VI, newcomer Andrew Stan-nard netting City's only goal.

Updated: 10:54 Tuesday, October 26, 2004