Hallamateurish

The absence of four regular players over a prolonged period has not helped but York once again failed to show a cutting edge up front.

It was a good, hard fast-moving contest in which Hallam opened the scoring with a short corner drag flick that was deflected past 'keeper James Riley.

Five minutes later the South Yorkshire side doubled their lead before good runs by James Gilbert and Chris Wilson lifted York's spirits.

Wilson was twice unlucky in front of goal but Sheffield had no such problems and led 4-0 at half-time.

Things got worse for York when they lost defender Luke Griggs with a head injury but at the end of the third quarter Nick Carter hammered home a short corner to get the home side on the scoresheet.

Fozzie Foster then set up Richard Jenkin to reduce the arrears, but in their quest for a third goal York left themselves exposed and Sheffield surged 6-2 in front before Foster added another for York with a well-placed reverse stick shot.

City of York II surprisingly lost 4-3 at Norton I in the North East League against a side they had beaten convincingly in November.

York paid for a series of errors which began when a needless tackle gave away a short corner from which the Teessiders opened the scoring.

Five minutes later a poor clearance went straight to a Norton attacker who fired past Simon Burnett in York's goal.

Despite two fine Burnett stops he was helpless as a disjointed York went 3-0 down, but Glyn Brookes-Humphrey gave York a lifeline with a goal before half-time.

John Raper almost pulled another goal back before the break but York were rocked by a fourth Norton strike shortly after the restart. Kyle Hogg pulled a goal back then had a shot cleared off the line.

York were building up a head of steam and although Rob Anderson cut the arrears further, they had left themselves too much to do.

Peter Perryman's short corner goal gave City of York III the lead in their Yorkshire League division three game ay Sheffield University Bankers IV.

But the South Yorkshire side forced their way back in contention with a Gavin Ward own goal, after a Sheffield shot hit the bar then 'keeper Martin Parrott on the back and rolled towards the goal where Ward could only help it in.

York skipper Graham Guffick was forced off injured and while he was out of action Sheffield took the lead. Despite bombarding the Sheffield goal, York could not find an equaliser.

The run of defeats was ended by City of York's IV team who toppled Tadcaster I in division five. Denis Hootton and Chris Smalley, playing his best game of the season so far, put York 2-0 up.

Tad, in second place, replied with a Phil Wilson penalty flick but despite having most of the second half play could not break York down.

City of York V claimed maximum points in division seven because opponents Bradford University II could not raise a team.

A reverse stick shot by Ben Foster and a goal by Greg Sykes gave City of York VI a 2-0 win at Bradford III in division eight. Oliver Scully was outstanding for York and Edd Jones did an excellent marking job.

Two goals by Richard Tanner-Smith (one a superbly disguised chip), plus efforts from Richard Cockram and Tim Jolly gave City of York VII a 4-1 home win over Normanby Park III.

The seventh team were also scheduled to play at Sheffield Hallam VIII in the second round of the Division II Cup but had to concede because of transport problems and depleted numbers.

Bay watch fades over the horizon

All went well for mid-table City of York Ladies in the first eight minutes of their North League match at second-placed Whitley Bay.

They had Bay penned into their own half, but an intercepted York pass on the halfway line allowed the home side to break away and score almost unopposed.

That set-back seemed to set the tone for a luckless York display in a 3-0 defeat to an energetic team whose quick-passing game contrasted with York's more muddled approach around the penalty area.

But, while York 'keeper Dawn Hopkins made several fine saves, York's forwards had nothing but misfortune in front of goal.

Most notable was the first half incident in which Karen Howells' shot was deflected over the Bay bar by a defender, only for York to be denied what looked a clear penalty stroke.

Bay were more fortunate when they were awarded, and converted, a penalty stroke early in the second half. York worked hard to stay in the game, frequently coming close - but not close enough - to scoring and were especially unlucky when Kate Rorrison (pictured left) hit a post with a spectacular shot.

Then, despite the hard work of Jacqui Birch and Sam Binns in the York defence, Bay added a third goal near the end for a slightly flattering final score.

Meanwhile, City of York Ladies II, whose promotion push in division two of the Yorkshire League has faltered in recent weeks, drew 1-1 at Doncaster Independent.

Amelia Smalley gave York a first half lead from a penalty corner but Independent equalised after the break to share the points.

In division five, City of York Ladies III won 2-1 at home to Salendine Nook with goals from Krista Siddall and Sam Clowes, while in division six, City of York Ladies IV had a thumping 7-0 win at Leeds III.

After an absence of several games Laura Heaps returned to earn the player of the match award with five goals. Katie Stafford and Anna Parkinson also scored.

Goals by Jenni Fearnley (2) and Kelly Forth - a great solo effort - gave Selby RSSC a 3-0 win over Wakefield in division six. Next week they tackle leaders York St John's.

Nestl Rowntree gave a determined performance to beat Olympics 2-0 in the York Costcutter Ladies Hockey League.

With only a few games remaining, Rowntrees needed to secure a win to strengthen their challenge for the title and got it with two goals in the last ten minutes.

A slick pass by Julie Moore saw Sue Yoward fire home a great shot before Claire Trodden hammered home the second goal.

Updated: 09:28 Tuesday, March 09, 2004