GOALS could be at the top of the agenda for City of York Hockey Club this season.

They opened their Northern Hockey league premier division campaign with an entertaining 3-3 home draw against Southport on Saturday.

But more goals look to be in the pipeline when Australian player-coach Jason Russell joins the club as player-coach on Wednesday, October 8.

The Victoria state player picked up two trophies at the end of the Australian State League for being top goalscorer and netting a double hat-trick.

That augurs well for the future but York showed plenty of attacking intent against Southport, who twice beat them convincingly last season.

York were 2-0 down to an aggressive and vigorous Lancashire outfit after 20 minutes but the hosts pulled a goal back before the interval when Richard Jenkin set up Glyn Humphrey.

York's precise approach work brought an equaliser after the interval when Nick Carter netted from a short corner, only for Southport to regain the lead.

Ten minutes from the end Ben Foster cracked in York's equaliser into the bottom corner of the Southport net for a deserved share of the points.

City of York II also shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Gateshead I in their NHL Division Two (East) encounter.

York's line-up, disrupted by a combination of injuries and first-team call-ups, took a long time to settle on the slow surface at the Gateshead International Stadium and fell behind.

York gained the upper hand in terms of possession and gradually wore Gateshead down, despite having a valid shout for a penalty turned down.

With five minutes left a flowing York move was finished in style by John Raper.

Graham Cook gave City of York III the lead at Halifax II in Yorkshire League division three, but the West Yorkshire side ran out 3-1 winners.

City of York IV never really got into their stride in their division five match at home to Dinnington, going down 4-1.

Steve Church, in goal, was the pick of the York players with Andy Wilson netting their lone consolation.

Goals by John Jenkin, Wayne Stephens, Simon Casterton and debut man Peter Puxton gave an impressive-looking City of York V a 4-1 home win over Sheffield University Bankers VIII in division seven.

Clive Mills-Hicks struck to confirm a 1-1 draw for City of York VI at Syngenta I in division eight. Tony Moffat did well in goal for York.

Wakefield V denied City of York VII a draw by snatching a late 2-1 division nine win after Mark Dransfield had notched York's equaliser.

Ben Foster and Graham McFaul excelled for City.

Tadcaster's league campaign got off to a losing start with a 5-2 home defeat against Old Malton.

Goals by R Taylor and R Hill could also not prevent Tadcaster II losing 3-2 against a determined Thirsk II.

Tadcaster's task was not helped when they had two players sent off.

The first team travel to Leeds III on Saturday with the seconds hosting Bradford III.

Updated: 09:42 Tuesday, September 30, 2003