VICTORIES over Timperley and Warrington in the next two weeks will keep City of York men's senior side in the premier division of the Northern Hockey League.

That's the simple equation after they were beaten 6-2 at Ben Rhydding.

The Ilkley side were still smarting from defeat at the hands of Sheffield University Bankers which knocked them off the top of the table and they took it out on York with their Australian centre forward netting a hat-trick before half-time.

Glyn Humphrey, York's top scorer for several seasons, is going through a rough patch at the moment. Again, he got into good positions but was unable to find the net.

Jimmy Gilbert kept York in the game with his short-corner strike reducing the deficit.

York forced more short corners after the interval but Ben Rhydding moved 5-1 ahead before Gilbert grabbed his second after a fine solo run and rasping shot.

The defeat saw York drop a place as Harrogate beat Oxton 3-1 to move back above them, while Brooklands moved to within a point after thrashing Warrington 6-1.

City of York II had a double-header at the weekend as they caught up on postponed NHL division two north east fixtures.

They began with a 4-2 victory over Stockton I after being 2-0 down, bouncing back with a great individual goal by Richard Jenkins.

Ali Brennan and Jason Bemrose contrived to miss an open goal when they got in each other's way, but the equaliser York had threatened came when Bemrose ran down the right and crossed for Luke Ramli to tap the ball home.

Stockton seemed to lose heart and Brennan put York into the lead after good work by Peter Perryman. After Stockton had a man yellow-carded, Bemrose provided another chance for Jenkin to tuck away.

The following day, York played well at Gateshead I but lost 2-0 after a couple of short-corner strikes.

York had a goal disallowed and Jenkin and the other strikers were denied by an in-form Gateshead 'keeper.

City of York III were beaten 2-1 by Kingston-upon-Hull in Yorkshire League division three.

They fell behind when skipper Eric Folliott deflected a ball past his own 'keeper. Andy Wilson equalised and with Matt Todd playing well in midfield, York were back in business.

However, Hull had a shot deflected in and York had another goal disallowed.

Ed Shouksmith and Malcolm Cossey was on target twice as City of York IV hammered Normanby Park II 7-0 in division five.

Matt Merrick made some good saves early on for York before his side edged in front with Cossey's opener. Other goals came from Sam Blackburn, Alex Cockram and Denis Hootton.

Richard Cockram's tenth-minute goal put City of York V 1-0 up at Ben Rhydding V in division seven.

The second York goal didn't come until the very end when Matt Boyles' strike was half-stopped by the home net-minder and James Still was on hand to put it over the line.

City of York VI badly missed injured midfielder Simon Burnett as they spurned chances to lose 3-2 at home to Kingston-upon-Hull V.

Hull led 2-0 before York equalised through Doug Thompson and Ben Foster but were caught on the break as Hull snatched victory.

Stand-in 'keeper John Bolton made several fine saves but could not prevent Doncaster V from racking up a 7-0 win over City of York VII in division eight.

David Nash's City of York VIII were made to pay for a host of missed chances as they crashed 3-1 at home to Huddersfield VIII in division ten.

Updated: 09:10 Tuesday, March 11, 2003