SHARP-SHOOTING City of York routed Preston hosts Springfield 6-1 to open up a ten-point lead in the Northern Hockey League first division.

With just five games left their promotion drive is well on track.

The first-half was quite a struggle. Playing on a new pitch that was sanded and against a fierce wind City of York trailed after a shot was deflected past bemused 'keeper Jimmy Riley.

It was not too long however before they levelled.

Luke Griggs' clever long ball through the middle was neatly turned in by Glyn Humphrey for his 16th league goal of the season.

With the wind at their backs in the second-half York seized control led by man of the match James Gilbert.

He collected the ball inside his own half and weaved his way through several tackles before delivering a shot that beat the 'keeper at his right-hand post.

Shortly afterwards, a penalty corner switch to Volker Biederich saw him add to increase the lead.

Gilbert grabbed his second after an interchange with Rob Blackburn before skipper Mark Moisley got his name on the score sheet, firing in from close range.

The rout was completed when Gilbert popped up to squeeze in his hat-trick.

With second-placed Oxton surprisingly beaten at home 2-1 by Durham Uni 2nds and third placed Alderley Edge locked at 1-1 at lowly placed Manchester Met, City of York surged ten points clear.

City of York II went from one extreme to the other.

First, they beat visiting Stockton 3-2, countering from two goals down to nab a vital win against the threat of the drop.

On target for the plucky ranks were Roz Ramli, Mat Couttie and Colin Moore.

However, they then perished 4-2 a day later at Newcastle University, captain Graham Cook bagging both goals.

City of York III's push for promotion was maintained with an excellent 5-3 win at Hull.

Three welcome points were gathered by City of York IV, who thumped Sheffield University Bankers 5-1.

Mike Couttie opened the scoring with a shot from the top of the circle. Denis Hooten extended the lead with a firm strike and when Pat Birch was pulled down in the circle Mike Couttie put away the penalty.

Sheffield mustered one strike, but York scored two more goals through Birch and Simon Burnett.

The relegation escape bid mounted by City of York V was jolted by hosts Normanby Park II, who won a fierce encounter 2-1.

Normanby Park dominated early on only for Matt Merrick to make some fine saves, including one off his helmet.

A good break by City ended in an expertgly-taken penalty flick from Damian Grieg, but Normanby struck back almost instantly to level.

York came under severe pressure and as harder challenges were made the umpire produced two yellow cards, one for each side.

Normanby Park eventually made the breakthrough to claim the three points.

City of York VI crashed 5-0 to West Yorkshire Police in an unfriendly division seven game.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time, they lost the plot with the loss of two quick goals that effectively ended the hosts' resistance.

But within 24 hours the VI ranks celebrated the biggest win of the weekend, a 9-0 trouncing of Hull University 2nds with seven different players on the scoresheet.

Simon Burnett set things rolling with the first after 12 minutes after which the goals came at regular intervals, including a brace apieece for Chris Ince and Damien Grieg.

With only ten men City of York VII found themselves playing on a deceivingly bad grass pitch against homesters Normany Park III and were eventually beaten 3-0.

City found themselves a goal down early on, despite creating the better chances.

For the first 15 minutes of the second-half Normanby Park applied pressure and an unlucky 'bounce' off the unpredictable pitch beat the York 'keeper.

Frustration levels increased, culminating with Chris Armstrong being sin-binned for dissent.

City were now stretched and were caught on the break to yield a third goal despite the assurance of man of the match Neil Buckley at right-back.

With a young side City of York VIII crashed to their third 5-0 defeat in as many weeks.

There were four new players in the side from the Under-14 section of the club and all of them were not overwhelmed playing against stronger and fitter opponents.

Two of these youngsters who played particularly well were Tom Sorby and debutant Richard Cockram.

Updated: 12:37 Tuesday, February 12, 2002