CONFIDENCE at City of York has taken a battering.

Having expected to start the new Northern Counties League Premier campaign in style, they are now trying to piece things together after a disastrous opening two outings.

They opened with a 5-1 defeat at home against Harrogate and they followed that with a defeat at Ben Rhydding by the same scoreline.

They got off to the worst possible start at Ilkley as a long ball sent Rhyddying's former Acomb attacker Johnny Schofield through on goal and though City 'keeper James Riley blocked the initial effort he could do nothing to stop Schofield hammering in the rebound.

Forced to play catch up City's display became disjointed and they were further hampered by the loss of Chris Dutton with an injury and as Ben Rhydding drove forward they conceded two further goals before half-time.

City started the second half in better shape but a dream chance went begging when James Gilbert rounded former York 'keeper James Baughan in the Rhydding goal, but there was no-one on hand to slot his cross into the gaping goal.

A breakaway led to the Ilkley side adding their fourth, but City finally got on the scoresheet when a Glyn Humphries strike at a short corner was blocked by a defender's stick but Gawaine Hogg managed to force the ball into the goal.

City then lost Luke Griggs to the sin-bin but still pressed with Gilbert twice going close and Mark Little seeing a fine shot hit a post,.

However, a well executed short corner routine gave Ben Rhydding their fifth and City were left wondering just where and when they will get their season on the right track.

City of York V faced City of York VI in an internal club match and the shuffling of players by selectors made for a close contest which the fifth string won 2-0 with goals from John Raper and Roz Ramli.

City of York VII lost 2-0 at home to Leeds University III in the Yorkshire League.

They conceded a goal after 15 minutes and a second soon after, but in the second half were unlucky not to get back on terms as debutant Chris Steele impressed for the home side.

And the seventh string slipped to a second defeat when they were beaten 2-1 at Tadcaster II despite David Da Silva having given them a tenth-minute lead after taking on most of the Taddy defence.

The goal gave Tadcaster the kick they needed, and they equalised through Rob Hill 15 minutes later as the first half finished even.

Tadcaster midfielder Jason Hunt got the winer after the interval, after which York found it impossible to get past Taddy's veteran defender, Dill, and goalkeeper Sutton.

There was no luck for City of York VIII in their first league match of the season. They sent an understrength team to Hudders-field VI and were beaten 8-1.