City of York defied the odds to reach the second round of the English HA National Cup.

They faced Sheffield, last term's Northern Premiership champions and the club who had knocked City out of this season's Yorkshire Cup, and came away with a hard earned 1-0 victory.

City made the best of starts with an early effort on goal inches wide and that was followed by a short corner which saw Mike Thornicroft strike and Chris Dutton got the all-important touch to deflect the ball past the Sheffield 'keeper and put York in front.

They tried to build on the lead but 15 minutes of concerted pressure was repelled by Sheffield and once the storm was weathered they turned the screw.

They found James Riley in excellent form in the City goal as he pulled off save after save as his side defended a series of short corners.

Sweeper Phil Clark and centre back Gareth Jones were also to the fore as City defended resolutely, while James Gilbert's unselfish running opened up space for City to threaten on the break.

They held on for a memorable success which showed the improvement they have made as they bowed out at the second round stage last season when beaten 8-1 by Sheffield.

They also played a pre-season friendly as they build up for next weekend's league start and looked impressive in a 3-1 win at Wigan.

They opened the scoring with a snappy short corner routine seeing Mark Little score from Chris Dutton's pass and they retained their lead despite conceding a penalty flick - 'keeper Riley making a superb save.

However, a short corner produced an equaliser for the home side but just before half-time Little restored City's lead.

The victory was sealed midway through the second half when a good run by Gilbert ended with Dutton slamming in City's third.

City II struck an early psychological blow when they beat Wakefield I 2-0 at College Grove. The pair are due to meet in the division two east of the Northern Counties League in two weeks time.

After surviving a Wakefield onslaught, City took control and second half goals from Graham Cook and John Pickering earned victory.

Wakefield II were City III's opponents and it was the West Yorkshire side who won a seven-goal thriller 4-3.

City were always playing catch up against a Wakefield side that included former England and Great Britain skipper Norman Hughes.

Wakefield took the lead but City hit back when Alex Fletcher ended a good move with a tidy finish, only for the College Grove side to regain the lead before half-time.

City equalised for a second time through Ben Dutton, but it needed another Fletcher strike to put them back on terms once more after they had again slipped behind.

Sadly for City the pattern continued when they conceded a soft fourth goal late in the game.

City IV faced Wakefield III and were held to a 3-3 draw after being comfortably ahead.

Oliver Couttie put them ahead, Ed Shouksmith hit a second and when Dickie Brown lifted the ball over the Wakefield 'keeper into the net for a third a cricket score seemed to be on the cards.

However, Wakefield pulled a goal back before half-time and, following City losing Dave Lancaster through injury, went on to score twice and earn a draw.

Old Malton I were City V's opponents and York will have been highly satisfied to inflict a 2-1 defeat on a team that play two divisions above them in the league.

The Malton side gained the lead but City hit back through John Raper and a superb reverse stick finish by John Bell gave them their winner.

City VI let a two-goal lead slip as they fell 3-2 against Boston Spa.

A Russell Grant goal put them in front and then skipper Clive Mills-Hicks turned in a free hit from Andy Potts, but in the second half Spa pulled level before pinching the win with a short corner strike just minutes from time.

City VII travelled to Wakefield V and went down 5-2 in a game where all the goals came in the second half.

City hit a purple patch with goals from Duncan Blacklee and Alistair Blacklee but the floodgates then opened at the other end as York succumbed in the final quarter of the game.

City under-16s girls began their Yorkshire Youth League programme with games against Sunderland, Gateshead and Driffield B and they came away with a win, a draw and a defeat.

They went down 1-0 to Sunderland but bounced back to beat Gateshead 1-0, with a goal from Lizzy Woolley, before a goalless tie with Driffield.

The trials for the Yorkshire under-14s boys squad were held at the weekend and a trio of City players have been included with Alex Cockram, Jonathan Jenkin and Daniel Furze called up.