Hockey: City take precious point off the leaders

City of York took another step towards security in the premier division of the Northern Counties League as they took a point from current leaders Bowdon.

Despite taking time to settle on an awkward surface City battled hard and gained a just reward for their performance holding the table-toppers 3-3.

As the sides battled to gain control in midfield it was Bowdon who looked the more likely to take a grip on the game but it was City who broke the stalemate when a Mike Thornicroft free hit found Gawaine Hogg, he picked out Mark Little and he in turn set up Jimmy Gilbert to score.

Bowdon hit back and a break down the right led to City keeper James Riley making a fine save but he could do nothing to prevent the rebound being fired home.

The home side turned up the heat and Riley produced a string of good saves before being beaten again 10 minutes before half-time by a spectacular reverse stick finish.

City looked far more comfortable in the second half and drew level courtesy of a Paul Sangwin strike from a short corner but still they spent plenty of time defending with Riley impressive and he was only beaten when a short corner took a wicked deflection.

However, City were far from finished and they ensured a point when Mark Little scored from a short corner and went close to taking maximum points when Gilbert's excellent pass allowed Paul Hines room to shoot but his low shot brought a stunning save out of the Bowdon keeper.

After a disappointing result against Newcastle University the City of York II side were determined to regain their form in division two and soundly beat Halifax 3-0 at home.

Still in contention for the runners-up spot, City made a slow start but having repelled Halifax's early attacks they took control and gained the lead when Chris Wilson forced a good save from the visiting keeper but was alert to the rebound and flicked that into the unguarded net.

It was not until the second period that City truly began to make their mark and a second goal came through Nick Carter who easily beat the Halifax keeper who was left stranded by Mark Moiseley's pin-point pass.

Despite some smart approach work City did not carve out a third goal until 10 minutes before time when Moiseley's initial attempt on goal fell into the path of Graham Cook who fired his shot out of the keeper's reach.

There was no derby joy for City of York III as they went down 3-1 at York University.

City found the student side in hot form but managed to remain on terms into the second half when the University finally broke the deadlock.

A second goal arrived within five minutes but City replied when Ben Dutton scored, but any hopes of gaining a draw were dashed when City conceded a soft goal as they pushed forward.

In Yorkshire League division four City of York IV knew they had a tough task on their hands against Sheffield University II and were eventually well beaten 4-1.

Given City's creditable first half showing, when they managed to deny the students a goal, they looked like gaining a result to be proud of but when Sheffield struck early in the second half the floodgates opened.

The first strike was rapidly followed by a second and third before Dave Ewing managed to reverse the trend and pull a goal back for City. However, the students had the final say with a late fourth.

There was no place to hide for City of York V as they were hammered 7-0 away at Bradford University II, where the highlight of a poor performance was one excellent move that ended with Russ Grant shooting narrowly off target.

For City of York VI it was a different tale as they built on a good start against Harrogate V to win 4-0.

It took patience as it was not until the 25th minute that a fierce short corner strike from Nigel Herd put them ahead, but within two minutes Herd had repeated the dose.

The second half saw City in control and Herd completed his hat-trick, this time scoring from open play pushing the ball home after a strong run from deep.

Constant pressure led to a fourth goal 10 minutes from time when Marco Dukic produced a firm finish.

City of York VII struggled to turn possession into goals on their travels and wen down 1-0 at Leeds IV.

While Leeds are leaders of division seven in the Yorkshire League they produced little to suggest they would overwhelm City and settled for containing City, who had striker James Still, Tim Senior and keeper Richard Schofield in fine form.

However, as league leaders often do Leeds snatched a goal in the second half and then were content to sit tight and keep City at bay.

City of York VIII made heavy weather of scoring a 1-0 success over Hull YPI II.

With Malcom Dutton threatening on the left and Paddy Johson in good form City pressed but they managed just the one goal with Andy Deady smashing in the winner.

Battling York deserve to draw

York women's hockey club gave a much improved display to collect a point from a 1-1 draw at Winnington Park in the North League's first division.

The Cheshire side started strongly and it needed good work by Jacqui Birch and Sam Binns to keep them at bay and early in the second half two excellent saves from keeper Lynne Gowland, one from a penalty stroke, kept York on level terms.

However, Gowland was finally beaten by the impressive Karen Thwaites but the lead was short lived as within five minutes Sally Sleightholme scored touching home Karen Howells' cross.

Sleightholme was unlucky not to snatch maximum points for York, twice going close in the dying minutes of the game.

York followed that with a comfortable win in the Yorkshire Cup beating Huddersfield side Lockwood Park 4-0.

Sleightholme opened the scoring after a move that took York the length of the pitch, and they added a second when newcomer Sarah Lawrence notched her first goal for the club.

Jen Salt added the third and Hannah Rockcliff tacked on the fourth in the last minute.

York face another cup test next weekend when they face Sevenoaks in the quarter-finals of the National Hockey Association Plate, the match being staged at York University (push back 1pm).

York II were without a game but York III suffered a rare defeat in division seven of the Yorkshire League going down 7-3 against York St John's . The York scorers were Lucy Stubley, Sara Hughes and Helen Pickles.

Acomb Ladies suffered a setback as they were knocked out of the county cup going down 3-2 to Thirsk after being two goals to the good.

Sally Kelsey gave Acomb the lead and that was doubled before half-time thanks to a fine short corner strike from Ruth Baxter.

However, Acomb were hit early in the second half by a controversial penalty award and once Thirsk had pulled a goal back from the spot they took control.

They equalised from a short corner and then grabbed the all-important third from another set play.

Acomb II went down 1-0 at the hands of Richmond having not made the most of their chances.

They had looked well placed with Ann Hagyard and Jill Grey playing well in midfield but in the end even fine saves from keeper Gemma Hall could not keep Richmond out.

Nestle Rowntrees impressed in the Costcutter York and District League with a 4-1 win at Ryedale.

Carole Carter opened the scoring for the visitors and Vanessa Moore added a second.

Ryedale pulled a goal back but Rowntrees restored their two goal advantage when Julie Moore put Vanessa Moore through for her second and the victory was wrapped up by a Clare Trodden strike, her first in the league.

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