IN THE THICK OF IT: City of York's Steve Prankett was an early casualty as the second string beat Sheffield Bankers II to go top of the Northern Counties League's second division east

City of York's first and seconds strings enjoyed a weekend to remember in the Northern Counties Hockey League.

Their each faced their opposite numbers from the Sheffield Bankers club and both gained important victories - though their joy at success was for very contrasting reasons.

For the first team their 4-1 home win ensured they moved out of the relegation places in the premier division sending Doncaster into the bottom two and virtually cutting themselves free of bottom club Neston, who were hammered 7-0 by Hull.

The seconds were 2-1 away winners at Sheffield Bankers II and it put City Of York top NCHL's division two east having moved from third place at the restart of the campaign after Christmas to top spot after beating the two teams in their way, Bankers and Durham University.

City of York I started their clash at a frenetic pace but were decidedly second best to Bankers in the opening stages and it needed a great save from keeper James Riley to keep City on level terms.

However, the tide did not turn and eventually Sheffield gained the lead from a short corner and it was only when they went behind that York got their act together.

With Rob Hines, James Gilbert and Glyn Humphrey leading the revival City were level by half-time with a neat move seeing Gilbert play the ball in from the right and Gareth Jones, who started the move, was on hand to slot the ball home.

Where the first half had been scrappy the second half became overtly physical as Sheffield tried to get their own way only to be ruffled by City's neat midfield and attacking play.

However, City were also sinners and when a clumsy challenge saw Gawaine Hogg sent to the cooler they had to weather a storm that saw keeper Riley produced some great stops as Bankers fired in a volley of shots from a string of short corners.

Even Hogg's return did not change the flow and it took a goal out of the blue to alter the pattern of the game.

A City break brought a short corner and from that Hogg pounced to slot home the loose ball after Luke Griggs' initial shot had been blocked.

Riley saved brilliantly to deny Bankers an equaliser and then almost instantly increased their lead with Mark Little adjusting neatly when wide in the 'D' to flick the ball past the advancing keeper.

Two goals to the good City controlled the game as Bankers lost their cool and had two players yellow carded after a string of poor tackles and protests at decisions, but City had the final word when a short corner saw a clever routine give Chris Dutton the chance to shoot and though his effort was well blocked Hogg volleyed in the rebound.

Dreadful conditions, lashing rain and a howling gale, prevented City Of York II going to the top of division two east in style, but get there they did.

After Nick Carter went close with an early effort problems arose for City as an injury forced Steve Prankett from the field and Karim Ramli's introduction forced a number of positional changes.

Bankers took control but City came through and they then won a penalty stroke decision from which Carter put them ahead and a handful of minutes later Chris Allerton broke through one-on-one with the Bankers keeper and coolly slipped the ball home.

The second half saw Sheffield hold possession for long periods but without ever breaking down City's tern defence and even when Bankers finally scored when a shot was deflected past the City keeper, York held on for a win that marks them out as serious promotion contenders.

City of York IV scored an impressive 2-1 away win at Normanby Park II, but had to fight from behind after the home side scored with a good strike.

The goal had come against the run of play but while they dominated possession City struggled to score until a minute before half-time when a right wing cross found Matthew Pickering who blasted the ball home.

The second half saw Pickering snap up a second from close range, but it needed the control of Ian Wiggins in midfield and some good saves from 'keeper Darryl Barnes to keep Park at bay.

City of York V produced one of their better performances of the season but still slipped to a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Boston Spa II.

A short corner a penalty flick and a goal from open play put Spa three up inside 20 minutes and though City became better organised with Tim Downie and Russell Grant having good chances, were finished off when a dreadful defensive error was instantly punished by the visitors.

The club's development side, City of York VI, gained a notable victory as they beat Harrogate IV 3-1 away.

City took the game to Harrogate and went ahead when Marco Dakic picked the ball up 25 yards out and beat two defenders before hammering home his shot.

Then came a superb goal with Luke Ramli starting the move on the right and after a string of passes Edward Shouksmith netted with a stunning strike.

A scrambled goal from John Bell early in the second half ensured that late pressure by Harrogate was comfortably repelled.

City of York VII scored a 1-0 victory over Rotherham V with Julian Bellerby hitting the winner in the final minute after keeper Ian Jaggers had made a string of saves to keep City in the game.

Honours were even as City of York VIII travelled to Sheffield Bankers VII and drew 2-2, a neat flick by Mark Pryce giving City the lead, but they had to come from behind to gain a draw with Paddy Johnson scoring their second.

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