Unbeaten run comes to an end

York made the trip across the Pennines on the back of two draws and a win but the absence of three regulars was always going to make it difficult against a side 10 points clear at the top of the table.

The expected onslaught against the York goal was immediate but the makeshift defence of the visitors stood firm until midway through the half when Bowden opened the scoring through an unstoppable short corner flick.

The lead was doubled five minutes later after a goalmouth scramble but York hung on to keep the score to 2-0 at half-time.

The expected floodgates failed to open in the second half as Bowden, who had scored 26 goals in their previous two games, piled on the pressure.

Goals, however, did come in quick succession midway through the half through a penalty flick, two venomous short corners and a superbly-finished strike from open play.

"We really have to be pleased with the scoreline given Bowden's previous results and our depleted team," said captain Glyn Humphrey.

"We concentrated on defence and never gave up. We could very easily have conceded a cricket score but credit to the lads, they kept going."

York Trojans I had learned much from the previous NPL division two game against Disley but still came off the field defeated.

The 3-1 reverse did not fully reflect the play, however, which was much closer then the scoreline suggests.

It was a very physical game and Disley, once again, proved to be a well-organised outfit with ex-Trojans star Mike Thornicroft drilling his new team well.

Trojans opened the scoring when a mis-hit shot by Peter Richardson found its way through a melee of players into the Disley net.

Within five minutes, however, Disley had equalised and they went in front when a defensive error led to a poor clearance which ran on to the approaching striker's stick and he made no mistake.

In the second half the game followed a similar pattern but Trojans began to play some of their best hockey of the year and had by far the lion's share of the ball.

Repeated forays were made into Disley's territory but the discipline of Thornicroft's men ensured that they packed the area so that Trojans could find no way through.

Late in the game Disley scored their third to give them a more impressive victory margin then their play deserved.

Pritt Roller Yorkshire League division three unbeaten leaders Acomb I carried on their excellent progress to the title and promotion with a 5-1 victory over Wakefield III.

Straight from the start Wakefield had a chance but a poor shot went wide of the mark.

Then Acomb's Martin Forster fired a shot just wide for the Tangerines.

Acomb went into the lead soon after, though, when Danny Brown was first to react to the rebound from a Stuart Baxter short corner blast.

Wakefield continued to press forward but Brown doubled Acomb's lead on the counter attack.

Wakefield pulled one back from a short corner midway through the half but Acomb replied quickly to restore their two goal advantage with Baxter this time finding the net from a short corner routine.

After the interval Acomb played the ball around and were in full control. Jon Cooper grabbed a goal after the ball was not cleared from the area and the fifth came when old-hand Sam Gould's shot was deflected past the 'keeper by Adrian Nye.

York Trojans II had something to smile about with a 2-0 victory over Rotherham II.

Matthew Merrick made his debut in goal and played well.

A scrambled goal by Phil James gave Trojans the lead. Trojans then relaxed their concentration and found themselves struggling to hold on.

A hard half-time talk by coach Graham Guffick sorted the team out and Trojans got back into the game in the second half which was an end-to-end encounter.

David Lake put in a superb reverse stick flick which was stopped on the line illegally and from the resulting penalty stroke Sam Blackburn doubled Trojans' advantage.

A much-changed York II put in a disappointing performance on their way to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Bradford II.

Home side York started strongly with Malcolm Cossey and Mark Whiting, on the left, were able to produce several opportunities but York were unable to take advantage before a Bradford counter attack exposed a gap in the defence to take the lead.

Bradford often looked more determined and York were forced onto the back foot, giving the ball away too often and failing to defend effectively.

Bradford scored twice more before York replied through Neil Reader. Whiting hit York's second moments before the final whistle.

York III continued their disappointed season with an 8-0 defeat at Adel in division four.

Four goals in each half from a far stronger and better-organised home side put paid to York's hopes.

Trojans III took over top spot in division five, usurping Normanby Park II with a 4-2 victory.

Dave Lancaster gave Trojans the lead after 15 minutes only for Park to reply twice before half-time.

Trojans applied pressure straight from the re-start and Lancaster scored the equaliser shooting through the 'keeper's legs.

Chris Allerton restored Trojans' lead from the penalty spot then Lancaster completed his hat-trick to seal the win late in the game.

Acomb II lost at Dinnington I 3-0 after letting in two goals in the first two minutes.

Division six outfit Acomb III had a mix-and-match side out for the visit of Bradford University II and the students adapted well to the home team's grass pitch to run out deserved 3-0 winners.

Bradford opened the scoring midway through the first half when a shot was deflected past the Acomb 'keeper.

Acomb had several chances to equalise but good saves and close shots going just wide kept the Bradford goal unbreached.

In the second half the visitors increased their lead despite one of their players kicking the ball during the build-up and added a third late on.

Acomb, who had two strong penalty appeals turned down, continued to battle hard however and there were several good performances from the younger players notably Paul Ward and Andrew Church.

In division seven, York IV notched up another victory overcoming visitors Bradford IV 3-1.

York took an early lead with a goal from Andrew Dent. Dick Cambridge quickly followed up with York's second when he smashed in from a short corner.

Bradford fought back and reduced the arrears with a goal before half-time.

York regained control after the break and excellent work by Ivo Dukic led to Malcolm Dutton banging in the third which sealed the points.

Draw specialists York Trojans IV came away from Sheffield VI with yet another single point haul after a 1-1 share-all.

A fine run from midfield by Chris Armstrong led to a good shot which hit the post and rebounded to Neil Jackson who had no problem putting it away.

Sheffield, stung into action, came back strongly and Trojans were forced to hang on grimly until half-time.

After the interval, Sheffield dictated play and eventually equalised but could not find a way through for a winner.

York Trojans V recorded a rare victory with a 4-3 defeat of Huddersfield V in division eight.

Huddersfield opened the scoring but John Page levelled with a brilliant solo effort. Then goals from Patrick Feetenby, at a short corner, and Phil Habergham had Huddersfield struggling.

A fourth goal from the penalty spot by Habergham seemed to put the game beyond the opposition but a nail-biting fightback produced two late goals which kept Trojans on their toes.

In a friendly fixture, Acomb IV lost out to Tadcaster 4-2. The Tangerines, a mix of experience and youth, held on well and looked like earning a draw thanks to Danny Cameron's brace of goals.

But a late push by Tadcaster saw them hit two more goals to seal the victory.

Hard working York Veterans beat Slazengers Veterans 4-2 with two goals coming from Graham Cook. Wakefield-based Slazengers scored twice from the penalty spot and missed a third flick.

York Trojans Veterans went out of the Yorkshire Cup at the hands of Wakefield Veterans 6-3.

Wakefield struck first but then Roz Ramli and Nick Fitton put Trojans in the lead.

This was short-lived however as, with ex-Great Britain captain Norman Hughes pulling all the strings, Wakefield scored two more before half-time.

After the break Wakefield scored three more before Trojans could reply through Dave Lancaster.

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