CITY OF York Hockey Club's men's first team maintained their recent good run with a 1-1 draw with Brooklands II at Oaklands.

The visitors are among one of the better sides in the Northern Hockey League premier division but York set the early pace and almost went ahead after 30 seconds through Ben 'Fozzie' Foster after Rodney Gray intercepted a pass.

Foster was later sin-binned for dissent, but York kept Brooklands at bay in his absence and after he returned to the pitch the home side went ahead.

Lee Cuffe took a pass from Pete Evans, rounded the 'keeper and scored with a reverse stick strike.

Brooklands equalised before half-time after a short corner and later forced net-minder Ashley Watson in to a great save.

Luke Ramli and Alex Topsfield worked tirelessly in defence for York, whose Cuffe and James Gilbert were denied by some great saves by Watson's opposite number.

A great defensive display earned York II a 1-0 win at LA Metros to move nearer the summit of the NHL division two east.

Leeds could find no way through a well-drilled York outfit and the visitors were rewarded with the only goal of the game 15 minutes after the interval.

Alex Cockram fired in a shot which the Metros 'keeper blocked. Graham Cook latched on to the loose ball but was denied twice by the brave goalkeeper before the ball was put away at the left post by Chris Dutton.

As Metros became increasingly frustrated by York's cast iron defence, they had a player yellow carded and City were able to see out the rest of the game in relative comfort.

York III and LA Metros II drew 2-2 in Yorkshire League division one in a see-saw tussle.

John Pierce fired York ahead after 15 minutes but Metros equalised before half-time and had the chance to go ahead when they were awarded a penalty stroke. However, York's man-of-the-match Matt Barker produced a superb save.

Metros still kept pushing forward and did take the lead but with ten minutes left were reduced to ten men and York grabbed their chance.

Pierce netted the equaliser and in the dying minutes Peter Perryman had what York thought was a winner disallowed.

York IV lost 5-0 at Leeds III in division three but York V defeated Leeds IV 4-1 to storm to the top of division five.

Leeds were third in the division but had no answer to City's brilliant second-half display.

Leeds led courtesy of a defensive error but crumbled under intense pressure after the break as Greg Sykes (2), Johnny Brooks and Sam Lynn all scored.

Division six high-fliers York St John's I were brought crashing down to earth by York VI who won 3-2 thanks to goals by Richard Tanner-Smith, skipper Tim Jolly and John Bell.

Goals by Nick Kay, Doug Walker and inspirational captain Neil Reader earned York VII a 3-2 win over Bradford University I after Brian Ignjatovic had kept them in game with some fine first-half saves.

Neil Hollier scored the only goal of the game as York IX beat Wakefield VII to replace them at the top of division ten east.

Updated: 09:44 Tuesday, December 06, 2005