DESPITE a superb defensive display by Matt Couttie, City of York Hockey Club's men's first team went down 1-0 at Ben Rhydding in their North League clash.

The only goal came in the second half from a short corner, but York missed a great chance to equalise soon afterwards when the ball came to Jimmy Gilbert at the far post, but with the goal beckoning, his stick control let him down and the ball span wide.

Couttie excelled in the heart of York's defence while Ashley Watson made a superb save late on to prevent the Ilkley-based side doubling their lead.

York went close early on through Simon Grey and Lee Cuffe, but both were denied by the home net-minder.

Kyle Hogg rattled in a hat-trick as City of York II thumped Lincoln I 5-2 in NE Two.

He scored the only goal of the first half when he robbed a Lincoln defender and knocked in the rebound from Chris Dutton's shot.

Lincoln levelled but Matt Fletcher made it 2-1 to York just before the interval.

Hogg netted his second after good work by Alex Cockram and Nick Carter made it 4-1 from a short corner.

Lincoln pulled one back on the break but after clever inter-play between Cockram and Paul Sanguin, Hogg slapped in his hat-trick goal.

Jeremy Pilch scored City of York III's goal in their 3-1 Yorkshire League division one defeat at Bradford where they were 2-0 down inside ten minutes.

City of York IV and Kingston upon Hull III fought out a 1-1 draw in division three with Ed Mardsen netting for York.

Goalkeeper Dave Horn made two excellent saves to prevent Hull from taking the lead in the second half.

Tony Neeve was taken to hospital with an eye injury sustained in City of York V's 4-2 defeat on grass at Ben Rhydding V, who made the most of their numerical advantage to push on to win.

A last-gasp goal from John Bell gave City of York VI a 2-1 victory over Ben Rhydding V in division five after Pat Birch converted a Tim Jolly pass to equalise.

James Woodhall and Nick Kay strikes hauled City of York VII level at Harrogate V in division six, only for the home side to score a late winner.

Junior player Sam Ellis netted City of York VIII's goal in their 5-1 home defeat by Leeds VIII in division ten east. In the same division, City of York IX lost 4-0 at Driffield II.

Tadcaster Mixed team beat City of York Mixed 2-1 with skipper Lol Thornton netting a penalty for York.

Acomb seconds stop the slide

ONLY Acomb Ladies II secured a point in a disappointing weekend for the club when they drew 0-0 with Slazengers III at Oaklands.

Beth Hartshorne was outstanding in the Tangerines' defence to give them only their second point of their Yorkshire League division six campaign.

Acomb Ladies I suffered heartbreak against LA Metros II in division two when Jenna Allinson equalised from the penalty spot with five minutes to go only for the Tangerines to concede two goals in the final minutes to go down 6-4. Acomb's other goals came from Kerry Rafton, Anne Pye and Kerry Woods with a penalty corner strike.

Acomb Men's II lost to a hotly disputed penalty corner four minutes from the end of their game against Sheffield Hallam VIII in YL division eight.

Graham Ibbotson and Dave Quarrie were excellent in Acomb's defence while man of the match Baz Whitfield was only inches away from scoring in the first half. Acomb, who only travelled with 11 players, were reduced to ten men when youngster Craig Brown went off injured and went down to a cruel late defeat.

Acomb I suffered a humiliating 9-0 reverse at Oaklands to Halifax I, who are in fourth place in YL division one.

Pam strikes at the double

AFTER a run of North League defeats, City of York Ladies returned to winning form with a 2-1 success at home to Roseberry.

Fielding several young players, York took the initiative with some good team work and were rewarded when Sally Sleightholme and Pam Rowbottom exchanged first-time passes for Rowbottom to open the scoring.

Roseberry hit back immediately, equalising when a shot from a penalty corner was deflected in off York defender Lorraine Pearey's stick.

But, York were soon back in the driving seat in the second half, and took the points when Rowbotttom scored her second goal after a well-worked attack.

In division one of the Yorkshire League, City of York Ladies II lost 2-0 at Sheffield III who scored a goal in each half. With Anna Ramli impressing, York were well in the game but were unable to find the net.

Sheffield IV also held the upper hand in division three, with a 4-1 victory over City of York Ladies III. York competed well in the first half, Becky Copperthwaite equalising an early Sheffield strike, but Sheffield took a half-time lead and had the edge after the break, scoring twice more and being denied a fifth when York 'keeper Lynne Gowland saved a penalty. Helen Davis took York's player of the match award.

The division four game between Sheffield University Bankers and City of York Ladies IV was postponed.

Updated: 11:37 Tuesday, January 24, 2006