YORK City Ladies suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at a Middlesbrough team keen to gain revenge for last seasons' County Cup final defeat on penalties.

Substitute Ashleigh Brack's 89th-minute consolation proved scant reward for a York performance that pushed their Teesside hosts all the way.

Earlier, keeper Chloe Precious kept City on terms with an outstanding tenth-minute save, while Megan Bramham almost fired the visitors in front with a strong effort four minutes into the second period.

Boro forged ahead, though, following a great strike four minutes later and doubled their advantage shortly afterwards when a corner wasn't cleared.

Midfielder Nicki Brown, later awarded girl of the game, chased every ball in an attempt to get a goal back and her efforts were rewarded when Brack's free kick saw her credited with the goal even though there was confusion as to who got the last touch.

City Ladies' reserves, meanwhile, climbed to the top of the North Riding Women's League after defeating visiting neighbours York RI 3-0 thanks to goals from Margot Widdup, player-of-the-match Rachel Harding and Laura Porritt.

The hosts had not beaten RI in two seasons but took the lead after ten minutes when Widdup headed in her second goal in as many games after meeting Amy Roberts' cross to the back post.

City went on to lose keeper Sam Knight to injury with winger Ellie Randall taking over between the sticks but survived that blow and doubled their advantage on 43 minutes when full-back Sophie Parrish delivered a pin-point cross following a great passing move to pick out Harding, who found the bottom corner with her third goal of the season.

A good spell of possession then saw Porritt's lob complete the scoring with striker Sammy Terry providing the assist.

Randall, meanwhile, was equal to everything RI threw at her to keep a clean sheet.