YORK City Ladies stayed top of the North East Women's Regional Premier League following a 6-3 victory over fourth-placed Wakefield.

Player-of-the-match Ali Smith and Megan Bramham both bagged braces with captain Sara Renfrew and Nikki Brown also on the scoresheet.

Wakefield had earlier forged ahead following the first attack of the game when a looping cross from the right evaded City's defence and was headed in at the far post.

York responded on ten minutes when Renfrew headed in Bramham's corner.

But the West Yorkshire outfit went 2-1 up after slack marking allowed their captain to control the ball from another flag kick and volley into the top corner.

Smith got her first of the game on 42 minutes with a cool finish from inside the box and, early in the second period, Brown won the ball on the halfway line before feeding Bramham, who fired her team in front with an unstoppable 30-yard strike.

Wakefield refused to surrender, however, with City keeper Chloe Precious beaten by a low shot from the right winger who had cut inside from the flank.

Bramham hit back straight away following a mazy run down the left wing by Jazz Whitwell and, on 62 minutes, Brown headed in a corner after Beth Clayton's shot had been well blocked.

Now on top, York went close when Whitwell drove over from Jess Barnes' dangerous right-wing cross before Renfrew controlled a high ball expertly on 79 minutes and played a through ball to Smith, who was brought down for a penalty after rounding the keeper.

She went on to complete the scoring despite the Wakefield net-minder guessing the right corner and going close to keeping out her spot kick.