WORCESTERSHIRE ended 2004 with a narrow 32-29 home defeat against West Yorkshire in English Counties League Division Three.

Both teams went into the fixture with unbeaten records but it was the visitors who left with an early Christmas present of five points.

West Yorkshire quickly took a two-goal lead but that was soon pegged back and overtaken by the eager home side who went 5-2 up before the Yorkshire side scored again.

The match then settled into a pattern with each side matching goal for goal to leave the hosts 9-5 up by the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was evenly matched with the West Yorkshire goal attack prominent and their goalkeeper making it difficult with her agility and physical presence. Worcestershire, though, just managed to outscore their opponents by one goal to lead 17-12 at half-time.

The five-goal lead gave the hosts an opportunity to control the game by keeping possession and frustrating the opposition, but unfortunately the opportunity was missed.

Passes started to go astray, handing possession back to the opposition who made better use of their chances.

West Yorkshire outscored Worcestershire 10-7 in the third quarter to trail just 24-22.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter Worcestershire brought on Rachel Sweet to replace Karen Greenfield at goal defence and Claire Johnson for Alison Wagstaff at centre.

West Yorkshire started the final quarter by scoring five goals in succession to take the lead.

The hosts found themselves well and truly on the back foot and staring defeat in the face.

They could not lift themselves in the final minutes and continued to fall further behind, losing the quarter 10-5 and, ultimately, the match.

Worcestershire now lie fourth in the table, equal on points with Shropshire and Hampshire North but they have a better goal average.

Basement side Wiltshire are the visitors for Worcestershire's next game on January 8 as the county aim to get their season back on track.

n Worcestershire Under 16s remain undefeated after three matches and are joint leaders of their league with Sussex.

Elsewhere, both the county Seconds and Under 18s lost out to West Yorkshire, 36-32 and 44-23 respectively.

However, the Under 16s won their encounter 50-31.