All posts by Craig Hockenhull

Match reports – 16-03-24

Whitchurch ladies 3’s 0 Lymm ladies 4’s 2

This was expected to be a hard match after a heavy defeat earlier in the season. But at half time we were 0-0. Whitchurch showed great determination and strength with quite a few runs but couldn’t quite finish with a goal.

All the girls fought for each and every tackle and the team work was excellent. Today all the players gave their all and defended like they had been playing together for years. Jan Teggin (our stand in goalie and player of the match) made some cracking saves and with the support of the defenders kept Lymm at bay. A couple of fancy flicks from Lymm did make it past Jan but she was a natural goalie. A very exciting match to watch and all the players should be extremely proud of such a well-played game.

 

Knutsford Men’s 2s 4 Whitchurch Men’s 2s 1

The game started fast with some very even breaks. However, Knutsford took an early lead though a short corner. This was was quickly matched by some slick passing through the midfield and a nice finish from Airan Jones.

Shortly after Whitchurch were very unlucky with the keeper blocking a shot from Alfie Edwards with the back of his stick on the line but not acknowledged by the umpire.  Arthur Huxley (MOM) stand in keeper had an outstanding game saving Whitchurch multiple times throughout the match surely stealing the position for the foreseeable future from usual captain Neil Jones.

Martin (the wall) Beecher held the fort strongly throughout but unfortunately at the end of a high intensity game Whitchurch conceded a couple in quick concession.

The Edwards brothers had an amazing match linking like only brothers can. Adam Rance showed some great control throughout and worked nicely with an ever-improving Nick Moga. Can’t mention everyone but a really great performance all round by a team with a great future.

Match reports – 02-03-24

Macclesfield ladies 4’s 5 Whitchurch ladies 3’s 2

An excellent match to watch with end-to-end play from the start. Lots of great opportunities for both teams. Tilly Windsor scored for Whitchurch in the first half and Freya kellett in the second half. Some excellent passes and communication on the pitch and lots of support from the sideline was appreciated.

Special mentions this week for Sue Read, Jan Teggin and Mel Reid are the glue that holds the team together and all three of them had a smashing match and also guiding the newer players to improve.

Newcomers Megan Hayward and Isla Hearn also excelled this week with some spectacular tackles and great endurance with no subs. Isla Gregory, Tilly Windsor, Esme  Mackreth and Freya Kellet all made some, at times seeming inhuman, runs and won some key tackles. And not forgetting Lexi Morgan and Alice Snaith who put up a great fight in defence.

Player of the match Freya Kellett

Whitchurch ladies 1s 2 Clwb Hoci Eirias ladies 1 5

Whitchurch ladies 1s suffered a 5-2 defeat against Clwb hoci Eirias in a tough home game on Saturday. The away team dominated the first half, scoring a goal early in the game and putting Whitchurch under pressure.

Whitchurch fought back with Lisa Sullivan scoring a solo goal after stealing the ball from an Eirias defender and running into the dee to slot it past the keeper. Eirias followed this with 3 more goals to further their lead in the first half.

Early in the second half, Katie Laffey added another goal for Whitchurch from a strike off a penalty corner, but it was not enough to prevent Eirias from sealing the win with a fifth goal in the final minutes. Whitchurch will look to bounce back in their next few games.

Winnington Park Men’s 3 2 Whitchurch Men’s 2s 3

Following on from good performances in recent weeks Whitchurch travelled to Winnington with a high expectation of gaining points.

Whitchurch pressured from the off, attacking down the wings through Cian Hirst and Oliver Edwards resulting in Will Edwards getting his first goal to give Whitchurch the lead.

Whitchurch were guilty of some complacency, ill-discipline and the loss of Ollie Hogg through injury caused some disorganisation which Winnington took full advantage of to take a lead into the break.

Captain Neil Jones’s halftime talk focussed on work rate and keeping the play as simple as possible, and this seemed to stir Whitchurch into action.

In defence James Partington, Thomas Wyndham-Lewis and Lucas Hill stood firm sweeping up the Winnington attacks whilst Nik Moga, Liam Pallett and Archie Plews made themselves available in the midfield controlling the game and passing the ball around.

Whitchurch maintained possession but struggled to break down a stubborn Winnington defence and it took a 40-yard pass from Craig Hockenhull to be touched past the Winnington keeper by Will Edwards to break the deadlock and bring the scores level.

The game then opened as both teams pushed forward for the win and a crucial three points. Whitchurch broke down the left-hand side via Joe Sheridan who picked out the lead run of Airan Jones who slipped the ball inside to Will Edwards to complete his hattrick.

Winnington pushed for the equaliser in the final minutes of the game but Whitchurch held firm to secure a valuable three points.

Match reports 24-02-24

Whitchurch ladies 3’s 0 Sandbach ladies 2’s 6

Whitchurch 3’s were expecting a hard match with top of our league sandbach 2’s.

The first half Whitchurch were able to keep Sandbach at bay with pretty even possession, with Isla
Gregory getting a good shot on goal.

0-0 at half time, Whitchurch were optimistic but also not complacent at the half time team talk. Whitchurch were right not to be as Sandbach came back even more determined and feisty, scoring a whopping 6 goals in the second half. This determination meant keeper Alice Snaith was kept very busy but her impressive save in the last few minutes, almost doing the splits, showed the commitment and resilience that all the 3’s show every week.

Whitchurch Men’s 2s 2 Macclesfield Men’s 3s 3

After the heavy loss earlier in the season Whitchurch didnt know what to expect from the travelling Macclesfield team.

A highly competitive game followed as Whitchurch again continued to improve but still lacked the clinical finishing in front of goal. Will Edwards again provided the much needed goals for the Whitchurch team with a run and shot in the first half and a neat deflection from a penalty corner in the second.

Whitchurch travel to Winnington Park next week to get points looking to build on their continued improvements.

Match Reports – 17-02-24

Warrington Men’s 2s 0 Whitchurch Men’s 2s 3

Whitchurch travelled to Warrington for a rearranged fixture from before Christmas. The game started out with Warrington controlling play and dominating the younger Whitchurch team.

Whitchurch got drawn into the battle with Warrington in the first half which distracted Whitchurch from their normal passing game and it wasn’t until late in the half that Whitchurch took the lead through Will Edwards.

Captain Neil Jones gave a half time talk and the team responded in the second half. James Partington, Ollie Hogg and Lucas Hill in defence rode the tackles from the Warrington forwards and Whitchurch started to move the ball around in midfield through Nik Moga, Liam Pallet and Thomas Wyndham- Lewis this resulted in Craig Hockenhull picking out Will Edwards in the dee for his second.

Whitchurch started to have more time and space on the ball as Warrington tired and moved the ball quickly down both wings with Cian Hirst and Charlie Edwards causing the Warrington defenders many problems.

Whitchurch continued to push forward and both Joe Sheridan and Airan Jones were unlucky with shots on goal. It finally took some individual skill and luck by Oliver Edwards and Alfie Edwards down the right side of the pitch carving their way through the Warrington defence finally picking out Will Edwards in the dee and his shot took a wicked deflection in the air and over the stranded keeper.

Whitchurch finished the game with a clean sheet and a well-earned three points.