Cheshire Blue ladies 1 Whitchurch ladies 1s 2

Ladies 1s travelled away to play top of the league Cheshire Blues.

Whitchurch were on absolute top form this week, from the whistle controlling the play, taking Cheshire Blue’s completely by surprise.

Mid players Lisa Sullivan, captain Cath Gresty and Molly Fry held the Blues off breaking the middle for most of the first half. Halves Mollie Bell and Caitlin Edwards supported pushing back up the pitch. Several shorts were won and their work paid off when Hayleigh Busby tapped past the keep after a battle on the line.

Cheshire Blues were getting frustrated with the fact Whitchurch were taking control, occasionally breaking but very quickly picked up by Chloe Lloyd and Hayleigh Busby. Half time for a well-deserved quick rest and team talk and Whitchurch came back onto the pitch just as strong as the start.

The forwards putting so much pressure on Cheshire Blues that they started making mistakes. Some great runs from Izzy Huxley and Gresty came up the wings but the Blues were packing out their dee.

A lucky break for the Blues and they managed to equalise from a scrappy short corner.

This didn’t phase Whitchurch and another run of short corner came for the reds, so much pressure came from Whitchurch, eventually Amelie Morris received the ball from India Freer and scored a second for Whitchurch.

As everyone was tiring the Blues managed another attempt on goal, but with several saves from keeper Holly Edwards they kept attacking desperately, Chloe Lloyd stepped in to make an outstanding save from just in front of the line.

Whitchurch calmed and with minutes to go managed to keep Cheshire Blues from making it a draw.

A very excited Whitchurch 1s team came away with a fantastic 2-1 win against the top side.

Crewe ladies 4s 0 Whitchurch ladies 2s 5

It was a quick start for Whitchurch with Phoebe Jones scoring a goal within the first 2 minutes. This put the team on a positive note. Some great passing in the middle between Jasmine Williams , Poppy Huxley and Bella Morris leading to a second goal scored by Bella Morris.

Crewe had some breaks through the middle but a strong defence of Rachel Chesters and Hermonie Ball stopped them. A few shots on goal but all deflected by goalkeeper Megan Nicholson.

Louise Whitley and Lucy Hearn made some good runs up the wing passing into the dee just missing the goal slightly.

After a positive team talk by captain Emma Stubbs, Crewe kicked off the second half but were unable to score any goals. Lydia Jones and Jas Williams made some strong tackles leading to a third goal assisted by Bella Morris crossing the dee put in on the post to Lydia Jones.

A few more breaks from Crewe were quickly shut down. Poppy Huxley broke down Crewe passing up to Jas Williams and out to Lucy Chadwick on the wing . This then led to a pass to Lucy Hearn putting it in the goal.

Another goal was scored quickly afterwards by Jas Williams  to make the final score 5-0 to Whitchurch. A well deserved win for Whitchurch

Phoebe Jones was player’s player

Whitchurch ladies 3s 0 Macclesfield ladies 3s 12

Whitchurch ladies 3s entertained Macclesfield ladies 3s this weekend at home. Whitchurch started off the stronger of the two teams by setting the pace early with Eleanor Beecher starting looking out for Poppy Gilbert on the left and Sophie Jones on the right. Whitchurch pressured the Macclesfield defence but missed the post by millimetres. Whitchurch then reset and Macclesfield managed to find the goal through Whitchurch keeper Louise Cottrell.

Whitchurch weren’t going to give up there they wanted to equalise but Macclesfield applied more pressure to the Whitchurch defence of Maisie Bennett, Emma Clarke, Mel Reid and Jan Teggin. With every player marked and Cotterell keeping Macclesfield at bay Sue Read made a bid for freedom looking for Mable Hazelhurst and Jessica Hunt. But Macclesfield had stolen the ball back and had scored a further 5 goals bringing the score line to 6-0.

At half time Whitchurch regrouped and had some positive talks and enthusiastic motivation which lead to them applying the pressure back on the Macclesfield defence.

Evie Hall, Harriet Slater and Freya Gresty worked together to mark and prevent Macclesfield from entering the Dee. But Macclesfield had won a short corner, which then turned in to a penalty stroke. Cotteroll knew she had to deny any more chances for Macclesfield and denyied them from slotting it past her!

With minutes to spare Macclesfield had slotted the ball a further 6 goals bringing the final score to 12-0.

Player of the match goes to Jan Teggin.

Next week Whitchurch will be heading to Sandbach for their final game of the season

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

Whitchurch arrived late for the match and the lack of a proper warmup came back upon them as Knutsford scored three quick goals in the first ten minutes leaving goalkeeper Neil Jones with no chance. Whitchurch started to settle and string together a number of passes attacking down the wings through Airan Jones and Tom Edwards

Whitchurch started to take some control of the game as Jon Gilbert and Ethan Gresty got more of the ball and feed balls into Will Edwards upfront who had a number of shots that were saved by the Knutsford keeper.

Whitchurch started the second half the same as they finished the second as Knutsford scored straight from the start.

Whitchurch again settled with Danny Foulkes, Harry Foulkes, Gareth Teggin and Steve Kay moving the ball around the back of the defence and into Doug Buckeridge on the left hand side and Whitchurch finally got some reward as Lucas Hill picked out Craig Hockenhull in the dee who slotted the ball into the corner.

Whitchurch continued to push for further goals and had a string of short corners resulted in shots for both Danny Foulkes and Will Edwards which were excellently saved by the defenders and keeper.

Whitchurch entertain Alderley Edge at home next weekend.

Whitchurch ladies 1s 2 Wilmslow ladies 3s 1

With the end of the season in sight, Whitchurch Ladies 1s went into the match determined and looking for a win. Whitchurch immediately took control of play, with strong runs from Lisa Sullivan and Molly Fry. Mollie Bell worked tirelessly as left half making numerous excellent tackles and, alongside Hayleigh Busby and Chloe Lloyd, easily shut down Wilmslow attacks. Captain Cath Gresty made strong runs into the dee supported by right half Indie Freer and right-wing Holly Gilbert.

On the left, Emily Curzon and Fry worked well together, with a string of passes enabling Whitchurch to work its way into the dee and win its first short corner. A strong strike from Sullivan was defended well by Wilmslow and despite a string of short corners following, Whitchurch were unable to secure a goal. However, following strong drives from Fry and Gresty, Ellie Pearson scored an amazing reverse shot sending the ball powerfully into the top corner and bringing the score to 1-0.

With newfound drive following the goal, Whitchurch continued to fight hard. Whitchurch continued to maintain possession with amazing runs down the wing from Caitlin Edwards and Molly Fry’s continuous attacks and never-ending determination resulting in yet more strikes on goal, saved by the Wilmslow goalie.

Just before half-time, Sullivan easily dribbled the ball round the defenders and with a confident strike took the score to 2-0 as the half time whistle blew.

Whitchurch continued to work well together in the second half, with Goalkeeper Holly Edwards continuing to amaze with her excellent saves. Lloyd worked incredibly hard in defence, preventing several Wilmslow attacks. However, Wilmslow were able to take the score to 2-1 from a short. Whitchurch did not let this stop them and continued to fight. The final whistle blew leaving the score 2-1. Whitchurch were pleased with their performance and are ready to take on top of league Cheshire Blues next week.

Whitchurch ladies 2s 2 Alderley Edge ladies 7s 5

It was a slow start for Whitchurch ladies 2s, matched by a much faster and together opposition from Alderley Edge. Hermione Ball, Emma Stubbs and Rachel Chesters provided a solid defence throughout the first half but were unlucky three times as Alderley Edge managed to sneak to goals past them.

Whitchurch made some breaks in the middle from Lydia Jones, Jas Williams, Bella Morris, Louise Whitley, Lucy Hearn and Poppy Huxley, giving Heidi Carr the opportunity to score. This brought Whitchurch back together as a team and they almost regained their normal game.

After a tactical talk, the second half began much stronger for Whitchurch securing several short corners, tiring Alderley Edge’s defence and leading to a second goal from Phoebe Jones.

Unfortunately, Alderley Edge scored two more goals leaving the final score as 5-2. This wasn’t a fair reflection on Whitchurch ladies usual game play. Amelie Morris was player’s player.

Crewe ladies 4s 4 Whitchurch ladies 3s 4

Whitchurch ladies 3s travelled to a wet and windy Crewe vagrants, whitchurch started off the stronger of the two teams and were pressuring the Crewe defence with runs from Eleanor Beecher, Poppy Gilbert, Meg Brunyard, Freya Gresty and Mable Hazelhurst, working together to get the ball into the Crewe dee. Crewe then found a gap between the strong line of defence after a quick turn around at the other end of the pitch to slot the ball past the Whitchurch goalkeeper of Megan Nicholson who was making some crucial saves to keep whitchurch in the game.

From the whistle Gresty picked out Gilbert who found Beecher who drove the ball past the Crewe defence and scoring her first of many bring the score line to 1-1, whitchurch then had the scoring bug and wanted more, within minutes Beecher made a break towards the Crewe goal and slotted it past the Crewe keeper bringing the score to 2-1. But Crewe fought back and passed around the Whitchurch defence of Emma Clarke, Mel Reid, Elsie-may Cottrell and Rachael Chesters and slotted the ball just past Nicholson who had made some more critical saves to keep them in the game. Bring the score to 2-2.

After an encouraging team talk the girls were ready to go out fighting once more and score some more goals. This time Sophie Jones got herself on the score sheet with a pass from Jess Hunt who received the ball from Jan Teggin who had also picked out Maise Bennett who spotted Jones on top of the Crewe dee who fired home for her first goal of the season.

With the score being 3-2 Crewe came back at the Whitchurch defence but with countless efforts from Clarke and Chester’s Crewe still managed to slot the ball bringing the score to 3-3.

With everyone on the edge of their seats Beecher made a crucial run up the pitch to slot in her 3^rd of the game bringing the score to 4-3, whitchurch were in the clear all they had to do was run the last 3 minutes down by keeping control of the ball but with them getting tired and Crewe pressuring Nicholson they brought the score line to 4-4.

Eleanor Beecher was rewarded players player.

Whitchurch ladies 1s 2 Warrington ladies 1s 1

Ladies 1s hosted Warrington at home this week and started off strong with great defensive play from Chloe Lloyd and Hermione Ball, working the ball out to Sophie Ward and Mollie Bell.

Warrington were strong on their hit outs and moved the ball quickly up the pitch, winning a short to score first. Whitchurch came back strong and had a string of short corners, but couldn’t break Warrington’s defence.

Mid players Lisa Sullivan, Captain Cath Gresty and Jazmin Williams battled constantly putting pressure on the opposition and eventually got the ball the Hayleigh Busby to get on the score sheet.

Half time and 1-1, quick team talk and back on the pitch as it was very cold and wet.

Whitchurch worked hard to keep possession much better in the second half, not allowing Warrington to score again.

Alice Parton and Caitlin Edwards covered the width forcing Warrington to all defend, a deflection off the keeper into the air, allowed Hayleigh Busby to tap the ball above head height into the goal.

Keeper Holly Edwards kept Warrington from scoring in the last 5 minutes as they battled to get a draw.

Whistle went, 2-1 to a happy ladies 1s team.

Wilmslow Men’s 3s 5 Whitchurch Men’s 1s 3

Whitchurch travelled to Wilmslow this week to play a team higher in the league and on a winning streak, so the Reds knew they’d have a tough game from the start. With player availability restricted, there were new and younger players in the team, and it was a credit to all how well they played together, settling into a steady rhythm quickly.

The first half was a very even affair, with constant pressure from Wilmslow being balanced by solid defending from Whitchurch, with both teams unlucky not to score on the break. It was Wilmslow who went ahead first though, despite a clear foot from their attacker which went unseen but meant that the Reds had paused momentarily waiting for a whistle which never came. Paul “Sturge” Leigh was his usual indomitable self in goal, and made a number of significant blocks and saves to keep the score to 1-0 at half time.

In the second half the tempo stayed high, with both sides using the width of the pitch well, but eventually the pressure told and Wilmslow made a breakthrough, with a goal that appeared to go in off a back-stick, but again the Reds had waited for a whistle that wouldn’t go their way, and it was followed by a third for the opposition. However, the current Whitchurch team has shown time and again their mental resilience and, rather than letting their heads drop, they regrouped, settled and built up the pressure on the Wilmslow defence. Their marking was effective, giving the opposition defence very limited options, and Jack Barnes was able to take advantage, picking off their clearance from a sixteen to take it into the dee and fire it in.

Another goal followed shortly after, as a long-corner hit was moved around with some lovely one-touch hockey before Luke Beddow scored a great goal on the reverse stick to put the Reds in touching distance. Wilmslow picked up another, but Whitchurch came back again, with Beddow’s speed causing more problems in the Wilmslow defence but despite being firmly blocked by the keeper, the ball rebounded to Tom Forster who drove to the baseline near the edge of the dee and unleashed a great shot on a very fine angle to bring the Reds back within a goal again.

It wasn’t to be for Whitchurch, as Wilmslow were awarded a number of short corners at the end of the game, and their last one was a well-worked deflection goal to go 5-3 up. Sturge took an injury to his shoulder in the dying seconds and the full-time whistle was blown, but Whitchurch can take a lot from a game where it could have gone very differently if they hadn’t stuck to their tasks as well as they did, and worked so well as a team despite the changes in personnel.