All posts by Craig Hockenhull

Match Report 02/12/17

The Men’s 1s had a week off as they had no league game.

 

Neston ladies 3s 1 Whitchurch ladies 1s 0

Whitchurch ladies 1s travelled away to play Neston 3’s this week.

Whitchurch seemed to have a slow start not expecting Neston to come out with so much pressure. The game sped up as Neston pushed up to the Whitchurch goal and managed to take the lead pushing the ball through the keeper’s legs.

Whitchurch woke up and with rolling subs at the front started to play with much more speed. They had plenty of chances but the Neston defence kept picking up every ball. Grace Berry and Holy Jepson had great runs passing the ball up to Laura Workman and Ellie Windsor, with Sue Read waiting at the top but couldn’t find the goal to equalise before half time.

A strong team talk and Whitchurch came back stronger in the second half having some great runs and passes. Neston kept defence Catherine Reece-Gresty and Gayle Ladd on their guard as they had a couple of young fast players ready to take them on. Keeper Shola Bailey had a great save from a lifted ball into the left top corner.

Whitchurch kept the pressure on as Hebe Dixon and Helen Machin pushed up to help over run Neston, but time was running out for Whitchurch and had to settle for a 1-0 loss.

Ladies 1s play their last home game next week before the Christmas break against Triton.

Denbigh Men’s 2s 3 Whitchurch Men’s 2’s 1

Whitchurch Men’s 2s travelled to a damp, grey North Wales for an early start against Denbigh 2s. With half-a-dozen teams all within a few points of each other in mid-table, this was an opportunity for Whitchurch to move up the table and Denbigh to pull away from the teams below them.

The Welsh side started brightly, moving the back quickly and accurately, and Whitchurch struggled to get a foothold in the game. When the ball was won, the forward passes struggled to find team mates and the ball immediately came back towards the Whitchurch goal.

The Whitchurch defence stood firm with Airan Jones and Doug Buckeridge restricting the wide player’s, Ryan Murtagh sweeping in front of the dee, and Matt Brooks (who had an excellent game) clearing anything that came into the Whitchurch dee.

Ultimately however, the half followed a familiar pattern for Whitchurch. Their inability to clear their lines and retain possession higher up the pitch, and the constant pressure from the opposition could only be withstood for so long. As in other games this season, midway through the half their opponents scored two quick goals.

On both occasions, balls played into the dee were swept clear by Whitchurch, but Denbigh players were quick to pick up the loose balls and drive straight back into the dee and get shots away. The first goal came from a clever flick right in front of keeper Neil Jones from a well struck shot from the edge of the dee. The second goal was a bit of a soft, bobbley effort, which everyone should have done better with.

In familiar fashion, conceding two quick goals seemed to galvanise the Whitchurch side. They started to get more of a grip in midfield and started to get the ball into the Denbigh dee. Iain Bones playing in an unfamiliar centre forward position fashioned a good chance which was saved at point-blank range by the on-rushing Denbigh keeper. Fred Egerton, Tom Forster and Craig Hockenhull also had chances, but Whitchurch were unable to find a goal before half-time.

Following a few home truths at half time, Whitchurch started the second half with much more purpose. Euan Morris and Joe Coburn saw more possession on the Whitchurch right and continually opened up space near to the Denbigh dee. Craig Hockenhull, Wyn Morris and Tom Forster became much more of a threat from midfield and Fred Egerton and Joe Faithful combined well on the left.

After a number of short corners were well defended by Denbigh, the Welsh side misjudged a long punt up field which rather than going dead hit the post and stayed in play. The follow up from Iain Bones and Fred Egerton was kept out of the goal by the bodies of the Denbigh defenders and a penalty flick was duly awarded and dispatched by Craig Hockenhull.

Denbigh were always a threat on the counter attack but the Whitchurch defence played well to limit the threats to their goal. From a short corner Neil Jones made an excellent stop and, later, did really well to narrow the angle and make the save when a Denbigh forward escaped the defence and found himself alone in the Whitchurch dee.

Whitchurch continued to attack and thought they’d equalised when Craig Hockenhull flicked the ball goal-ward and the ball deflected off a Welsh stick into the goal. After initially being awarded, the umpires consulted and decided the shot had originated from outside of the dee and a long corner was the result.

Minutes after that disappointment Whitchurch were caught out on the counter and a Denbigh player danced into the dee and struck a hard, low shot into the far corner to restore Denbigh’s two-goal lead.

Whitchurch continued to attack, but even a flurry of short corners after the final whistle couldn’t yield a goal.

The 3-1 score line was probably a fair reflection of the game. Once again Whitchurch were slow to start and allowed their opponents to take the lead, which was then compounded by conceding a swift second goal. Although they played well in the second half, again they left themselves too much to do.

Next Saturday the 2s entertain Golborne 3s.

Whitchurch ladies 2s 0 Runcorn ladies 2s 0

Whitchurch ladies 2s entertained Runcorn ladies 2s at home this weekend to start of the return games. Whitchurch knew this was going to be a tough game. Whitchurch started off strong off with runs from Stephanie Stanton, Emily Vernon and Tracy Tolhurst but they were stopped in their tracks by the Runcorn defence and goal keeper.

Whitchurch did not want to stop there and kept on the pressure with from Becky Brookfield, Helen Hocknell and Hayleigh Busby pushing up on the right with support from Natasha Foster.

Runcorn were determined that they wanted to score some points but Maddie Sugden prevented that happening with some fantastic slides and saves which kept Whitchurch in the game. Defenders Emma Clarke, Jess Kimberley, Martha Teggin and Natasha Foster were kept very busy as Runcorn stepped up the play and began putting runs together but they were not able to convert any goals.

Whitchurch had a positive half time team talk as the score was stayed 0-0 with both sides having chances but being unable to convert. Whitchurch regrouped and started passing the ball around. Phoebe Jones had an excellent run down the right hand side with Busby on the inside and Stanton on the post ready to deflect the ball but the Runcorn defenders blocked every chance of getting the ball through, Whitchurch never gave up trying and securing a goal.

When Runcorn had a break Whitchurch were back on their heels fighting for the ball to go back into the other direction when this happened Beth Sykes stepped up and stopped the Runcorn midfielder and picked out Tolhurst unmarked in the middle who then passed to Vernon who pushed the ball just wide of the goal.

Whitchurch player’s player went to goal keeper Maddie Sugden for her fantastic saves.

 

Whitchurch ladies 3s 2 Oxton ladies 4s 4

Even with the weather against us, Whitchurch Ladies 3s were undeterred and determined to try to beat the young Oxton 4s team.  The match started off very evenly and play remained that way for the whole game.

All of the Whitchurch team worked extremely hard together to keep out some fast set play pieces by the youthful Oxton team.  Our Forwards, Victoria  Corlett, Amy Fry, Evie Whatmough and Amelie Morris making some great runs to try and break down the Oxton defence.

Maddy Sugden our outstanding young goal keeper, as usual made some fantastic agile saves, with Mel Reid, Jan Teggin, Chloe Lloyd and Emily Lister defending magnificently. However, sadly Oxton managed to score two goals in the first half. Although, Evie Whatmough in her forward position, managed to score a great consolation goal.

In the second half again, both teams came back on strongly and the ball flew furiously up and down the pitch. Midfielders and wingers, Edina Jones, Ellie McEvoy, Holly Gilbert, Kate and Molly Goodwin all working very hard to try and combat Oxton’s effective passing.

Then Whitchurch won a short corner! Kate Goodwin ejected it to Amy Fry who struck it perfectly to make it 2-2. We were so excited, as we thought we were maybe able to win or get at least a draw! Unfortunately though, despite Whitchurch’s best efforts, Oxton scored again twice, making it a final score of 4 – 2 to them. Both sides agreed it had been a great game and our player of the match went to Maddy Sugden. Our next match is next Saturday, against Bebington at home.