All posts by Craig Hockenhull

General News, Ladies Section, Match Reports, Men's Section

30/01/2016 Whitchurch hockey match reports

Whitchurch ladies 2s 0 Alderley Edge ladies 6s 5

Whitchurch travelled away to play Alderley Edge. Despite only having 10 players Whitchurch played as though they had 12 with acting captain Sally Pearce leading the way.

Whitchurch started the stronger of the teams but Alderley Edge took their chances and despite the efforts of keeper Shola Bailey a rebound left an open goal and Alderley 1-0 up. With an equipment malfunction sorted the team bounced back into action. However a strike from the top of the dee left them 2-0 down.

Whitchurch were on the go again with Jess Kimberley picking out Masie Owen on the left who drove down the left wing and picked out Hayleigh Busby in the dee who shot just wide of the goal.

Whitchurch were quite glad when the half time whistle went and with sugar onboard soon had their energy levels rising and ready to go for round two.
From the of Charlotte Lawder was able to pass to Helen Hocknell and to Emily Vernon who had a chance to score but Alderley’s keeper made a great save.

Whitchurch once again applied the pressure but Alderley slipped passed the tiring team to score another goal. But with some great defending from Emma Clarke and Martha Teggin Whitchurch had another chance to break, although the team had begun to slow and didn’t have fresh legs to get them to the dee. A short corner from Alderley put them 4-0 up and with a final strike from the opposition left Whitchurch trailing by 5-0.
Emily Vernon was awarded player of the match. Whitchurch 2s will entertain Bowdon 6s home next weekend.

 

Whitchurch ladies 1s 6 Timperley ladies 5s 1

Whitchurch started the match positively and Emma Harper scored a short corner within the opening 10 minutes.

The home team pushed hard and doubled the lead with a strong push from Jane Williamson. Some fantastic open play followed with Lisa Sullivan having a goal disallowed. Emma Harper scored again giving the home team a comfortable lead. Katie Fowles converted a short corner for number four and striker Sue Read got a 5th before half time.

The second half slowed and Whitchurch allowed the visitors onto the score sheet. The last goal was the result of strong passing down the right hand side with Nikki Workman’s instincts slotting it home comfortable victory.

 

Whitchurch ladies 1s 2 Macclesfield ladies 3s 0

Whitchurch entertained Macclesfield 3s on Sunday for as it was a reorganised match due to a frozen pitch.

Playing their second match in two days Whitchurch took the game to Macclesfield, pushing hard into their dee and taking control of the play. Sue Read was the first to score with a fight to push past their keeper.

Macclesfield pushed harder and gave Whitchurch keeper Gwyn Thomas-Rees something to do.  Defenders Catherine Reece-Gresty and Katie Fowles passed the ball towards Lisa Sullivan, Emma Harper and Catherine Gresty. With plenty of accurate passing Whitchurch continued to create chances and shots on goal but to no avail.

After half time Whitchurch came back even harder creating the opportunity for Nikki Workman to tap it past the Macclesfield keeper. All Whitchurch had to do was hold onto the ball and wait for the final whistle.  Plenty of passing and using the width allowed Whitchurch to hold and came away with a well earned win, putting them top of the table.

Whitchurch are away next week against Chester.

 

Whitchurch Mens 2s game was postponed against Denbigh and will be replayed later in the season. The 2s entertain Llandudno Mens 2s at home next week.

 

Whitchurch Mens 1s 9 Chester Mens 6s 0

Whitchurch took the game to Chester from the start and within the first few minutes raced into a 2-0 lead as Tom Leonard scored from a penalty corner and Joe Nicholson raced through the defence to score the second.

Ben Kimberley received the ball on the right and drove into the Chester dee and fired into the bottom corner. Tom Leonard scored his second of the game turning and shooting from the top of the dee into the bottom corner. The first half ended with Martin Beecher deflecting a shot past the Chester keeper to give the home side a cushion.

Whitchurch were guilty of running the ball in the early stages of the second half and this allowed Chester to pressure the Whitchurch defence. Whitchurch re-grouped and Tom Leonard completed his hattrick after a pin point pass from Ben Lea.

Joe Nicholson scored his second from a pass from Joel Leese which he deflected past the keeper. Martin Beecher scored his second with a shot into the Chester goal

Joe Nicholson scored the goal of the game completing his hattrick firing the roof into the roof of the net from the edge of the dee leaving the Chester keeper with no chance.

Whitchurch 1s travel away to Winnington Park next week

Academy News, Committee News, General News, Ladies Section, Match Reports, Men's Section

Sainsburys Active Sports vouchers 2016 has started

The Sainsbury Active Sports scheme started on Wednesday January 2016.

Could you collect them from friends and family and return to your captains or committee members?

Your suport will allow us to obtain much needed equipment for the Academy.

Could you please share to all your friends and family to help support us in 2016.

Thank you – Whitchurch Hockey Club

Ladies Section, Match Reports, Men's Section

Match Reports 23/01/16

Whitchurch Mens 2s 0 Mossley Mens 3s 2

After 2 weeks without a game, Whitchurch 2s returned to action with a home fixture against third-placed Mossley Hill 3s.

Prior to the game, both teams observed a minutes silence in honour of Donald Nairn who sadly passed away this week. Don had a major impact upon Whitchurch and Shropshire hockey. He was responsible for establishing the Whitchurch academy which is now feeding a number of good young players into the men’s and women’s teams, and for the creation of the Men’s Fathoms team which has this season developed into the Men’s 2s. Don will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by all involved with Whitchurch Hockey Club.

An experienced Mossley Hill side immediately took control of the game and forced Whitchurch to defend deep in their own half. The defence of Mark Sugden and Iain Bones repelled a number of Mossley attacks, restricting the visitors to a couple of half chances.

Although Whitchurch fielded a full side, a number of senior players were missing, forcing the side to utilise a very inexperienced forward line. Despite good play from the midfield of Ben Fry, Craig Hockenhull and Aaron Shackleton, Whitchurch struggled to make any impact against a well marshalled Mossley defence. When opportunities did open up, the final pass couldn’t quite find a Whitchurch stick.

Mossley continued to pose a threat with some fast interplay and at times Whitchurch rode their luck or relied on some excellent goalkeeping from Neil Jones to reach half-time at 0-0.

Whitchurch switched to a 3-man defence in the second half and utilising Phil Tranter as a man-marker restricted the Mossley attacking threat in the second half. The change also enabled the full-backs, Doug Buckeridge and James Nicholson to get forward and support the Whitchurch attacks.

Although Mossley Hill continued to dominate possession in the second half, Whitchurch were able to play the game much higher up the pitch and were much more dangerous going forward. Craig Hockenhull, Ben Fry and Aaron Shackleton caused Mossley no end of problems and created a number of good chances. Josh Parry was unfortunate not to be able to sweep home at the back post and had a close-range effort saved by the Mossley keeper. Aaron Swain was also close to a number of good through balls but couldn’t quite get to the ball. From short corners both Iain Bones and Craig Hockenhull had shots at goal well blocked by the Mossley defence and keeper.

At the other end Neil Jones made a number of good stops when Whitchurch were exposed on the counter-attack.

Despite Whitchurch’s good play in the second half they were undone with 10 minutes to go by a great piece of individual skill from Mossley and a fine close range finish with the reverse stick. As Whitchurch pressed for an equaliser Mossley were again able to hit Whitchurch on the counter-attack and from a short corner fired in a second goal just before the end of the game.

Mossley Hill probably deserved the win but despite the 2-0 score line Whitchurch can be pleased with their efforts, particularly in the second half. Mossley Hill were an experienced and talented side, but Whitchurch defended resolutely and posed a real threat to the Mossley goal in the second half.

The defeat leaves Whitchurch 2s in 6th place in the league.

The 2s are away to Denbigh 2s next weekend.

 

Whitchurch ladies 2s 0 Warrington Ladies 2s 8

Whitchurch entertained second placed Warrington and gave one of their strongest performances of the season. Warrington pushed from the start and although they had the majority of possession Whitchurch restricted them to the minimum of opportunities in the first half.

Warrington eventually broke through the Whitchurch formation with a well-worked goal. Whitchurch continued to battle throughout the game and gave Warrington no easy chances. Goalkeeper Shola Bailey deserved her player of the match award making numerous saves to keep her team in touch with Warrington.

Ashleigh Heath had the best opportunity of the match to score for Whitchurch and her shot was scrambled off the line by some excellent defending. Becky Brookfield held the midfield making numerous tackles protecting support for her defence.

Despite the result Whitchurch took many positives from the game and look forward to next weeks match away to Alderley Edge ladies 6s.

Lymm ladies 4s 0 Whitchurch ladies 1s 3

Whitchurch ladies 1s took the game to Lymm from the start attacking into their dee, this resulted in Phoebe Jones pushing past their defenders to score the first and her first for the club.

Lymm came back hard giving Whitchurch defenders Catherine Reece-Gresty and Katie Fowles plenty to do but with help from Jane Williamson, Catherine Winter-Gresty and Charlotte Lawder the ball was soon back up to the Lymm goal.

Laura Workman was the next to score with help from Ellie Windsor and Hebe Dixon.  At half time Whitchurch were 2-0 up and keen to enter the second half with as much energy.

Lymm started the second half quicker and came back keen to get a shot at goal but keeper Gwyn Thomas-Rees made an amazing save to allow Whitchurch to keep the upper hand. Whitchurch won a penalty corner through Jess Kimberley, from which Jane Williamson passed the ball towards Katie Fowles who pushed it through the keeper’s legs. Whitchurch continued to hold possession of the ball for the majority of the rest of the game as Lymm began to tire.

Whitchurch were happy with the result and looking forward to a home game next week against Timperley 5s.

Match Reports, Men's Section

Whitchurch hockey match report 16/01/2016

Whitchurch mens 1s 5 Deeside Ramblers Mens 7s 1

In a weekend where all the ladies matches were cancelled due to the freezing weather the home pitch thawed enough for the afternoons men’s game to go ahead.

Whitchurch started their first match of the New Year believing they were going to have another easy game but Deeside opened the scoring within the first five minutes. This was the jolt that Whitchurch needed and they regrouped and increased the intensity of the game. This started with Joe Nicholson picking the ball up and driving down the left hand side through the Deeside defence and his shot bounced off the post. Minutes later a similar move saw Nicholson fire into the bottom corner to bring the scores level.

Whitchurch maintained their pressure with a number of penalty corners from which Joel Leese scored to take a 2-1 lead into the half time break.

Whitchurch started the second half with a much greater focus and created a comfort zone when Ben Lea fired a blistering shot into the Deeside goal. Deeside continued to attack on the break and throughout the game kept goalkeeper Paul ‘Sturge’ Leigh on his toes and forced one extraordinary goal line clearance from Ryan Murtagh to keep Deeside frustrated.

Whitchurch took full advantage to build on their lead as the Deeside team tired, Alex Fry drove into the opposition dee and his shot struck Martin Beechers stick and deflected past the keeper for their fourth. The fifth came from a goal mouth scramble as Ben Kimberley drove the baseline and pulled the ball back into the crowd of players where Joe Nicholson reacted quickest to tap the ball into the goal.

Whitchurch secured another well earned three points to keep their promotion chances on track but Deeside gave them one of their hardest games of the season.