Droitwich Mens 1s 1   Whitchurch Mens 1s 3

The Reds first match of 2015 was a tough away match against Droitwich, the Reds won the home fixture 2-1, but knew this was going to be a close match.

The Reds started the match well, and were controlling the early play.  The first goal of the match came within the first 10 minutes when a quick sixteen hit was taken to Captain Lee Davies who beat his defender and chucked an ariel over the Droitwich defence for Ben Lea to run onto and win a penalty corner, which he dispatched with a clinical drag flick.

After the goal the match became an even and close encounter but the Reds were defending well as a team and Droitwich were finding it difficult to make any clear chances.  The next big chance in the game came to Whitchurch’s Joe Nicholson who picked the ball up around the half way line with a 1v1 against the goal keeper, Joe rounded the goalkeeper and hit his shot against the post.  About 10 minutes before half time Droitwich did equalise through a penalty corner which was hit into the bottom corner.

At half time the result was 1-1, The Reds were the better team in the first half and were unlucky not to be leading at half time.

The second half started with Droitwich having a lot more of the ball and making it difficult for the Reds to get any control in the match.  However with all the pressure Droitwich were putting onto the Reds in the second half the Reds defended well as a team and limited Droitwich to a only a few chances.  The next clear chance again came to Whitchurch’s Joe Nicholson who picked the ball up on the half way line and beat his defender to again have a 1v1 against the goalkeeper, he again rounded the keeper and his shot hit the post again.  The next goal came shortly after, when again another counterattack saw Whitchurch win a penalty corner and again Ben Lea dispatched with another drag flick.

Droitwich piled more men forward to find the equaliser, the Reds defended well and Droitwich were finding it hard to create any clear chances.  About 5 minutes before the end Whitchurch made it 3-1 with another counterattack found Adam Peate on his own in the opposition D and clinically hit a well-struck shot into the bottom corner to ensure the Reds will be taking all 3 points.

Overall the 3 points were well deserved and as predicted it was a close match however the Reds defended well and limited the chances Droitwich could create and scored 3 good goals and it could have been a couple more if Joe Nicholson’s shots had gone in, instead of hitting the post, which was very unlucky.

Whitchurch have a tough home match next weekend against Old Wulfrunians who are currently top of the league.

Stone Mens Fathoms  3  Whitchurch Mens Fathoms  1

After a period of two months, Whitchurch Hockey Club’s fathom team played their first game following the Christmas break and a series of cancelled games caused by the winter weather.

On the morning of Saturday 17th, it looked like the game away to Stone may have been cancelled due to the host’s pitch being hard, however, the only thing which transpired to be hard was that Whitchurch arrived with only eight players, whereas the home team had a full compliment of eleven.

The game commenced and Whitchurch shortly conceded a goal realising that both the midfield and defence lacked enough players to cope with the attacking presence from Stone. Despite the constant pressure throughout the game, Ben Kimberley scored Whitchurch’s only goal which was consolation for the three goals which were conceded.

Whitchurch ladies 1s 6 Neston ladies 4s 0

Whitchurch 1s continued their fine run of form with the win over Neston 4s. The early stages of the game saw the two teams very evenly matched, however debutant Phoebe Jones steered the ball just wide of the goal with her first touch but it was well into the first half before Katie Plant scored from a penalty corner deflection to give Whitchurch a half time lead.

The second half saw the Neston team tire as Whitchurch continued to apply pressure but Whitchurch were lucky when Neston broke and keeper Gwyneth Thomas-Rees pulled off a crucial save. Whitchurch were rewarded for their efforts when over a five minute spell Katie Plant deflected home her second and Catherine Gresty scored from two well-worked penalty corners.

Whitchurch settled and began to move the ball around and from this Sue Read scored deflecting a cross from Nicola Workman. Lisa Sullivan’s mazy run through the midfield saw the ball fall to Katie Plant at the top of the Dee to fire the ball into the corner for her hat trick.

In the final minutes Chloe Crump was rewarded for all her running down the right when the ball came through a crowded Dee and she tapped it past the Neston keeper.

Whitchurch ladies 2s 0  Crewe ladies 3s 2

Whitchurch rode their luck throughout the first half as Crewe attacked and Whitchurch defended solidly through Gayle Ladd, Mel Reid, Claire Roberts and Sally Pearce. Shola Bailey in goal made numerous saves to keep Whitchurch in the match.

The second half saw Whitchurch start to settle and begin to create chances with Laura Workman, Natalie Hollins and Monique Higgs battling hard in the midfield to deprive Crewe of possession. Whitchurch continued to press forward and were rewarded a penalty stroke which they failed to convert.

Whitchurch pressured and were rewarded with a number of penalty corners; a well-worked routine saw Ellie Windsor deflect just past the Crewe post. Crewe however took full advantage of their chances and scored two goals to give them the three points.