Whitchurch ladies 1s 4 Neston Ladies 3s 1

Whitchurch ladies 1s hosted Neston 3’s this week and after last weeks defeat Whitchurch took the game to Neston from the start.

Whitchurch took every opportunity they had to push into the Neston Dee. Ellie Windsor, Laura Workman and Phoebe Jones kept Neston on their toes, Grace Berry and Cath Winter-Gresty used their pace, keeping the ball rolling towards the Neston goal.

Short corners came thick and fast for Whitchurch with the first goal coming from a pass in to Emily Hilton. Gwyn Thomas -Rees made several great saves as Neston fought hard to get a goal back but the whistle went for half time.

Neston came back fighting in the second half.  Cath R-Gresty and Vicky Price defended well with Helen Machin and Becky Brookfield hanging back to protect the Whitchurch goal.  As Whitchurch started to tire, Neston took their opportunity to break and scored.

Whitchurch ladies really didn’t want to loose and you could see the change of play. The ball was passed around well between mid players and soon Whitchurch had another run of shorts with Becky Brookfield slotting past the keeper. This goal really put Whitchurch on a high as more balls were fired into the Dee. Cath W-Gresty ran up the right picking out Sue Read who pushed past the keeper. Minutes later Grace Berry received a pass in from Charlotte Lawder to score their 4th and final goal.

Ellie Windsor was voted best player by Neston.

Ladies 1s are at home again next week playing Warrington.

 

Runcorn ladies 2s Whitchurch ladies 2s 2

This week the undefeated Ladies 2s team travelled to Runcorn, to face Runcorn ladies 2s. During the first 10 minutes the ladies 2s looked extremely promising, with several attempted shots on goal. Nearly all of the possession was in the Whitchurch half and with several superb runs from Emily Vernon and Beth Sykes they should have took the lead.

Runcorn 2s had a few lucky breaks during the rest of the first half and with 5 players against Emma Clarke in defence, they managed to score. Shortly after, Runcorn scored another, despite Martha Teggin batting off some excellent strikes in defence and Shola Bailey’s fabulous keeping skills. With Whitchurch 2-0 down, they raised their heads and showed how strong a side they were; with their fighting spirit moments before the half time whistle went they were awarded a short corner. A fabulous injection from Hayleigh Busby meant that Jess Kimberley was able to skilfully slip it across to Hebe Dixon; who with an exceptionally powerful and accurate hit, smashed it into the left corner of the goal, putting Whitchurch back on the scoreboard, just as the half-time whistle went.

With a very motivating half-time chat from captain Emma Clarke, Whitchurch came back out fighting. They played strong as a team and with some excellent runs from Natasha Foster, who was doing a great job not playing in her usual position and Helen Hocknell who played a strong midfield setting up chances, it wasn’t long before Whitchurch were awarded another short corner. This time Tracy Tolhurst injected the ball out to Jess Kimberley, who hit it in to the bottom right hand corner, scoring a well-deserved goal bringing them level. Although, the ladies 2s were unlucky not to have won, they came away with a point and showed promise and huge potential for their future games.

This week’s player of the match was awarded to Jess Kimberley. Next week Whitchurch ladies 2s will take on Sandbach 1s away, where no doubt they will put in another strong effort.

 

Chester Men 6s 6 Whitchurch Mens 2s 0

For their first game of the 2017/18 season, Whitchurch 2s travelled to Chester 6s with a very young side containing a number of academy players making their debuts in men’s hockey.

Chester played their first fixture the previous weekend and were the more cohesive side in the early exchanges. As Whitchurch struggled to find any threatening positions, Chester were much more ruthless on the counter-attack. From an early short corner, Chester took the lead, but Whitchurch felt hard done by as the ball was always above the backboard before deflecting off Craig Hockenhull’s stick.

This pattern of play continued for most of the first half. Despite good work on the left from Airan Jones and Fred Egerton, the tireless running of Craig Hockenhull and Locki Price in midfield and the efforts of debutant James Page on the right, Whitchurch couldn’t get the ball into positions to threaten the opposition goal.

Chester were content to concede territory and possession but hit hard on the counter-attack. The Whitchurch defence of Iain Bones, Luke Davies and Doug Buckeridge did well to repel the Chester attacks, but ultimately they were exposed too often and Chester worked the ball into a couple of positions where they had players one-on-one with keeper Neil Jones, who was powerless to stop the well struck shots.

As the half wore on, Whitchurch did improve and managed to get the ball into more threatening positions. A number of short corners were won, but a combination of good defending, the Chester keeper and a stray Chester foot prevented a Whitchurch goal.

The 3-0 half time score line seemed a little harsh on Whitchurch. The improvements towards the end of the first half continued into the second, as Whitchurch began the half on the front foot.

Joseph Coburn and Euan Morris, both making their debuts, produced some brilliant interplay on the right wing and Airan Jones and Fred Egerton were becoming more of a threat from the left. Craig Hockenhull was playing higher up the pitch and linking well with Danny Foulkes in and around the Chester dee. But despite the good play, threatening positions and numerous short corners, Whitchurch could not get the ball in the Chester goal.

Chester continued to be a threat on the counter attack during the second half and, as in the first half, the Whitchurch defence was left exposed on a number of occasions. Despite the best efforts of the defenders and Neil Jones, they were powerless to prevent the three second half goals scored by Chester on the counter-attack.

The 6-0 final score was very harsh on this young Whitchurch side. After a tentative start the 2s dominated much of the game. All of the young players acquitted themselves well over the course of the game. Fred Egerton and Locki Price continued their good form from the tail end of last season and Airan Jones produced his best 2s performance. Joseph Coburn, Euan Morris and James Page all made excellent debuts and as they develop over the course of the season will become real assets for the 2s. And after a couple of years away from hockey it was great to welcome Luke Davies into the team.

Next week Whitchurch 2s entertain Warrington 2s.

 

Whitchurch Mens 1s 0 – Chester Men’s 5s 0

Whitchurch returned to league action this week, promoted to Division 6 South after another successful season, and played against a Chester team who have made Division 6 their home over the last few years. The Reds have lost a few more senior players to other clubs, or to higher education, so it was an opportunity for some of the younger players to step up and cement their places, which they did very well!

Jake Wood was quick on the wings, developing his attacks well, as well as getting back to help defend; Aaron Swain was again strong in goal, with growing confidence proving a handy weapon in closing down attackers, and clearing well. Tom Forster, Ryan Murtagh and Matt Brooks provided strength in defence, getting the ball out wide as well as marking consistently to take their attack out of the game.

Jack Barnes and Alex Fry rotated well in front of the defence, providing cover as well as starting powerful drives up the pitch. Ben Kimberley and Felix Jeffreys gave the defence real trouble out wide on the wings, and Ben Fry maintained his role as a critical player both driving forward and defending well. Tom Leonard and Martin Beecher were, as ever, solid in attack and made the Chester defenders work hard to keep them out.

It is a different team from last year, with personnel changes requiring everyone to step up and take responsibility for their roles rather than relying on a few people, and there were huge positives to take from the game on that front. What there wasn’t was a goal – but not for the want of trying: endless driving runs into the dee, powerful strikes, flicks, short corners galore, but no goal. The Chester keeper had an excellent game, keeping out everything Whitchurch could throw at home – dives, scoops off the line, charging out to break the two-on-ones – helped by the strong defence meant that the Reds, despite having 80% of the possession and only giving away a solitary short corner, could not get onto the score sheet.

Ultimately a frustrating result, but from a good game against a good team, giving Whitchurch something to build on as well as confidence for their chances this season. They play away against Brooklands MU Mens 5s next Saturday.

 

Bebbington ladies 2s 9 Whitchurch ladies 3s 0

Whitchurch 3s played their very first away match on Saturday 23rd September, against Bebington 2s, on the Wirral. Everybody entered the pitch very enthusiastically, knowing it was probably going to be a tough match!

Bebington had first push back and they attacked strongly, straightaway. Within ten minutes, they were 2 – 0 up.  Despite a fantastic performance from our defence line-up, Shola Bailey, Wendy Cooper and Mel Reid, Bebington managed to score another four goals.

Despite this, at half time spirits were still high, as everybody was enjoying the match so much. Throughout the game, Whitchurch had some good chances and made a good number of attacking runs were made by our new junior players, but nothing came of them.

Edina Jones particularly performing well in her first match playing for Whitchurch.  However, Bebington were just too strong for this new some-what in-experienced team. Shola Bailey our goalie made some incredible saves making her man of the match, but the final score line was Bebington 9 and Whitchurch 0. We learnt a lot from this match and our next match is a new game!

Whitchurch Mens 1s 5 Deeside Ramblers Mens 6s 1

In the first of two games this weekend, Whitchurch travelled the short distance to Deeside Ramblers looking to get the three points that would give them the league title whatever the result for Liverpool Sefton in second place. The Reds started clinically, and moved the ball around well creating chances early on, but Deeside were well structured in defence and were quick on the break, unlucky not to get on the end of some good clearances.

Paul ‘Sturge’ Leigh was called on in goal a couple of times early in the match to keep out Deeside’s well-taken chances, but as the game settled, Whitchurch were able to take control and move the ball around more easily with Peter Scales driving out of defence on the left, and Joel Leese and Alex Fry holding the centre. Ben Kimberley and Jack Barnes were high and wide on the wings and were able to cause the Deeside defence plenty of problems before Fry got a pass away to Martin Beecher up front who flicked it into the net for the first.

Beecher got his second a few minutes later via a pass from Barnes who scored himself shortly afterwards, having walked back from a chat with the umpire directly into the path of cross to the top of the dee which he calmly slotted away.

Steve Lloyd, playing right half to provide cover, unfortunately turned his ankle so Whitchurch were reduced to 10 men for a large part of the rest of the game. Ryan Murtagh and James Partington worked with Scales to cover the back line, and Tom Leonard put in a shift helping the defence whilst making his usual strong drives up field. From one of these, Leese was able to pick up the Reds’ 4th goal with a drive through the Deeside defence followed by a spin and strike. Shortly after, Beecher got his hat-trick from a short corner with the shot from Leonard rebounding and Beecher being on the spot to slot it away.

Deeside were able to pick up a consolation goal after a breakaway run and strike being stopped well initially by Leigh, but their striker was first on the scene and made a very composed flick over Leigh’s outstretched body to claim a well-deserved goal and the game ended 5-1. With Liverpool Sefton losing their game 2-1, Whitchurch are 4 points clear with their final catch-up game to play, giving them their second league title in two years.

19/03/17 Whitchurch Mens 1s 6 – Oxton Mens 6s (re-arranged game)

Whitchurch travelled away to Oxton to play their missed game from January knowing that they had the league title won after their win at Deeside the previous day, so had a game where the pressure was off and they could concentrate on their hockey rather than the result. For the first ten minutes of the first half, this went very smoothly – with Aaron Swain playing on the left wing, rather than in goal, pulling off an extraordinary first-time shot from the edge of the dee to bury it in the Oxton goal for the Reds’ first.

Tom Leonard then had a good one-two run with Jack Barnes which ended with Leonard putting the ball past the Oxton keeper, and Ben Kimberley went one-on-one with the keeper before flicking it past him. The game then settled down and was very even for the rest of the first half, but Oxton were able to claw one back with shot rebounding off keeper Paul Leigh and their forward pulled off an excellent reverse-stick flick into the top corner of the net. Aaron Shackleton, Tom Forster and Ben Fry rotated well on the left and right half, and Ryan Murtagh and James Partington fought hard to keep the Oxton attacks at bay.

The first part of the second half was similar in tempo, with both sides having chances but not quite getting the quality of finish, nor the crispness of pass that would have decided the game. The second game of the weekend meant that there were tired legs and arms, and this meant the stalemate continued for most of the half until Jake Wood sent a beautifully weighted pass up the pitch to Jack Barnes who drilled it into the net. Joel Leese then scored from a penalty corner, finally perfecting the in-out routine, but the best was saved for last as Kimberly drove into the left side of the Oxton dee and released a reverse-hit blinder into the Oxton net to take the win 6-1 and finish the season in style.

 

Whitchurch ladies 2s 4 Macclesfield 4s 1

Whitchurch ladies 2s welcomed Macclesfield 4’s for the final match of the season knowing a win would see them promoted as league champions. Whitchurch were the stronger of the two teams as they applied pressure straight from the start and within minutes of the match Hayleigh Busby picked out Amy Fry in the dee who shot wide of the opposition goal.

Whitchurch continued to pressure but it was not until late in the half that they finally took the lead when a short corner strike from Becky Brookfield bounced back to Jess Kimberley to sweep home.

In the second half Whitchurch which quickly scored another goal as Martha Teggin and Beth Sykes linked down the right and picked out Amy Fry in the dee who neatly steered the ball past the keeper.

Whitchurch seemed to relax and were punished as a defensive error saw Macclesfield pull back a goal. Whitchurch were shaken as Macclesfield pushed for an equaliser but the defence led by captain Emma Clarke stood strong. Whitchurch finally gained some breathing room when Vicki Price and Katie Goodwin worked space for Fry to score her second of the game.

In the final minutes of the game Whitchurch were awarded a short corner and Hebe Dixon swept home to bring the score up to 4-1. Martha Teggin was awarded player of the match.

The ladies Whitchurch ladies 2s would like to thank all the players, umpires and supporters that made their league-winning season in Cheshire ladies league Division 6 possible.

 

Chester University Mens 1s 9 Whitchurch Mens 2s 2

For their final game of the season, Whitchurch 2s travelled to Chester University with a team short of numbers and experience. With Chester Uni having comfortably secured second place in the league and this was always going to be a difficult game, but with only 10 players and most of the experienced senior players missing, Whitchurch were already looking at damage limitation before the start of the game.

Chester Uni immediately took control of the game and pressed Whitchurch back towards their own goal. Danny Foulkes, Matt Brookes and Doug Buckeridge in defence were forced into last ditch tackles as early as the first minute, but it wasn’t long before an incisive passing move was turned home at the far post to give Chester Uni the lead.

Almost immediately Chester were awarded a rather generous penalty flick, which keeper Neil Jones did well to stop, low to his right. But the students continued to pour forward looking for more goals. Crosses flashed across the Whitchurch dee, shots were fired wide, the defenders cleared the danger with tackles, and blocks and keeper Jones made a number of saves.

Despite the pressure, Whitchurch tried to play attacking hockey of their own. Sam Conway was a driving force through the middle of the pitch and Fred Egerton and Lockie Price again defied their inexperience to provide support at both ends of the pitch. But Whitchurch struggled to make any real inroads into the Chester dee and when attacking moves broke down, Chester were particularly dangerous on the counter-attack.

As Chester exploited their numerical superiority they were able to add a further three first half goals to go into the break with a 4-0 lead.

The second half was a much more open game as the teams seemed to take turns to attack each other. In the early stages of the half the Whitchurch attacks continued to flounder on the edge of the Chester dee. However their opponents were continuing to create good chances and again the defence and keeper were working hard to keep the score line respectable.

The movement and passing speed of the Chester players and that extra man advantage was too much for Whitchurch and Chester raced into a 9-0 lead.

But late in the second half one of the Chester players was forced to leave the game with an injury. With 10 versus 10 Whitchurch started to make progress into the Chester dee. Airon Jones was unlucky to hit the post and three Whitchurch players managed to miss the ball at the back post following a great run and cross from Fred Egerton. Good interplay between Lockie Price and Aaron Swain led to another shot at goal and then a driving run and cross from Sam Conway was turned home by Fred Egerton for his first senior goal.

Another swift break down the left by Whitchurch resulted in Aaron Swain winning a short corner, from which Danny Foulkes cleverly returned the ball to Tom Forster to sweep home a second Whitchurch goal.

Whitchurch continued to play good long passes to their front players and Aaron Swain did really well to take the ball round the Chester keeper, who recovered and produced a brilliant diving save to stop Aaron’s attempt to find the goal.

With neither side able to add to their tally, Chester Uni ran out 9-2 winners.

This was a tough game for Whitchurch. Chester Uni are an excellent side and their passing and movement, particularly in the first half, was a joy to behold and difficult for Whitchurch to deal with. BUT every Whitchurch player applied themselves to their tasks. Lockie and Fred again produced impressive displays at both ends of the pitch, Tom Forster and Sam Conway worked tirelessly in midfield and Aaron Swain and Airon Jones were able runners up front. Despite conceding nine goals the defence and goalkeeper all had good games.

In terms of results, this season has been a little disappointing for the 2s. But overall the team has played some good hockey and aside from the top two teams in the division they have been competitive in all of their other matches. A number of younger players have come into the side and have made impressive contributions, but the biggest challenge facing the 2s is how to get their senior players on the pitch on a more regular basis. Overall, everybody who has played for the 2s should be pleased with their contributions this season, and look forward to the new season in September with some optimism.

 

Whitchurch ladies 1s 6 Timperley ladies 4s 1

Whitchurch started the game at a high pace and raced into a three-goal lead with goals from Grace Berry and two outstanding shots from Emma Harper and Lucy Ratcliffe. Timperley seemed shell shocked and it took a while for them to re-group and come back at the Whitchurch side.

Whitchurch sensed the chance to take the three points early on in the match and goals from Sue Read and Ellie Windsor gave Whitchurch a comfortable lead at the half time break.

The second half saw Timperley much better organised and for long periods the two teams cancelled out one another. Timperley managed to score against the run of play much to the frustration of the defence and supporters but Grace Berry scoring her second meant another three points and another successful season for the ladies 1s finishing in the top four after last years promotion.