Runcorn ladies 1s 3 Whitchurch ladies 1s 2

Whitchurch started their first league in Cheshire Division 3 with a blow losing two players to illness and one to work commitments on the Saturday morning, leaving the squad to travel with only one sub.

Whitchurch were the stronger of the two teams in the first half and led 1-0 at half time from a short corner where Lucy Ratcliffe shot at goal and Emily Hilton deflected it in. Whitchurch continued taking the ball to Runcorn but they had a very strong defence to battle through. Runcorn had more subs and their fitness proved better in the second half in which Whitchurch conceded three goals.

There was some great play between the Whitchurch youngsters Charlotte Lawder, Laura Workman, Ellie Windsor and Phoebe Jones but Whitchurch couldn’t make their efforts count by converting into goals.

Despite being 3-1 down Whitchurch pressed hard to get back into the game. The ball was moved around nicely on the right hand side through great interlinking play between Lisa Sullivan and Catherine Winter-Gresty before Lisa found Jane Williamson who squared to Lucy Ratcliffe to sweep in the net to make it 3-2 at final whistle.

As Whitchurch moved up into division 3 this season it was a good start to work on. Whitchurch 1s play Lymm next week at home 12.30 start.

Whitchurch Ladies 2s 6 Alderley Edge ladies 7s 1

Following a league re-organisation during the summer the second team have found themselves playing in Cheshire Division 6 and looking from the start of the season to build on the finish to last year.

With new captain Emma Clarke buzzing around before the game the team entered the pitch ready for the new season. From the push back Whitchurch pressured Alderley and within minutes had their rewards as Tracy Tolhurst fired the ball high into the goal to give Whitchurch the lead.

Whitchurch continued to pressure and doubled their lead, from a penalty corner Becky Brookfield picked out Jess Kimberley to sweep home.

Throughout the game the pace of Emily Vernon and Ashleigh Heath caused the Alderley defence problems and as Katie Goodwin picked out Ashleigh Heath she slipped it coolly past the keeper to give Whitchurch their third. As half time approached the Whitchurch team switched off and Alderley capitalised to pull a goal back.

The second half saw Whitchurch tire and the Alderley team cause Whitchurch numerous problems but the Whitchurch defence of Claire Fitzgerald, Mel Reid, Masie Owen and goalkeeper Maddy Sugden stood firm.

As Alderley pressed Whitchurch had more space to exploit and whenever they got the ball into the Alderley half Heath and Vernon where there to exploit it. Emily Vernon scoring a brace and Heath getting her second just before the final whistle gave Whitchurch a comprehensive victory and a positive start to the season.

Whitchurch 2s travel away to Bebington 2s next week.

Alderley Edge ladies 5s 3 Whitchurch ladies 1s 5

Whitchurch ladies travelled to Alderley Edge on a sunny Sunday afternoon to complete another hugely successful season in which they completed back to back promotions finishing runners-up in Cheshire Division 4.

The Whitchurch team composed of 1s and 2s due to the late start took the game to the Alderley side from the whistle as they were in no mood to finish the season with a loss. Captain Catherine Gresty led by example and shot past the Alderley keeper to give Whitchurch the lead in the early stages.

Alderley obviously hadn’t read the script and came back at Whitchurch with a combination of speed and skill to get an equaliser. Julia Neale scored her first goal for the 1s when a shot rebounded off the Alderley keeper and was pushed into the corner beyond the stranded keeper.

Alderley again came back at the Whitchurch side and equalised through a well taken penalty corner. Whitchurch continued to pressure and created numerous chances with Lisa Sullivan picking out the speedy wings of Charlotte Lawder and Laura Workman but despite all their efforts the final touch in front of goal eluded them.

At the break the scores remained level but the team talk focussed on doing the basics of accurate passing, keeping the ball and thus controlling the game. Whitchurch began to take control of the game and press the Alderley team into making mistakes. Alderley still had plenty of the ball but were restricted to running into wide channels as the defence of Emily Hilton, Jess Kimberley, Mel Reid and Jane Williamson closed up and limited their opportunities to get into the Whitchurch dee.

Alderley took the lead for the first time in the game when they were awarded a penalty stroke and the following flick left no chance for keeper Gwyneth Rees-Thomas to save.

Whitchurch continued to roll their subs using up and coming juniors to maintain fresh legs and continue the pressure and when Hebe Dixon picked out goal supremo Sue Read in the dee she deflected home for number twenty-eight of the season to bring the scores level.

It fell too Emma Harper to round off the game as one of Charlotte Lawder’s runs down the right picked out Harper on the top of the dee to sweep home and give Whitchurch the lead. Within minutes Harper had her brace as Sullivan feed her the ball and she struck into the bottom corner to give Whitchurch a cushion. As the game drew to a conclusion Whitchurch remained firm as Alderley pushed forward without success.

Whitchurch left the pitch after another victory in their final game to the applause of the travelling fans and looking forward to life in Division 3 next season.