Category Archives: Match Reports

Blow-by-blow accounts of the latest (hopefully) action…

Ladies Section, Match Reports

10/01/15 Whitchurch Hockey match reports

Crewe ladies 3s 0 Whitchurch Ladies 1s 5

After a month out of action Whitchurch ladies returned to action in a dominant performance. Whitchurch fielded a changed team with several players absent but the depth of players available to the club meant this made little difference to the outcome of the game.

Whitchurch took the lead after ten minutes through Laura Chesters scrambling home after a goalmouth melee for her first of the season. Whitchurch dominated for long periods and were awarded numerous penalty corners but couldn’t get the final touch to beat the excellent Crewe keeper. In the final minutes of the half Sue Read received the ball pirouetted and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper to give the second goal cushion.

Captain Catherine Reece-Gresty encouraged the team to greater efforts and the team responded in the second half. Sue Read got her second within minutes of the restart and Whitchurch relaxed and began to play the ball around in their normal free flowing manner. Whitchurch attacked down the right through Nicola Workman and Chloe Crump winning a penalty corner and Catherine Gresty (yes, we have two of them!) slotted home for the fourth.

Whitchurch continued to apply pressure for the remainder of the match and despite Crewe’s best efforts failed to get a clear goal scoring opportunity due to the efforts of goalkeeper Gwyneth Rees-Thomas and defenders Emily Hilton and Katie Plant.

The final goal came late on as Keeley Hathaway playing her first game as centre half broke through the Crewe defence and all her efforts were rewarded as she took the ball past the Crewe keeper for a well deserved goal.

 

Nestons ladies 3s 12 Whitchurch ladies 2s 0

The second team played one of the stronger teams away in the first game back after the Christmas break and despite the score line it didn’t reflect the effort of the Whitchurch team.

Whitchurch suffered an early blow losing two senior players as captain Helen Apperley took a blow to the head and had to be accompanied to hospital for a check up. Whitchurch continued to battle with Sally Pearce and goalkeeper Bethany Wright defending valiantly throughout the first half and Ellie Windsor hassling in the midfield.

However as Whitchurch started to tire in the second half the continued pressure from the Neston team started to lead to goals.

The Whitchurch team gave everything and battled until the final whistle which says much about the spirit within the team.

Whitchurch 1s take on Neston 4s at home 12.30 start and Whitchurch 2s host Crewe 3s at home 14.00 next week at the Whitchurch Leisure centre. The Mens also return to action away at Droitwich and the Fathom away to Stone.

 

 

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

Whitchurch hockey match reports 06/12/14

The weather decimated the weekends fixtures with both the Men’s Fathom and ladies 1s cancelled due to frozen pitches the only game to go ahead was the Ladies 2s away at Golborne 2s.

Golborne ladies 2s 2         Whitchurch ladies 2s 1

The game started poorly as the Whitchurch keeper was delayed in traffic and Golborne took the lead as she padded up.

Ellie Windsor, Phoebe Jones and Laura Workman worked tirelessly in the midfield and defence and Whitchurch were rewarded when Jess Kimberley scored an equaliser to bring Whitchurch back into the game.

Whitchurch were not happy when in the final minutes of the game they felt their goalkeeper was fouled allowing Goborne to convert the winner.

The Academy at Whitchurch continues to go from success to success producing players representing the county with Maddie Sugden getting into the Shropshire Under13 squad as goalkeeper, Jess Kimberley at Under 17, Emily Hilton at Under 15 and Hebe Dixon at Under 13’s.

Ladies Section, Match Reports

Ladies hockey match report 29/11/14

Whitchurch ladies 1s  2  South Cheshire ladies 2s  1

Whitchurch ladies applied pressure from the start of the match giving South Cheshire no space or time on the ball. Whitchurch however failed to capitalise on their possession and it took a moment of brilliance from Lisa Sullivan to dribble through the otherwise solid South Cheshire defence and slot the ball past the stranded keeper.

One lapse in concentration saw the South Cheshire centre forward break into the Whitchurch dee and equalise just before the half time break.

South Cheshire started the second half the stronger of the two teams forcing Whitchurch to sit back and absorb their pressure and forcing a save from stand in keeper Nicola Workman. Whitchurch settled and re-asserted themselves on the game with prolonged periods of pressure on the South Cheshire defence without any reward.

Whitchurch retook the lead when Catherine Gresty got her stick to a short corner strike deflecting the ball past the keeper. Whitchurch continued to create opportunities for the remainder of the match but failed to convert but earned another three valuable points keeping them in the hunt for promotion.

Whitchurch ladies 1s entertain Golborne 2s next week for the last game before the Christmas break starting 12.30 at the Whitchurch Leisure Centre.

General News, Match Reports, Men's Section

Whitchurch Hockey Club match reports 22/11/14

Whitchurch Mens 1s  3  Bloxwich Mens 1s  7

The struggle for consistency is an on-going one for the young Whitchurch side.

From the start Bloxwich set the tempo of the game passing the ball quickly and dynamically around the pitch and despite Whitchurch’s best efforts they struggled to get and maintain possession of the ball as Bloxwich rushed into a comfortable 3-0 lead. The game could have changed in the last seconds of the half as the Bloxwich keeper was beaten by some neat passing and the ball scrambled off the goal line before Whitchurch could get the vital touch.

The second half saw Whitchurch take the game to Bloxwich and as the visitors sat back in a disciplined defensive line Whitchurch got what they needed so badly, time and space on the ball and this allowed their players to run, pass and upset the Bloxwich defence. Ben Lea leading the way with two penalty corner strikes and a clinical penalty flick in a 20 minute period.

Whitchurch continued to push for more goals but as they tired space opened in the midfield which Bloxwich exploited with a number of goals in the closing stages of the match.

 

Whitchurch ladies 2s 0                  Whitchurch ladies 1s  3

In an unprecedented event this weekend, Whitchurch 1st’s played Whitchurch 2nd’s with the Ladies 1st’s clutching victory.

As the ladies of both sides jogged into their places, there were a few laughs and playful banter before the game faces prevailed. One thing was for sure, this wasn’t a friendly. The whites (1s) had pushback. The reds (2s) defence was strong, with Sally Pearce clearing the ball several times, just to be further attacked by the Ladies firsts. Laura Workman worked tirelessly to defend the 2nds goal in the first half, along with Laura Hollinshead and Helen Machin. Sharon English continued to put pressure on the Whites but Catherine Gresty, Nicola Workman and Claire Roberts just kept pushing forward.

The pressure just kept coming from the whites however, with Ellie Windsor and Hayleigh Busby defending valiantly for the 2s, even with teamwork from Vicki Price, Nina Hodges and Keeley Hathaway to attack. Until the whites got a short corner. With a great strategy and poise, Lisa Sullivan managed to shoot straight into goal, leading the Ladies 1st 1-0 at half time.

After some stern words and motivation speeches at half time, both Ladies teams were coming back with a fight. Jess Kimberley, Catherine Reese-Gresty and Nina Hodges pushed forward with ferocity, creating a shot on goal, however with the great skill of goalkeeper Phoebe Jones and defence Katie Plant and Becky Brookfield, the ball was sent towards the Ladies 1st’s goal. Both Katie Plant and Emily Vernon made an attempt on the 1s goal however Ladies 1st’s goalkeeper Gwyn Thomas-Rees sent the ball hurtling back towards Ladies 2nd’s goal.

It was a bit of a scramble to obtain the ball for the next few tense minutes of the game, as the 1sts and 2nds fought for the ball. There were attempts from Jayne Williamson, Sue Read and Julia Neale, but the defence of the 2nds were strong and the struggle for a goal continued. This was broken up by a fantastic shot by Jess Kimberly firing high past the 2s keeper securing another goal for the 1sts.

In the last minutes of the game, inside the seconds dee was a blur of red and white shirts moving at a rapid pace. Helen Apperley was amazing support for goalkeeper Phoebe Jones, and further support was found in Emily Hilton. However some astonishing play from Catherine Reese-Gresty, Lisa Sullivan resulted in a last second goal for Sue Read, leaving the final score at 3-0 to the Ladies 1sts.