Match Reports 14/01/17

Whitchurch ladies 1s 15 Bowdon ladies 5s 0

Whitchurch ladies played their first league match of 2017 against Bowdon ladies 5s. Within minutes of the start captain Catherine Winter-Gresty fired in from a penalty corner to give Whitchurch the lead.

The scoring then continued at a prolific rate with Ellie Windsor scoring from a run down the right and shot from the top of the dee, Sue Read tipped home after receiving a pass from Catherine Reece-Gresty. Millie Edwards scored with another run down the right and shot from the top of the dee, Sue Read scored her second connecting on the end of a pass from Lucy Ratcliffe and Grace Berry completed the half with a shot after a pass coming Emma Harper from a long corner.

Bowdon were limited to only one shot in the half due to the defending of Emily Hilton, Claire Fitzgerald, Charlotte Lawder and Helen Machin and Gwyneth Thomas-Rees in goal was up to the task for her one save of the game.

Whitchurch continued the second half looking for more goals, Phoebe Jones grabbed a brace poaching crosses on the back post. Grace Berry scored a second before Sue Read completed her hatrick. Lucy Ratcliffe opened her account with a fierce shot from the top of the dee and Ellie Windsor got her second. Grace Berry completed her hatrick with a shot high into the roof of the Bowden goal.

Laura Workman scored scrambling home the ball and the final goal came in the final seconds of the game as Lucy Ratcliffe ran through the Bowden defence and rounded the keeper for her second.

Whitchurch 1s travel away to Buckley next week, the ladies 2s play Neston at home at 12.30.

 

Whitchurch Mens 1s 9 – Bebington Mens 4s 1

The return to competitive games also brought Whitchurch a continuation of their winning form. The away leg against Bebington earlier in the season was a hectic affair with Whitchurch getting two goals in the last two minutes to nick a 7-6 win, so this time captain Alex Fry warned the team against assuming early goals meant an easy win. The team continued their good work from last week’s friendly, with Paul “Sturge” Leigh in goal having a mostly quiet game protected by Mark Sugden and Matt Brooks, and Ben Fry combining solid defence with darting runs down the right wing.

Martin Beecher opened the scoring after some strong pressure from Whitchurch, followed quickly by the first of Ben Kimberley’s first-half hat-trick. This time Whitchurch settled into a better rhythm of tight marking and counter-attack. Most of Bebington’s attack was down their right wing, and Steve Kay, Si Briceno, Jake Wood and Brooks combined well in rotation to cut out these attacks and recycle the ball, with Kay and Alex Fry providing accurate high-speed switch passes to move the ball to Ben Fry, Joel Leese and Tom Leonard to start attacks down their right wing before Bebington could react. Kimberley picked up his second and third with a combination of quick reactions in the dee and hard strikes, given strong support and passes by Beecher and Leese. The half ended after Leonard got a hard strike away past the very capable Bebington keeper.

The second half allowed Whitchurch to turn up the pressure and they had a number of close misses, and Briceno and Kimberley were very unlucky some of their deflections went just wide. Bebington were able to launch a few attacks as they shifted a second striker up into the Whitchurch half, and one got away and was brought down in the Whitchurch dee by keeper Leigh and a penalty stroke was awarded and converted.

Whitchurch reset and an aerial clearance from James Partington from a sixteen went up the field to Tom Leonard to let him get his second of the game: a scramble in the Bebington dee lead to the ball popping clear to Leonard on the edge of the dee and a bullet strike flew into the bottom left corner. Renewed pressure allowed Whitchurch to get another as Leese was able to perform a perfect in-dee deflection to bring the score to 8-1.

With the last play of the game, Whitchurch was awarded a short corner which came to Tom Leonard who buried it to bring the score to 9-1 and end the game. Whitchurch are away next week at Oxton to play their 6s and hopefully continue their successful season.

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Match Reports 07/01/17

Whitchurch Men 1 Market Drayton Men 3

Whitchurch started off the New Year fielding a mixture of 1s and 2s in a friendly against their local rivals. From the start Drayton had the larger amount of possession but Whitchurch maintained their discipline and frustrated the Drayton attacks.

Drayton however were clinical in front of goal and took the lead from a Whitchurch error.

The second half was the same as the first but Whitchurch pushed players forward but failed to take their chances and again Drayton scored on the break.

Ben Kimberley pulled a goal back for Whitchurch but Whitchurch were guilty of pushing to many players forward searching for the equalising goal and Drayton completed their victory with a quick break and clinical finish.

Whitchurch return to league action next week at home against Bebbington 4s starting at 14.30.

 

Whitchurch ladies 2s 1 Market Drayton Ladies 6

Whitchurch entertained a team playing in a higher division as a test for the New Year. From the start the two teams were very even but as the game progressed Drayton’s experience of a higher standard became clear as they applied pressure to the Whitchurch defence.

Drayton scored two in the first half to give them a comfortable lead but Whitchurch always looked dangerous on the break.

In the second half Whitchurch just couldn’t find their pre-Christmas form as fitness came into play and passing wasn’t quite accurate enough. Jess Kimberley made the game more interesting scoring from a penalty corner

As Whitchurch tired Drayton’s experience showed as they pushed on to score a number of goals to complete their win.

Whitchurch took a lot of positives from the game and will take the lessons learnt into the remainder of their league matches.

The ladies 2s have a break next week but the ladies 1s take on Bowdon ladies 5s at home starting at 12.30.

Happy New Year and start to 2017!

Happy New Year from all at Whitchurch Hockey Club.

Training starts for seniors on Wednesday evenings from January 11th for the seniors from 19.30 to 21.00.

Whether you are a regular player or fancy trying a new sport in 2017 or just want to burn over Christmas excesses come along and join us.

We can supply sticks for those who are new to the sport and a fun and friendly atmosphere.

For further information contact us at secretary@whitchurchhockeyclub.com