Lymm Ladies 3s 3 Whitchurch Ladies 1s 1

Whitchurch pushed hard in the first half with most of the possession but Lymm made the most of their opportunities scoring from two lucky breaks. Despite some great saves from goalkeeper Maddy Sugden Lymm had a run of shorts from which they managed to score a third. Whitchurch kept their heads held high and continued to pressure the Lymm defence but could not make it count until a great dribble into the dee from Lisa Sullivan and a small pass to Captain Catherine Winter-Gresty to tap past the Lymm keeper.

After a good half time team talk the 2nd half was looking good for Whitchurch, they settled down and had a string of shorts but unfortunately Lymm’s defence was very strong. There was some great midfield work by Lisa Sullivan, Helen Machin and Ellie Windsor and supported by some skilful runs from Emily Hilton and Ellie Windsor. The Whitchurch defence Clare Fitzgerald and Catherine Reece-Gresty did a fantastic job not allowing Lymm another goal, but time ran out for Whitchurch to leave the final score 3-1 to Lymm.

Whitchurch Mens 1s 7 – Bebington Mens 4s 6

Whitchurch Mens 1s travelled to Bebington this week to play a team whose league position belies their strength and ability. A very high scoring game followed, ebbing and flowing as each team scored and then were beaten on the counter attack. Whitchurch scored first, with Ben Kimberley picking up an aerial clearance from James Partington that got past all the Bebington players, taking it into the dee and right round the keeper for a fine goal; the first of his brace. A minute later, and Whitchurch had scored again and assumed that that had set the tone for the afternoon, only for Bebington to counter strongly and score a quick goal. One more from Whitchurch led to two more from Bebington, and the pressure showed as Whitchurch started to miss passes and the defence let Bebington through far too easily. Much of the rest of the first half was spent on the back foot as Whitchurch struggled to get the basics right, and they went into the half-time break a goal down.

As is becoming the pattern for Whitchurch this season, the half-time talk from Captain Alex Fry was key to identifying where the game was slipping away and what needed improving, and the last five minutes were again critical. The second half started much as the first had finished, with end-to-end play: Whitchurch put some good moves together and were able to score, but Bebington put numbers forward as well as getting back en masse and were able to pressure Whitchurch into making mistakes, and then taking the subsequent free hits quickly and with numbers.

With five minutes to go, at 6-5 down, Whitchurch once again had to dig deep to get something out of the game. Tom Leonard, was able to score his fourth to bring the game level, and then with just over two minutes to go, Jack Barnes was able to get a shot away to give Whitchurch a fortunate win against a very capable team.

Whitchurch play at home next week against Deeside Ramblers 6s.

Whitchurch Mens 2s 0 Chester Mens 6s 4

The Men’s 2s returned to action against Chester after a two-week lay off. The score didn’t reflect the game but more that Chester took their chances where Whitchurch didn’t.

The first half saw both teams creating chances but struggling to make them complete as they got back into playing after the break in games. It was not until the last minute of the half that Chester scrambled home the ball to give them a lead at the break.

Whitchurch were happy with the way they were playing and encouraged to carry on with the same efforts in the second half. It says much of Whitchurch’s current run of form that when Chester got touches in the dee they created chances and Whitchurch shots fell into space or to the Chester defence.

Chester neatly converted a penalty flick awarded as the ball bounced around the dee and hit the Whitchurch defender on the line and finished the game with two well-worked penalty corner routines to secure the points.

Whitchurch have another free weekend next week before a run of games up to the end of the year where they hope to find some winning form.

With the Mens 1s game cancelled due to the opposition not being able to raise a side and all other sides not having fixtures the ladies 2s played a friendly.

Whitchurch ladies 2s 12 Runcorn ladies 2s 2

On the 29th of October 2016 Whitchurch Ladies 2’s played a friendly against Runcorn Ladies 2’s who are in the above league. Whitchurch expected a hard game and fielded a strong team but due to availability Runcorn brought a young team with several debutants and Whitchurch provided a number of players to support the them.

The game started with both teams evenly matched, but Whitchurch got the lead with a goal from Ashleigh Heath. The game was close as Runcorn then scored. Another two goals from Grace Berry and Lisa Sullivan secured Whitchurchs’ win, but just before half time Runcorn scored again, making the half time score 3-2 win to Whitchurch.

During the second half Whitchurch got into their attacking stride scoring nine goals, new girl Aisla Cairns with 5 goals, Mel Reid (her first ever for Whitchurch) Amy Fry, Grace with a second and finished as Ashleigh Heath scored her second. Whitchurch played well defensively with Mel Reid, Emma Clarke, Emily Hilton, Catherine Reece-Gresty and Katie Goodwin. Thanks must go to Phoebe Jones, Molly Goodwin and Vicky Corlet who played well for Runcorn, particularly to Phoebe who scored!

The 2’s have a break next week before their next league game against Bebington Ladies 2s at home.

Northop Hall Mens 2s 2 Whitchurch Mens 1s 2

Whitchurch played Northop Hall this week in a top-of-the-table clash in a tightly contested game at Northop. On a pitch that offered less bounce and more bobble, Whitchurch struggled to find their control, and passes, stops and tackles weren’t to the expected standard for the first half, allowing Northop to attack more freely. Aaron Swain in goal made some superb saves to keep Whitchurch in the game, but ultimately the Northop pressure paid off and they converted a short corner with a hard strike from the top of the dee.

Whitchurch then settled into a better rhythm, defending more consistently against the Northop attacks, with Matt Brooks, Ryan Murtagh and Ben Fry combining well across the back to clear the ball and Alex Fry and Joel Leese working well in the centre to move the ball up the pitch. Jake Wood, Marcus Conway and Ben Kimberley gave Whitchurch width allowing attacks to build down the wings, and good balls into the centre finally led to a goalmouth scramble that Martin Beecher got the last touch on to get Whitchurch back on level terms.

Northop regrouped, and as the game got more intense were able to drive down the right wing, getting a cross past the defence’s attempts to block and giving their striker a straightforward chance on goal. 2-1 to Northop at half time was a reflection of the difference in performance between the teams. Captain Alex Fry gave the team another half-time talk to focus their minds, and the second half started much better for Whitchurch: the passing was better, the control sharper and the marking tighter. For a long time, the game was evenly balanced with both sides having chances, but as the half progressed, Whitchurch were stronger with a number of very close chances – shots across the goal, shots inches wide of the post. With only a couple of minutes left on the clock, Whitchurch moved the ball through the centre of the pitch at pace, with Leese picking out Tom Leonard who buried the ball in the back of the Northop goal.

A draw was a fair result for a game played at pace and with intensity, and it leaves Whitchurch top of the table ahead of Northop on goal difference. Whitchurch play at home next week against Colwyn Bay 3s.

Sandbach Ladies 2 Whitchurch Ladies 0

This week Whitchurch Ladies 2’s travelled to play Sandbach Ladies 1’s. Whitchurch knew it would be a difficult match from the start as Sandbach were only 2^nd below them in the division. The game started and both teams were pretty equally matched so Whitchurch fought even harder, attacking strong up the wing and defending the middle of the pitch. Ashleigh Heath and Emily Vernon worked hard to try and get that much needed goal, but unfortunately couldn’t finish it off. Throughout the first half defence was strong from Emma Clarke and Jess Kimberley and Whitchurch didn’t concede any goals. Whitchurch went into the second half with spirits still high, as the score line was 0-0.

Whitchurch went into the second half fighting for a goal, but unfortunately early on in the second half a Sandbach player ran through the Whitchurch defence and fired the ball into the goal past keeper Phoebe Jones who made numerous saves and played a fantastic match. Although Whitchurch’s spirits were dampened they still kept fighting and didn’t give up at all throughout the match. Whitchurch had many opportunities to score their much-needed goal and fantastic play from Tracy Tolhurst, Hayleigh Busby and Beth Sykes nearly secured it but they were unlucky. About half way through the second half Sandbach scored another lucky goal. Despite Whitchurch’s fantastic play they were unable to keep their winning streak. Ashleigh Heath was awarded player of the match and next week Whitchurch Ladies 2’s will play a friendly match against Runcorn Ladies 3’s at home.

Whitchurch ladies 1s 8 Alderley Edge Ladies 4s 1

Whitchurch continued where they left off from last weeks game, working hard and defending in numbers, they frustrated Alderley Edge throughout the match but this week were ruthless in turning chances into goals.

Sue Read opened the scoring for Whitchurch 10 minutes into the game and scored her second minutes later. Ellie Windsor scored a third before the break to give Whitchurch a comfortable lead.

After the break Alderley pushed players forward and forced the best out of Maddy Sudgen in goal and Claire Fitzgerald in the heart of the Whitchurch defence. But after the initial pressure Catherine Reece-Gresty steadied the team and started the team controlling possession and moving the ball through the midfield of Lisa Sullivan and Emma Harper.

As Alderley tired Whitchurch took their chances in front of goal as Grace Berry scored the first of the half and Lucy Ratcliffe dispatched a five-minute hatrick striking three unstoppable shots from the top of the dee. Whitchurch finished the game with Sue Read scoring her third poaching another goal as it bounced off the keeper’s pads.