Ladies Section, Match Reports

Match reports 14/02/15

Whitchurch ladies 1s 11 Macclesfield ladies 4s 1

The game started late after a Macclesfield car containing the goalkeeper and captain broke down on the way too the match. Whitchurch lent the opposition their away kit and provided a goalkeeping kit so the game could commence.

Whitchurch took the game to Macclesfield from the start with numerous penalty corners but it took Whitchurch a while to break down the resolute Macclesfield defence. Katie Plant opened the scoring deflecting home a penalty corner. Jane Williamson got the second not long after deflecting home a cross from Chloe Crump on the right wing. The third came as Lisa Sullivan drove down the base line and picked out Nicola Workman for the third. With almost the last action of the half Macclesfield scored from a penalty corner.

Whitchurch came out in the second half to prove a point and attacked from the off. Katie Plant scored another from a penalty corner followed by a ten-minute hattrick from Sue Read and not to be out done Katie Plant scored her third of the game. Jane Williamson scored her second of the game shooting from the top of the dee past the stranded keeper and Chloe Crump got on the score sheet poaching off the keeper’s pads. In the final minutes of the game Ellie Windsor deflected home a cross from Catherine Gresty for her first team goal.

Whitchurch 1s entertain Oxton ladies 3s at home next weekend in a re-arranged fixture.

 

Whitchurch ladies 2s 0 Neston ladies 4s 5

The second team ladies started slowly and Neston took full advantage scoring two goals early on in the match. Whitchurch settled and started to play the ball around and control the match. Whitchurch were awarded a number of penalty corners but couldn’t get the final touch.

The second half saw Whitchurch continue to pressure through new girls Wendy Page, Nina Brown and Evelyn Crathern. Laura Hollinshead came closest too finding the elusive goal they needed when her shot was saved on the line as the Whitchurch side tired Neston clinically scored three goals from three penalty corners.

The second team have a break next week from the league returning to action on the 28th February.

Ladies Section, Match Reports, Men's Section

Match reports 07/02/15

Whitchurch Men’s 1s 2 Evesham Men’s 1s 3

Whitchurch played hosts to Evesham, who beat the reds 3-0 in the reverse fixture, however were 5 points behind the reds in the league before the match.

The match started very sloppy for the reds, with a number of missed placed passes and missed tackles allowed the visitors to take the initiative and went 2-0 up early in the match.  After the second Evesham goal went in, the reds started to improve and started to put more pressure on the Evesham defence. The reds got a goal back before half time, with a Ben Lea drag flick from a penalty corner; the match was 2-1 at half time.

In truth it was a disappointing first half for the reds and the visitors were deserved to be ahead at that point.

The second half started well for the home side, with them keeping good possession and putting pressure on the Evesham defence, however the next goal in the game went to Evesham and put them 3-1 up.  The reds then started to push more men forward in chase of the next goal with both teams creating good chances.  About 10 minutes from the end the home team scored there second goal again from Ben Lea drag flick.  Then for the remaining time in the match the reds went chasing an equaliser and went close with the last hit of the game hit against the post.

In truth the reds didn’t really deserve anything from the match and Evesham deserved the 3 points, but the reds were left frustrated, as they knew they can play a lot better than they did.  They have two tough away matches at the weekend against Oswestry and Barlaston.

 

Whitchurch Men’s Fathoms 1            Aldridge & Walsall Fathoms 1

In what was one of the toughest games the Fathom have played this season they entertained the experienced Aldridge & Walsall team.

Aldridge started the quicker off the two teams as Whitchurch struggled to settle and get up to speed with the visitors passing and movement off the ball.

Whitchurch however stuck to the task off defending and disciplined marking and some luck restricted Aldridge to only a couple of opportunities in the first half which they failed to convert. Whitchurch had sporadic attacks but attacking as individuals enabled the Aldridge defence to easily stop any clear scoring opportunities.

The interval gave Whitchurch the opportunity to discuss their tactics for the second half and from the whistle they took the game to Aldridge. A Whitchurch error saw Aldridge awarded a penalty corner which they converted to give them the lead. Whitchurch stepped up their game and within minutes Craig Hockenhull drove into heart of the Aldridge defence to pick out Ellis Hickson to equalise. Whitchurch continued to pressure for the winner but in a complete reverse to the first half good defending and some luck meant Whitchurch couldn’t get the vital touch required for the win.

At the end both sides were happy with a draw in a hard fought and highly competitive match.

 

Warrington ladies 2s  0  Whitchurch  ladies 1s  1

 

It was the rematch against the team to which we suffered a 4-3 defeat earlier in the season. The strong line up was in positive spirits and a super team performance ensued. The game was end to end with both teams making good runs and taking advantage of any breaks in play. Whitchurch did look the stronger of the teams and had greater possession. Kate Goodwin bravely played on after a close range hit to her elbow (ouch!). Whitchurch’s hard work was rewarded half way through the first half when Lisa Sullivan’s penalty corner strike was deflected.

Warrington was a strong team and as a result Whitchurch couldn’t rest on their laurels in the second half. Solid defending from Gayle Ladd, Jane Williamson and Captain Catherine Reece-Gresty, good runs by Ellie Windsor down the left wing and confident keeping by Phoebe Jones (with one crucial save) meant Whitchurch held on to their lead until full time.

A Warrington short corner awarded with 9 seconds to go was tense to say the least. However Gayle coolly cleared the challenge, which led to a deserved victory for Whitchurch Ladies.

 

Next week the ladies 1s entertain Macclesfield 4s at home starting 12.30 and the 2s entertaining Neston 4s starting at 14.00.

 

General News

Welcome to the Iceni Water Grassroots Giveaway

Whitchurch hockey club has signed up to the Iceni Water giveaway. All you have to do to support are collect the labels on the bottles and give them to Cath, Alex and Craig by 18th April 2015.

Iceni Water, the Official Water Supplier for the England Hockey teams is delighted to announce the third year running of its successful “Iceni Grassroots Hockey Giveaway” across England!

Starting from December 2015, the program will run until the end of
April 2015. The scheme is designed to support local clubs by providing essential hockey equipment using the simple mechanic of collecting Iceni water bottle labels, which can be exchanged
for branded draw-string boot bags, bibs and training cones.

Iceni Water is also offering the hockey club that collects and redeems the most Iceni labels the chance to send ten people to watch the Investec London Cup Finals at the new home of hockey in the former Olympic Park in May 2015. The winners will get to watch
some of the World’s top players and teams in these exclusive finals.

https://www.iceniwaters.co.uk/hockey.php

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

Match reports 31/01/15

Whitchurch ladies 1s 2 Neston ladies 3s 1

Whitchurch entertained Neston in this top of the table clash, in what turned out to be one of the most competitive games of the season.

Whitchurch struck first winning an early penalty corner which Katie Plant converted to give Whitchurch the lead. Neston then settled and moved the ball around pressuring the Whitchurch players into making mistakes and giving away the ball. From one of these many attacks Neston were awarded a penalty corner and slotted the ball past debutant keeper Phoebe Jones for the equaliser.

The half-time break gave Whitchurch the opportunity to discuss their tactics and they went out in the second half to turn the tables on Neston playing simple quick passes and giving them no time on the ball.

Whitchurch again got the early break with another penalty corner and Sue Read poached the rebound off the keeper’s pads to give them the lead again. This time Whitchurch showed no signs off letting their lead slip and continued to apply pressure throughout the half but failed to extend their lead despite some excellent chances but enough for another well-earned 3 points.

 

Whitchurch ladies 2s 0 Macclesfield ladies 4s   3

The frustration for Whitchurch 2s continues, the score line in no way reflecting how well they played and competed for long periods of the game.

Whitchurch started the slower of the two teams and within a couple of minutes let in a soft goal as the defence switched off for a moment. The heads of the Whitchurch team however did not drop and they took the game to Macclesfield through captain Helen Apperley returning from her head injury a number of weeks ago. Whitchurch were awarded a number of penalty corners but couldn’t get the elusive touch.

The second half saw much off the same as Whitchurch continued to attack but couldn’t capitalise on the chances they created. Macclesfield took two chances well in the later stages off the game as the Whitchurch team had run to a stop.

The 1s travel away to Warrington 2s next week for another tough fixture whilst the 2s travel away to Alderley Edge 6s.

 

Whitchurch Mens Fathoms 8 Ludlow Mens Fathoms 2

In the spirit of the Fathoms league Ludlow couldn’t raise a full team so Whitchurch offered them two of the first team who didn’t have a fixture this week.

The added incentive spurred on the Fathoms team from the off to push for the win. In the opening minutes Ben Kimberley scored the first off his goals to give Whitchurch the lead. Ludlow re-grouped and scored an equaliser but Whitchurch took control up to the interval as Ben Kimberley completed his hattrick and Simon Brinceno dived full length to turn in a cross from Ben Fry.

The start of the second half saw Ludlow bounce back and some quick quality passing from their juniors picked out Ben Lea to slot the ball past the Whitchurch keeper.

Whitchurch again were spurred on and Ben Kimberley scored his fourth goal and Ellis Hickson scored from another cross from Fry. Craig Hockenhull slotted the ball past the Ludlow keeper later in the match after Kimberley turned provider. The final goal came as Ryan Murtagh picked the ball up and drove through the centre of the Ludlow defence and round the stranded Ludlow keeper for the final goal of the match.