Alderley Edge Women's 1st team are clear top of the North Division 2 SW League and on the championship trail after two big scoring wins last week.
Edge have now played 11, won 11, scored a whopping 62 goals and a mean defence has conceded just 5 goals. Alderley sit top of the table, 3 points clear of local rivals Wilmslow, with a game in hand .
Catching up a game previously lost to a frozen pitch a Tuesday night fixture was arranged. Edge stunned Urmston HC 12-0 with 6 goals for Lily Wolstenholme, a hat trick in each half, 3 for Issy Reynolds-Duffy, 2 for Saskia Swatland and 1 for Annie Hebb. A really dominant performance with excellent passing, speedy movement off the ball and clinical finishing.
Saturday was a more stretching encounter at Bowdon 3's who fielded a much changed and stronger team than earlier in the season. It took a while to break them down but a 5-0 win was a fair result with 2 goals from Issy Reynolds-Duffy, and one each from Alderley's England under 16 International players, Lily Wolstenholme and Jenni Park. Amanda Bennison scored a brilliant individual goal. Next Saturday sees Wilmslow visit the Edge with Alderley looking to maintain their 100% record.
Edge 2nds were comfortable 2-0 winners over Bowdon 4s, although they didn't play quite as well as in previous weeks. First half Alderley created a hatful of chances and scored two through Julia Tennant and Jess Clitheroe. The second half was scrappy with the Bowdon keeper making some fine saves. Despite several more good chances and multiple penalty corners Edge could not all to the tally. Edge remain 3rd in Cheshire Division 1.
Another table topping team are Alderley Women's 3rds who comfortably beat Chester 3rds 4-1. They simply outplayed, outran and outsmarted a more mature team. Nicola Hall scored the opener following a great pass from Ellie Ward who then scored herself. Chester pulled one back from a penalty corner before 'player of the match' Caitlin Polley ran down the wing, kept her composure and balance to slot the ball home goal number three. The Edge juggernaut just kept on going with great passing moves and Tori Blackwell added a fourth to round off a superb team performance.
Edge Women's 4ths were winners again 3-0 at Winnington Park 2nds. The 5ths narrowly lost 1-0 to Timperley 5ths, whilst the 6th team enjoyed a fine away win at Neston 4ths with 'Back To Hockey's' Liz Callaghan amongst the scorers.
Five wins for the 6 Womens teams and two table topping sides sees Edge in great shape as the Christmas break approaches.
The Alderley mens section had a mixed bag of results this weekend.
The Men's 1st team were well beaten 6-2 away at Leeds HC, a team they comfortably beat earlier in the season.
Starting slowly they conceded a penalty corner in the first minute. They were 2 nil down not long after when Leeds scored at the back post. Andy Power brought Alderley back in to the game when his penalty corner was too hot for the home keeper. Leeds re-established their two goal cushion when a breakaway allowed a Leeds forward a clear run at goal. Half time 3-1 down. Alderley started the second half well and Angus McCormick executed a penalty corner to make it 3-2, however Leeds quickly scored again when defender Cresey was unfortunate to tip the ball in.
Wildig went close and Parr's strong run ended with a saved shot. Leeds then scored with a spin and drag flick penalty corner routine. The Leeds' keeper made some saves in quick succession to deny Warburton's defection and Gregory's slap rebound. The game opened up with Leeds the more threatening. Leeds final goal came from a wild high and wide shot impressively volleyed in overhead by an on rushing Leeds forward.
Alderley Mens 2nd showed character and clinical finishing from set pieces to twice come from behind against Bebington 1s to record a 5-2 victory.
Bebington started strongly and took the lead in dubious circumstances with Alderley adamant the attacker hadn't got a touch on the through ball. Alderley held their composure and equalised from a Nick Sims drag flick. Bebington retook the lead when they skilfully worked the ball from the bye line to an attacker who volleyed into the goal from close range. Alderley didn't let this affect them and quickly equalised when, after good work from Todd Leddy, Matt Hardy was illegally stopped from shooting by a Bebington defender and a penalty flick was awarded which Nick Sims calmly converted.
Chris Cook then orchestrated the turning point of the match two minutes before half time. He dispossessed a Bebington attacker in his own half and then powerfully drove forward to win Alderley's second penalty corner of the game. 'Man of the Match', Nick Sims expertly executed a high drag flick off the inside of the post and Edge crucially led 3-2 at halftime with the powerful wind behind them for the second half.
The second half was much more comfortable with Alderley not allowing Bebington a chance to get back into the game. Although there were some missed chances from the attackers, Alderley continued to show their strength at penalty corners with Chris Hardy striking twice to complete the 5-2 victory and keep Alderley 2nd team in 2nd place in the league just behind Wilmslow 1st team.
Alderley Mens 3rd team are flying high top the league! After going 1 nil down, Alderley quickly took control away to Oxton. Goals from Ed Fluck, Robin Laughton and Dadah made it 3-1 at the break. A superb second half hat-trick from 'Man of the Match' Sam Buckingham and further goals from Ed Fluck and Dadah ensured Alderley prevailed by 8 goals to 2.
Alderley Men's 4th team got back to winning ways against Bowdon 4ths, 4-1. 2 goals from Dan Farrer and one each from Jon Talbot and Oli Wildig.
Alderley 5ths played twice over the weekend losing to Lymm 2-0 on Saturday, with injuries reducing Edge to just 9 players, and winning on Sunday 3-2 against Mossley Hill to go third in the table.
A top quality match with some fantastic individual skill and team play from the Edge, especially the youngsters who were outstanding against a very committed and physically tough but fair opposition with an outstanding keeper. A fabulous opening goal from a flowing one touch passing counter attack going in off a defender. The second goal was a steaming penalty stroke from Greg Johnson. It was awarded after a quick free hit outside the D worked well by Will Hughes who was fouled in the D. Mossley Hill scored two goals as the team switched off and defended poorly before a goal mouth scramble saw Chris Sinton lift the ball in to the roof of the net for the winner - from a narrow angle when the goal seemed covered by defenders.
There were notable wins over the weekend for the two boys Badgers teams 6-0 against Lymm and 5-1 against Formby and the girls under 14's against Lymm Under 15's 7-1.
The Edge Mens Over 40's Masters team lost 4-2 in the EHB Trophy match at Didsbury Northern despite 12 penalty corners and dominating play for long periods. Quick break aways were the teams undoing.
Match report by Kelvin Briggs.
