Hockey: Edge get the better of Manchester

Alderley Edge Hockey Club’s top two teams both came up against City of Manchester at the weekend and came away with two well deserved victories.

The first team welcomed Khalid Sawas, Laurence Barnes and James Riley for their first league action of the season.

The game started off with both teams looking to pass the ball about and break at pace. Manchester won the games first corner, but executed poorly. The same could not be said for Alderley as almost immediately they went up the other end and won their first set-piece opportunity and James Warburton made no mistake.

City of Manchester equalised in bizarre circumstances as an aerial pass looked to be covered by the home defence, until it struck the wire running high over the pitch, the ricochet fell straight to the Manchester forward giving him a clear run at goal, he then found a team mate to score.

Alderley soon regained the lead when Adam Wildig and Sam Gregory teamed up first to put pressure on the Manchester backline and forced them to turn over possession and then to pass their way into the D for Wildig to score.

Warburton then made it 3-1 at half-time with another penalty corner that was too good for the ‘keeper.

The second half was a scrappier affair as Manchester tried to exert more pressure. Alderley looked in control and extended their lead as a neat interception led to Wildig racing free and coolly finishing. Wildig then completed his hat-trick when the ball fell to him in a crowded D and he hit his first time shot high into the net.

It was soon 6-1 when a fired-in pass from Barnes was neatly deflected in by Sam Gregory. Alderley then had several further chances to increase their lead, the clearest falling to Joe Gregory who elected to shoot first time when in space, his well hit strike narrowly clearing the crossbar.

Manchester grabbed a consolation when Alderley gave away cheap possession and the forward under pressure managed to bobble the ball home.

The second team continued their 100% start to the season and are now clear at the top of the division after travelling to Belle Vue and winning 2-1.

Alderley took the lead when debutant Rob Marks showed his strikers instinct and fired a half chance into the top corner. The second goal was neatly finished by Andrew Walker after great work by Sam Baker. Alderley deserved the points in a hard fought game, Andrew Jackson, Rob Hughes and Neil Hanley were particularly impressive in a crowded midfield.

The 3rd team drew 1-1 away to Knutsford 2s with Finn Allenby on the score sheet and backed up by strong performances from Sam Gardener, Jon Talbot and Chris Everett.

The Fourth team came back well against Crewe 3s, with a late Mike Parkin goal giving them a 2-2 draw after Nigel Baker-Brian had opened the scoring.

The early start caught the 5s napping as they fell to defeat at Didsbury, James Offer, Tom Ames and Simon Hunt the scorers.

The performance of the day was given by the 6th team as they as they triumphed 7-0 against Denbigh 2s. Star of the show was David Lewis with a real goal scorer’s performance throughout.

This is a member post by James Riley.

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Hockey
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