Alderley Edge Men's Hockey third team have extended their lead at the top of the league following their eighth straight win. They are now 7 points clear; they came away from a scrappy game away at City of Manchester with a 4-1 win.
The goals came from Rob Marks with a flicked penalty corner, Manchester then equalised before Roland Alston put the final touch on good build up play just before half time and Marks with his second and Karim Ghazanfar wrapped up victory.
The 5th team have really hit a purple patch and won their third successive match and had the result of the day putting 10 past Stockport Bramhall. The 6s stayed ahead of the 5s in the league table with a comfortable 5-2 win against Knutsford and the new 7th team have a 100% record, winning 4-0 away at league leaders Deeside. Skipper Kelvin Briggs converting a penalty stroke.
Things did not go as well at the top of the club, in the North Premier League the first team hosted Brooklands MMU and lost another high scoring thriller. With a depleted squad Alderley Edge faced one of the division's in-form teams.
Quick out of the blocks Alderley took the lead following good play and concerted pressure won a penalty corner and Tim Pont fired into the net. Minutes later Alderley were two up as they won their second corner and Pont repeated the trick.
Brooklands were quickly back in the game when they were awarded a corner and they converted. 2-1.
Alderley's short comings this year have been concentration in defending and again turnover of possession leading to attacks on their goal - Brooklands were able to create three simple scoring opportunities and converted them all to lead 4-2 at half time.
Alderley continued to battle in the midfield with Williams being particularly robust and with the pace and trickery of Drummond Alderley always had a threat. They got back into the game when Andrew Jackson broke forward from the back and his reverse hit cross found its way to the back post where Sam Gregory met it at pace and deflected it into the net.
Alderley continued to press and were looking the more dangerous of the two sides, however, Alderley gave the ball away in the defence and the Brooklands forward was able to pick his spot. Again Alderley fought back and James Warburton grabbed his eighth goal in eight games as he ran from wide into the D and fired his shot into the far post.
Brooklands broke away to grab a fortunate 6th goal, a ball was fired towards the d and a back tracking defender deflected the ball on the line of the D sending it looping high into the goal. Alderley still had the chance to get back into the game as Wildig's deflection went narrowly wide and he just failed to get on the end of a Drummond cross. Pont also had two opportunities with corners but it was to no avail. Final score 6-4 in Brooklands favour.
The second team also faced Brooklands and suffered defeat. They took the lead, somewhat against the run of play Oli Wildig finding the net after combining with Matt Hardy. Despite resolute defensive performances from Benton, Johnson and 'keeper Pickering Alderley could not hold on and with 10 minutes to go conceded 2 quick goals. Alderley thought they had snatched a late equaliser from a corner but failed to force the ball over the line.
Photo: Tim Pont who scored twice this weekend for Men's 1s.
Match report by James Riley.
