Alderley Edge Hockey Club Ladies 1st XI became Cheshire Champions on Saturday afternoon, beating Brooklands Poynton 7-0 in the final of the Cheshire Cup at Timperley HC.
Edge, recently promoted into the Investec Premiership North, dominated the game from the outset but failed to capitalise on three early short corners. Julia Tennant finally opened the scoring in the 15th minute in a game played under glorious blue skies.
Despite pressuring Brooklands for the remainder of the first half, the score line remained at 1 – 0. However, the 'black attack' came out firing on all four cylinders in the second half, with man of the match Amanda Bennison scoring twice within in a minute for Edge just after play resumed. Jen Park, recently selected for England's U18 test series in Holland next week, added another five minutes later. Nic Hall caught Brooklands off guard twice in the 61st and 62nd minutes, effectively putting the game beyond Brooklands' reach, before Bennison wrapped things up with her hat trick.
Such was the momentum within the team that even defender Sophie Hetherington made an unprecedented foray into the opposition's D and very nearly scored too, much to the amazement of both herself, her team mates and outgoing coach John Bell. Bell had double cause for celebration on Saturday as he later watched his other charges, Bowdon, beat favourites Brooklands in the final of the Men's Cheshire Cup Final.
This result bodes well for Edge's Ladies who have had their best season in the club's history despite the squad comprising several players aged under 18. They now concentrate on defending the Investec Trophy on 30 April against University of Nottingham at Lee Valley Stadium in London.
Match report by Sue Polley.
