Alderley Edge Men’s Hockey 1st team fought themselves back towards the summit of North League Divison One with a fine 4-2 victory over 2nd placed City of York.
Alderley coming into the game with only 1 point from their last five games, and suffering postponements due to the weather, comprehensively defeated the team currently lying in one of the promotion places.
Quick out of the blocks, Alderley dominated early exchanges and when Matt Hardy picked off a loose pass, he fed Sam Gregory who passed the ball on to his brother Ben, who finished first time.
Alderley then went 2–0 up when further pressure again caused a cheap turn over and Miles McGoun was given the chance to run at the last defender, he created space and fired in a shot that left the keeper flat footed.
York tried to break the Alderley backline, but created little and Alderley could have extended their lead after drawing the keeper out of his goal on more than one occasion but failing to find the finish, McGoun coming closest hitting the outside of the post.
The second half was harder fought with York upping their effort. Man of the match Joe Bryant was in fine form and made several important tackles. Danny Butterworth capped a fine game with a goal after bursting forward and firing home following neat work in the D from Gregory.
At 3-0 the game was all but over, to York’s credit they kept going and were rewarded with a goal when a pass found the free player who was able to neatly finish. As York became more frantic, Alderley did well in keeping their composure, not something they are noted for, and when York pushed forward, Alderley capitalised and with the keeper nowhere to be seen James McPherson slapped home to give Alderley breathing space.
There was time for a York consolation goal, but the points were Alderley’s after what was probably their most complete performance of the season and it puts Alderley just 3 points behind York, with a game in hand.
