Alderley Edge Men's Hockey team travelled to Eastbourne in the HA National Knockout Quarter Final. The journey to Eastbourne went well and the 12 man Alderley squad started the game well. Controlling the midfield with Bryant and McPherson and using full backs Gibson and Barnes as an outlet.
The tireless work of Sam and Ben Gregory caused the Eastbourne defence problems all game and created the best goal scoring opportunity when a certain goal was prevented by the foot of a defender. James McPherson converted the penalty stroke to give Alderley the lead.
Matt Hardy and Joe Gregory gave Alderley attacking intent outwide and despite the very slow pitch Alderley were able to pass the ball around at pace and stretch the Eastbourne midfield giving space to the forwards and create half chances and penalty corners. McPherson's strike was saved on the line and Barnes fired narrowly wide with the keeper beaten.
Eastbourne began to get a foothold in the game but Bryant and Scarsbrook both defended and tackled well, the equaliser came when Alderley went down to 10 men after a technical infringement at a substitution and the extra man was made to count as Alderley turned over possession and an unmarked Eastbourne forward fired high into the net.
The second half was always going to be difficult and Alderley got off to a terrible start as a miscontrolled ariel pass rolled straight to the Easbourne forward, who was forced wide, but managed a great reverse stick finish. Alderley kept battling and creating half chances, Wildig and Gregory unfortunate not to grab an equaliser.
As the exersions of the previous day's away game and the small squad began to show and Eastbourne's 16 man squad kept the pace high and ensure fresh legs at regular intervals, Alderley tired and began making basic errors, allowing Eastbourne in on goal and Riley was forced into several saves as the pressure mounted.
Eventually the Alderley resistance broke and Eastbourne managed to extend the lead and go on to take the match. Full credit to the whole squad for a magnificent effort in trying circumstances.
The previous day Alderley travelled to Lytham, and left empty handed after going down 4-3. Lytham took the lead, but Alderley fought back and a fine deflected goal from Danny Butterworth from McPherson's pass brought them level.
Alderley took the lead before half time, when a great break and passing move involving Gregory and McGoun allowed Frankie Bryant the opportunity to slot home. Alderley were then down to 9 men when Joe Gregory and Butterworth saw yellow, but held on to half time.
The second half was a much scrappier affair with tackles flying in and at one stage the game was 10 v 9, when two Lytham players and Joe Bryant were sinbinned. Alderley extendeed their lead through a well worked penalty corner routine finished by Laurence Barnes, however Lytham fought back and grabbed goals from a penalty corner, a good open play goal and a fortunate winner when the initial shot was saved but they reacted quicker to the loose ball to poke home.
