Alderley Edge Men's 1's poor run of results continued losing 5-1 at home on Sunday to Didsbury Northern HC in National League Conference North.
Despite a promising Alderley start Didsbury scored first. Ben Gregory then scored a brilliant equaliser, a solo cross pitch run with a crisp reverse stick strike from the Edge of the D.
Didsbury managed to get behind the Edge defence along the baseline to add a second. Defensive frailties were further exposed as Didsbury scored three more unanswered goals as Edge chased the game.
Too many turnovers post running in to contact and misplaced passes cost Alderley dear despite the best efforts of some promising young players in the squad.
Edge will need to pick up in the second half of the season and find a cutting edge in attack to avoid the serious threat of relegation.
Alderley Edge Ladies' 1s drew 1-1 at home against visitors Wakefield HC 1s in this weekends Investec Women's North Conference encounter.
Alderley started the game brightly fuelled by last weeks win over previously undefeated Pendle, moving the ball around nicely at pace . The high tempo attacking play producing numerous goal scoring opportunities.
Towards the end of the 1st quarter, much against the run of play, some scrappy Edge defending allowed Wakefield to go 1 up. Unlike in some previous games, Alderley heads didn't drop. With determined attacking play Edge keep pushing on looking for an equaliser.
It came In the 2nd quarter, Caitlin Polley scoring a perfectly placed drag flick top left corner of the goal. Alderley continued to dominate the second half with some unlucky penalty corner executions. Unfortunately the Edge Ladies Just couldn't find the winner.
Player of the match was Sarah Hopkin for the second week on the trot, for her amazing distribution and powerful driving in to the gap between defence and attack.
Edge Coach Kelly Pryde-Fillingham was well pleased with the teams application "A great performance from the squad, not sure how that was 1-1! Wakefield will definitely have been happy they escaped with a point "
Having lost to Wakefield earlier in the Season this was an encouraging performance ahead of next weeks tough challenge away at Sutton Coldfield.
Alderley Edge Womens 2nd team won 4-0 away at Oldham with goals from Sophie Fox, Lucy Walmsley and two from Michelle Fletcher. The 3rds drew 2-2 against Neston 2's , frustrated time concede a penalty corner Neston equalising goal at the last play of the game.
The Women's 0'45's Masters team rolled back the years on Sunday to comfortably overcome Sale Ladies 3-1 in the England Hockey Masters championship. 2 goals for Jude Offer and a penalty corner bullet from Michelle Fletcher. A super team performance.
Match report by Kelvin Briggs.
