In Hockey's Cheshire Cup Alderley Edge men’s 1st team travelled to Crewe for the second season running, after defeat last year, Alderley were after revenge.
The match started in surprisingly hot and sunny conditions and Alderley soon made hay dominating the early exchanges and forcing a penalty corner. James Warburton’s initial effort was parried into the air where Neil Hanley volleyed home the opening goal.
Alderley continued to press and looked good for a second, until confusion down their right allowed Crewe a simple opportunity which was well finished.
The game became a scrappy affair but Alderley extended their lead when Sam Gregory took advantage of hesitancy in the home defence to put Alderley 2-1 in front.
After half time Crewe looked stronger and more fluent, but it was Alderley who stretched their lead, when a shot was not dealt with properly and Matt Hardy was on hand to apply the close range finish.
Crewe pushed hard to get back into the game and began to force a series of penalty corners. Phil Benton saved the first on the line. The defence seemed to be coping well with the pressure with debutants Ian Brown and Andy Williams looking very assured.
Alderley had plenty of possession with Badger and Butterworth linking up well and Gregory and Ghazanfar showing good industry, but the killer punch was not applied and the play switched from end-to-end.
As the minutes ticked by Alderley looked to be heading for victory, until Crewe were awarded a generous corner decision, this time the drag flicked shot managed to find a way through.
Alderley looking dangerous on the break could have finished the game off, but as fatigue set in the quality was missing.
Crewe pushed forward in numbers and peppered the Alderley ‘D’ and with the last attack won another corner. With the full time whistle blown, there was time for just the corner. The whole Crewe team came forward, and they managed to create a shooting opportunity and a cruel deflection off an Alderley stick ballooned the ball into the net, to send the tie into extra time.
With the momentum Crewe looked favourites and both teams attached at will, but Alderley came closest as Ben Gregory twisted and turned his way into space only to be unceremoniously upended. The pass into the D caused problems, but no finish applied. Crewe then hit Alderley on the break and an unmarked player burst on to a pass to lift the ball over Riley and into the net to give Crewe the lead. In the second half of extra time Alderley summoned the strength of character to fight back and were rewarded when Warburton was the most decisive player and he forced home the equaliser.
The match then went to penalties Crewe missed their fourth attempt and with Warburton, Badger, Ben Gregory, Hardy and Hanley all finding the net Alderley ran out dramatic 5-4 winners.
Alderley Edge now face Oxton on Saturday at Fallibroome School, Macclesfield at 1.40pm with the other club games at 12 and 3.30pm.
