Alderley Edge Men’s Hockey 1st team continued where they left off last year and cruised to a double victory this weekend.
Chester, relegated into Alderley’s league for the forthcoming season, were the visitors on Saturday in the Cheshire Cup and they did not know what had hit them.
Alderley, with three debutants in their line up flew out of the blocks and pinned Chester back. The forward link up play was excellent and good passing play gave James Warburton the chance to shoot. He beat the keeper but hit the post and newcomer Joe Coxon was quickest to react and fired into the empty goal.
On virtually the next attack Alderley won their first penalty corner and Warburton rifled home.
Alderley’s backline was able to deal with any Chester attack, with the other new players, Kay and Cook slotting in with strong performances. Barnes was linking play well and Alderley soon made it three when Ben Badger’s through ball was superbly picked up by Alex Morgan who expertly rounded the ‘keeper before firing in on his reverse side.
Sam Gregory had worked hard and was rewarded when he finished off another good passage of play for the Alderley forward line. Kieren Hall was given his chance to impress with the first team and he seized his opportunity when given space in the D he made no mistake, making the half time score 5-0.
The second half was a scrappier affair as both teams tired and mistakes were made. Alderley went down to 10 when Andy Williams was sin-binned for an over enthusiastic challenge and Chester pulled one back as their forward beat a couple of tacklers and managed to get into a shooting position and found the bottom corner.
Alderley soon regained their five goal advantage as Warburton grabbed his second of the game. That was the end of the scoring, although there was time for Phil Benton to be the second Alderley and fourth player overall to be sent to the sin-bin.
The performance was a fantastic start to the season and Alderley now travel to Bowdon for the next round.
The ‘B’ side played local rivals Macclesfield’s ‘A’ side and defeated them 3-0, with Chris Hardy, Finn Allenby and Ben Lambert scoring the goals and good late saves from Danny Jones preserved the clean sheet.
On Sunday Alderley 1’s went to Timperley, the team that were promoted ahead of them on head-to-head goal difference last season.
Alderley took some revenge triumphing 4-1, with Adam Wildig making his season bow grabbing a fine hat-trick, demonstrating some clinical finishing and Warburton also got on the score sheet. With several players making a claim for a starting berth in the coming weeks, Alderley’s strength in depth bodes well for the coming season.
Alderley Edge also provided the backbone of the triumphant Cheshire U16 side which defeated Yorkshire, Captain Rob Hughes scored the winner and was joined in the side by James Bateman, Max Haywood and Andrew Jackson.
With the new playing facility soon to be completed things are looking good for Hockey at Alderley Edge.
This is a member post by James Riley.
