Alderley Edge Hockey Club stepped up the promotion challenge this weekend as the league reached its half way stage.
Alderley Edge Men's 1st team returned to the top of North Division One after putting eleven past Lytham St Annes.
Lytham suffered from a disrupted trip to The Edge Hockey Centre and were immediately under pressure.
Alderley's pace and movement caused Lytham trouble throughout and the star man was James Warburton (pictured shooting) who scored six times.
Alderley opened the scoring when Warburton was given space in the D and he worked the ball on to his reverse side and hit a rising shot past the 'keeper. Adam Wildig applied the finish to a swift attack to make it 2-0.
Alderley's passing game was below its usual standards and often they were their own worst enemies, however, the half time team talk was softened as, in the last minute, Alderley broke away and Warburton deflected in the third. Straight from the restart Lytham turned the ball over and Alderley put together one last attack and Warburton was on hand to apply the back post finish.
The second half was a better affair as Alderley kept possession better and were constantly threatening, forcing the Lytham 'keeper into several saves, it was Warburton's day as he touched home passes first from Barnes and then Coxon to stretch the lead.
The Lytham keeper was helpless when Laurence Barnes scored the goal of the game. Barnes won a tackle in the midfield and broke forward, the defence opened in front of him and he struck a rasping drive high into the net over the 'keeper's shoulder. Warburton again showed a true striker's instinct drifting outside the far post to lose his marker and then neatly deflected Scarsbrook's driven pass high into the net.
Lytham playing with a high striker throughout were rewarded for their endeavours when they grabbed a consolation goal from a penalty corner. This spurred Alderley on, and when Lytham flooded men forward looking for another they were hit by a great counter attack.
Joe Coxon and Ben Gregory spotted the opportunity and broke up field, the ball was won by the Alderley defence and one pass later Coxon was up against the 'keeper and he slipped the ball to Gregory who casually finished. Coxon's hard work was rewarded when he got on the score sheet in the final minutes.
The league remains extremely tight with only three points separating the top seven teams.
The second team is now 7 points clear at the top of NW 2, following their 4-2 win at Deeside, goals coming from Phil Benton, Sam Baker, Matt Hardy and the pick of the bunch from Oli Hall.
The 3s maintained their promotion hopes and sit in second place after their 6-2 win away at Tameside. The fifth team drew with table toppers Sale 3, the 6th team sit top of their league after a 3-1 away win at Sale 4s. Alderley Edge 4s lost 2-1 against Bowdon.
This is a member post by James Riley.
