Alderley Edge men's second and third teams continue to lead their respective divisions after victories this weekend.
The 2s had another tough match against a combative Bolton 1st team side, Alderley had the edge for most of the game and better set pieces proved the difference as Chris Hardy fired in two penalty corners and Sam Baker nipped in for his obligatory goal. Bolton were in the game throughout and Alderley were thankful to Simon Pickering who saved a penalty stroke, the second he had faced in the game. They are now joint top of North West Division One following promotion last year.
The 3s stretched their lead at the top to three points with a solid 3-1 away win at Bangor 1st team. Alderley knew they were in a game from the start and battled well against physical opponents, goals from Roland Alston with two flicked penalty corners and a fine finish from Henry Holden after great work by Tim Offer gave them the win.
The youngsters of the fourth team had another terrific result to keep pace at the head of league, a very solid 4-1 win against Winnington Park was well deserved with Will Hughes scoring a hat-trick and starring displays from Callum Middleton, Tom J. Scott and Ali Smith.
In the North Premier division it was another tough day for the 1st team, performing much better than in previous weeks it was finishing that let them down. In the first half nobody could convert Drummond's cross shot and Pont fired at the 'keeper from a penalty corner.
Alderley's early pressure counted for nothing as Whitley Bay took the lead when their forward held off would be challengers all the way to the by-line the cross went over the heads of defenders and attackers alike and was volleyed in at the back post. Again Alderley continued to attack and the Whitley Bay 'keeper was called into action on a couple of occasions. Whitley Bay got back into the game and they were awarded a corner of their own, which Riley did well to deflect on to the post. It was Whitley Bay who scored next when they created space to fire in a reverse stick shot that deflected off an Alderley defender and into the net.
Alderley thought they had a lifeline when Pont broke free and looked to have rounded the 'keeper who slid into him sending him flying, but the Umpire adjudged that a penalty corner was sufficient. The routine did not quite come off as the ball went wide of the post.
The second half was a similar tale as Warburton squandered a couple of half chances, failing to find the target. Whilst Whitley Bay were slightly less threatening Alderley could not find the breakthrough. Whitley Bay were then awarded a penalty corner when the ball was in the air in the Alderley 'D' and they worked the ball to the spare player who scored to make it 3-0 and that is how it finished, despite Alderley pushing on late in the game a lack of composure meant no clear cut opportunities were made.
Next week Alderley face the long trip to bottom of the table Durham University.
Both the 5s and 6s opponents conceded so they had a friendly.
This is a member post by James Riley.
