Cheshire Tournament @ Wrexham – Saturday 10th September 2011
Despite the loss of key players from the 1st team squad, Whitchurch Ladies returned to the Cheshire tournament with high hopes after taking second place in last year’s competition.
Whitchurch hit the ground running in their first game against Lymm. Unfortunately a small lapse in concentration saw the opposition take the lead, but this spurred Whitchurch on and soon after Sarah Field equalised with a run from midfield. It wasn’t long before Nina Reynolds found the back of the net, and a late short corner gave Whitchurch the opportunity to finish on a high note with Field once again slotting the ball past the keeper.
After a long break between games, Whitchurch found it difficult to keep up momentum but battled through the second game against Wilmslow. Constant pressure from Evie Butler and Issy Thompson, both making their first team debuts, ensured Wilmslow’s defence were kept on their toes, and strong defending from Emma Harper and Catherine Gresty saw the game end goalless.
Despite their best efforts, Whitchurch were unable to match the eagerness of Oxton, who eventually wore down the Whitchurch defence to score. Keeper Nikki Ellis was put under immense pressure by the opposition, but repeatedly prevented Oxton from scoring more.
Overall, Whitchurch came a respectable third in the tournament. This was an optimistic start to the season and gave younger players the opportunity to shine through.