Another weekend of home fixtures cancelled due to bad weather and pitch flooding saw only the away sides play on Saturday but Sunday saw all the ladies teams in action catching up on fixtures cancelled two weeks ago
Saturday November 9th 2019.
Runcorn Men’s 3s 1 Whitchurch Men’s 2s 10
The Men’s 2s travelled to Runcorn looking to build on the good hockey played in last weekend’s defeat to Birkenhead.
With the Merseyside team struggling for results this season, it seemed like a good opportunity for the 2s to get back to winning ways, however it was Runcorn that started the game better. With a cold wind howling around the pitch, the home side had Whitchurch penned in their own half for the first 10 minutes of the game. Wyn Morris, Brendan Coburn, Gareth Teggin and Will Snaith defended well and keeper Neil Jones wasn’t seriously tested. The Reds survived a couple of short corners and then dramatically escaped from their own half.
A long ball was played forward to Euan Morris, who raced clear of the Runcorn defence, rounded the keeper and opened the scoring. Within minutes 1-0 had become 4-0 as Whitchurch found their form and Runcorn found themselves penned in their own half. Jacob Buckeridge turned in a Luke Beddow pass at the back post for his first goal in senior hockey. Euan Morris fired home the third goal and Joe Coburn scored an absolute beauty after dribbling past four Runcorn players in the dee and slotting into the far corner.
Whitchurch continued to dominate the play in the first half, with Joe Coburn, Luke Beddow and Richard Leigh controlling midfield, the wingers playing high and the fullbacks pushing up. But chances came and went …. Alex Leigh was twice denied by good goal keeping, James Page was close to poking in at the back post and Will Gilbert was a constant threat. Eventually a defence-splitting pass from Ethan Gresty enabled Euan Morris to complete his hat-trick and give the 2s a 5-0 lead at half-time.
Whitchurch continued to press in the second half and scored goals at regular intervals throughout the second period. James Page bundled the ball in at the far post to score his first goal in senior hockey, and Jacob Buckeridge unselfishly squared the ball for his dad, Doug Buckeridge to push the ball into an empty goal for his first goal for the 2s. Euan Morris added a fourth goal to his tally as the Reds looked to score with every attack.
At 8-0 down Runcorn had a spell of possession and pushed Whitchurch back towards their own goal. Their efforts were rewarded with a consolation goal from a short corner. But the 2s responded with further goals from Joe Faithfull, who rounded the keeper and finished well, and Luke Beddow who scored from about 2 inches after Euan Morris had fired the ball goalward
In September last year the Men’s 2s came to Runcorn with a young side and lost 2-1. The 10-1 win in this game shows how far these young players have developed in the last year or so. This was an impressive attacking display, although the quality of the hockey didn’t quite hit the heights of the previous weekend against Birkenhead.
Euan continued his fantastic goal-scoring form and Joe Coburn scored a wonderful solo goal. Three players scored their first goals in senior hockey. Jacob and James are young lads and will score many more goals for the 2s, but Doug’s goal was a real collector’s item. It was harder to miss, but it’s taken him 5 years to get that goal. He can now return to the defence and leave the goal-scoring to the younger lads!
The Men’s 2s next match is at home to Neston 8s at 1:30pm on Saturday 16th November.
Brooklands ladies 4s 7 Whitchurch ladies 2s 1
Whitchurch ladies 2s battled the elements, to travel away on Saturday 9th November, with all home matches cancelled. Whitchurch set off in the cold to play Brooklands in a very wet Manchester
Whitchurch were very positive following their winning streak in the last 3 matches, eager to face top of the league, Brooklands In a game that they knew would be a challenge.
The team was very strong comprising of Captain Emma Clarke, supported in the backs by goalkeeper Megan Nicholson and Catherine Reece-Gresty
Halves were Jess Kimberley, Chloe Lloyd, Martha Teggin, Ellie McEvoy and inners were the dynamic duo of Ellie Pearson and Holly Edwards and the attack consisted of Edina Jones and Phoebe Jones, Megan Brunyard, Holly Gilbert
The push back was won by Brooklands which foreshadowed future events.
Whitchurch played well passing the ball between themselves unfortunately Brooklands were able to intercept Whitchurch’s attacks. Whitchurch controlled most of the possession during the first half but Brooklands went on to score five goals in the first half with lucky breaks.
The half time talk was positive and constructive helping Whitchurch get back on track
Whitchurch started strong with Phoebe Jones pushing the ball forward to Holly Edwards, this gave Whitchurch a spring of life and gave Whitchurch the confidence to push forward and play a more attacking game.
This led to a short corner which they failed to convert; however, Whitchurch were not finished. A long corner lead to a lucky break with Chloe Lloyd pushing the back to Catherine Reece Gresty who had pushed up to send the ball powerfully into Phoebe Jones who slotted it past the keeper. Giving Whitchurch their only but much deserved goal of the match.
Unfortunately, time was not on Whitchurch’s side and they couldn’t get back all the goals needed to secure a draw
Player of the match went to Phoebe Jones.
Sunday November 10th 2019
Macclesfield ladies 2s 2 Whitchurch ladies 1s 2
Ladies 1s travelled away to Macclesfield this Sunday to replay a cancelled game from 2 weeks ago.
From the whistle Whitchurch took the ball to Macclesfield. Midfielders Lisa Sullivan, Catherine Winter-Gresty and Izzy Huxley moved the ball well through Macclesfield and within minutes Whitchurch scored from a short corner with Jessica Carruthers deflecting the ball over the keeper.
Macclesfield quickly fought back with a goal from open play, shaking Whitchurch up.
In defence Emma Harper, Catherine Reece-Gresty and Millie Edwards quickly passed the ball up the pitch as Macclesfield were fighting for another. Keeper Beth Wright made some amazing saves, balls being collected by Anna Latham and Hayleigh Busby on the wings. Sarah Field sat high waiting to fire at the keeper for a deflection for great team work from Lisa Sullivan and then Ellie Windsor to lift over the keeper.
Macclesfield’s tempers rose and wanted the win and again quickly equalised.
At half time 2 all, Whitchurch ladies collected themselves and went back out as the start, lovely passes up the pitch to have a run of short corners but couldn’t find a gap to score.
Macclesfield kept pushing up the pitch, they were beginning to tire but so were Whitchurch.
Both teams played well to the final whistle.
Ladies 1s were happy with the result as it was a Sunday game with several of their regular players missing.
Whitchurch ladies 2s 2 Macclesfield 2s 1
Whitchurch began their game with great strength, despite their exhaustion from yesterday’s match. They persevered, winning a short corner only minutes into the game. Holly Edwards took a powerful shot at the top of the dee, but Macclesfield fought back, saving the goal. Whitchurch dominated the play with Edina Jones and Amelie Morris making amazing runs down the left wing and keeping the ball up in Macclesfield’s Dee. Ellie Pearson and Nicola Forster worked well together with a string of quick passes getting another shot at goal but just missing. Despite their constant battling, Whitchurch were still at 0-0 when the half time whistle blew.
Reenergised, Whitchurch were ready to get back on the pitch and score some goals. Phoebe Jones made some amazing runs and Molly Fry set up numerous brilliant attacks with help from Edwards and Amy Fry – who made some quick interlinking passes – resulting in a shot from Amy Fry which just missed the goal. Holly Gilbert and Pearson continued to battle down the right wing and get the ball into the dee. Whitchurch’s efforts finally paid off with Molly Fry scoring an amazing goal. 1-0 up Whitchurch continued to put pressure on to Macclesfield who weren’t giving up. After some excellent passes, the Macclesfield players scored a well-played goal; this left Whitchurch even more determined. Emma Clarke and Chloe Lloyd worked brilliantly in defence, stopping all further Macclesfield attacks. Martha Teggin kept getting the ball back to the Whitchurch players and after a cross into the dee from Gilbert, saw Nicola Forster score an excellent winning goal as the final whistle blew, resulting in a 2-1 win for the ladies 2s.
Whitchurch ladies 3s 6 Golborne ladies 3s 2
Whitchurch ladies’ thirds had a great match against Golborne. The game started with a strong attack by Whitchurch soon leading into our first goal by Jasmin Williams. Soon afterwards, quick passes between the midfielders and inners led to Nina Hodges scoring another two goals for the team. Whitchurch defence was extremely strong, clearing the ball up the pitch. Annie Buckeridge scored a great goal making the score 4-1 by half time.
After a quick team talk, Golborne came back strong, driving the ball up to our dee. This resulted in a second goal for the opposition, but Whitchurch didn’t let that put them off. We had some great runs up the pitch by Alice Page and Libby Fox supporting. A long corner taken by Wendy Cooper to Kate Buckeridge supported by Annie Buckeridge and Lexi Morgan lead to another two goals, one by Emma Stubbs and the other from Nina Hodges giving her the well-deserved players player. Golborne had a strong attack in the second half forcing our players to drop back. Our defenders Jan Teggin, Hermione Ball, Mel Reid and Emily Lister, managed to keep the opponents out of the dee. Louise Cottrell made some fantastic saves as goalkeeper helping with Whitchurch’s well-deserved win of 6-2.