Ladies Section, Match Reports, Men's Section

Match Reports – 07-10-23

Whitchurch ladies 3’s 1 Golborne 3’s 5

From the pushback Whitchurch could see this was not going to be an easy game as the Golborne ladies had stance and experience on their side.

With Golborne players breaking free early to have a shot on goal at goalkeeper Phoebe Gregory managed to save numerous chances. The pressure was finally rewarded as Golborne took the lead via a penalty corner. Defenders Jan Teggin, Elsie Cottrell, Mabel Hazelhurst, Wendy Cooper and Mel Reid had their work cut out as they were busy sticking to their players who were very quick to try and break free.

In midfield Esme Mackreth, Izzy Gilbert, Grace Haynes, Alice Page and Freya Kellett worked continuously to support the defence and forwards throughout the game.

Just before half time Bella Clarke scored a cracking goal from a short corner.

At half time, Whitchurch had time to catch their breaths and discuss tactics for the second half, they then went out and implemented these frustrating the Golborne attacks and preventing all but one goal. Whitchurch fought hard and continue to gain in experience with each game they play.

Player of the match went to Freya Kellett were her efforts and constant running in midfield.

Lymm ladies 2s 2 Whitchurch ladies 1s 2

Whitchurch ladies 1s played away against Lymm 2s. Both teams had a shaky start and Whitchurch conceded early off a short corner. Whitchurch came back with a fighting spirit, passing well between Lisa Sullivan and Jasmin Williams.

Georgia Munro made a cross to Poppy Gilbert, who scored her first goal for ladies 1s. After a delay in play due to stoppage time for a Lymm injury, the half time score was 1-1.

In the second half Whitchurch came back as the stronger team, having multiple chances on goal from Hayley Kellet. Lymm broke against play but were stopped by the super defence of Chloe Lloyd and Katie Laffey, and superb saves from goalkeeper Caroline Wynn.

Player of the match Hayleigh Busby made an excellent goal line save to keep them in the game.

Whitchurch applied more pressure on Lymm, receiving a free hit just outside the 25. Lisa Sullivan played an excellent ball into Georgia Munro, who scored Whitchurch’s second goal.

After another break in play from Lymm, they received a penalty flick, making the score 2-2. Whitchurch were fired up after the penalty flick and determined to get ahead once again. Holly Edwards and Poppy Huxley worked together along the right to secure a series of short corners, but Whitchurch were unfortunate not to score before the final whistle was blown.

Oswestry ladies 1s 0 Whitchurch ladies 2s 8

The Whitchurch ladies 2s travelled away to play Oswestry 1s at Oswestry school.

Whitchurch started strong and Lucy Hearn scored in the first twenty minutes from a strong pass into the dee from Bella Morris. After a tough battle from midfielders Lexi Morgan and Maisie Bennett, Freya Gresty received the ball on the back post and slapped it past the keeper.

Oswestry fought back, battling through Julie Parsons and Jane Laffey with Pheobe Gregory making several strong saves from their attacks on goal. With Rachel Chester’s and Eleanor Beecher moving the ball out of the dee towards Erin Harden and Maisie Bennett, who passed to Laffey who passed a strong hit to Gresty who slipped it past the keeper once again.

Half time went with a quick break for Whitchurch and a constructive team talk and they came back refreshed. The second half started as strong as the first with Whitchurch taking most of the possession. Midfielders Laffey, Lexi Morgan and Julie Parsons made some lovely triangular passes up the pitch to yet again reach Freya Gresty who scored two goals within quick succession. Bennett battled hard on the left, stopping Oswestry getting passed and slipped the ball to Lucy Hearn who scored.

Bella Morris received the ball at top dee and slipped it across to Freya Gresty and it was flicked into the net securing her fifth of the game. After a lucky break from Oswestry, Eleanor Beecher got possession of the ball in the 25 and ran fast paced up the middle of the pitch and passed it to Lucy Hearn who scored her hattrick. Oswestry kept battling until the end but couldn’t get past Rachel Chester’s who was awarded player of the match.

Deeside Men’s 6s 4 Whitchurch Men’s 2s 1

Whitchurch travelled for a late start against an experienced Deeside side and came away frustrated with the result. Whitchurch started the game well moving the ball around through the defence of James Partington, Adam Rance and Pip Jones. Frustratingly a ball hit straight through the middle of the pitch saw Neil Jones with no chance as it was deflected past him to give Deeside the lead.

Deeside used their experience to control large parts of the game but when Whitchurch got the ball they attacked at pace through Nik Moga and Oliver Edwards down the left side of the pitch. From one of these runs Whitchurch equalised as Martin Beecher received a cross and guided it into the path of Will Edwards who slotted past the keeper for the equaliser.

Whitchurch continued to push forward, and chances fell to Beecher and Liam Pallet but some good saves from the Deeside keeper continued to frustrate Whitchurch. Whitchurch continued to push but several unforced errors were punished by the clinical Deeside attack.

The second half was a repeat of the first, Whitchurch created chances via Archie Phews and the hard work in midfield of Charlie Edwards in midfield and again it was the final pass in and around the Deeside dee which undid the Whitchurch’s attacks.

Whitchurch had numerous opportunities throughout the half, Craig Hockenhull drove into the dee and a quick exchange with Liam Paller saw him flick the ball over the keeper, only to hit his shoulder pad and deflect the ball into the air. From the resulting penalty corner Will Edwards forced the best from the keeper but it was not Whitchurch’s day

Thomas Wyndam-Lewis defended resolutely on the right and made countless runs supporting the Whitchurch attacks and duly earned man of the match.

Whitchurch Men’s 1s 6 Golborne Men’s 2 2

In an electrifying field hockey clash, Whitchurch 1’s emerged victorious against Golborne 2’s with a commanding 6-2 win. The match showcased thrilling moments and impressive plays from both sides.

Whitchurch set the tone early in the game when Tom Forster found the back of the net from close range just five minutes into the match, giving his team an early lead. Joe Chesters then doubled Whitchurch’s lead with a remarkable goal, skilfully manoeuvring around the Golborne keeper to score from a tight angle.

Golborne, however, showed their resilience by pulling one back, making it 2-1. But Whitchurch were relentless, and Tom Edwards capitalised on an error from Golborne’s defence, showcasing his clinical finishing with a well-struck shot late in the first half.

The second half continued to be dominated by Whitchurch, with Tom Edwards notching his second goal of the game. Ben Lea displayed incredible dribbling skills to weave his way through the dee to score during a short corner, extending Whitchurch’s lead further.

Golborne managed to find the back of the net once more, securing their second goal, but it was Whitchurch who had the final say. Jack Barnes sealed the win in style with Whitchurch’s sixth goal, converting yet another short corner.

In the end, Whitchurch 1 displayed exceptional teamwork, skill, and determination to secure a convincing 6-2 victory over Golborne 2.

 

Ladies Section, Match Reports, Men's Section

Match Reports – 30-09-23

Whitchurch ladies 1s 6 Runcorn Ladies 1s 0
Whitchurch were excited to play their first home game of the season, however they were not going to let the weather dampen their spirits. From the off Whitchurch looked to score and a penalty flick won and converted by Georgia Monroe lifted their spirits. Runcorn attacked down the right side however excellent defending from Sarah Kay and Chloe Lloyd stopped them in their tracks and a quick turn over allowed Jasmine Williams to slot home to double the reds lead.
A marvellous half time talk from an injured Captain Cath Gresty inspired the ladies who again came out hard. The defensive efforts between Katie Laffey, Hermione Ball and Hayleigh Busby meant that Caroline Williams was only called into action a handful of times. Whitchurch were taking advantage of a tiring Runcorn and a burst of speed from Poppy Gilbert down the left side found Hayley Kellet who fired home to put the reds 3-0 up.
Whitchurch focused on quick link ups between Lisa Sullivan, Holly Edwards, Poppy Huxley and Hayley Kellet, this allowed Monroe to get her second of the game. Again the reds won a short corner, which Sullivan perfectly fired into the backboard. The reds continued their push for more and a link up from Monroe and Busby allowed her to slot home for Whitchurch’s sixth of the game.
Whitchurch look to face Lymm away next week.

Whitchurch Men’s 2s 2 Alderley Edge Men’s 6s 2

On a rainy Saturday afternoon Whitchurch entertained Alderley Edge. From the start Edge passed the ball quickly around and Whitchurch knew they were in for a tough match.

Despite the lack of possession Whitchurch remained untroubled by the Alderley attacks and soaked up the pressure through the defence of Lucas Hill, Danny Foulkes, Adam Rance and Thomas Wyndham- Lewis.

As the game settled, Whitchurch began to get more possession and cause Alderley more problems in their defence. Both teams were equally matched and for much of the match cancelled out each other. In the end the game came down to a couple of pieces of individual skill.

Alderley took the lead through a well worked goal and within minutes Whitchurch were equal as man of the match Nik Moga broke down the right and picked out Archie Phews on the back post to draw Whitchurch level.

Whitchurch then took the lead as Will Edwards, Airan Jones and Martin Beecher linked through the midfield. A foul on Beecher saw the Alderley defence slow to reset and Beecher took full advantage to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

Whitchurch continued the second half as they finished the first, rolling substitutes kept up the pressure on Alderley with Alfie Edwards and Liam Pallet swapping in midfield.

Whitchurch had further chances to increase their lead with Beecher receiving a pass from Charlie Edwards and the subsequent cross just missing the diving Airan Jones on the back post.

Alderley were awarded a penalty corner and drew level as a deflection left captain Neil Jones no chance of saving. This set up a tense last ten minutes to the match as both sides went for the win.

Craig Hockenhull broke from midfield and through the Alderley defence picking out Oliver Edwards who was denied by a fine save from the Alderley keeper.

The result saw the points shared in what was a hard fought thoroughly competitive game.

Alderley Edge ladies’ development 0 Whitchurch Ladies 3s 2

Whitchurch started the game quickly with strong passes between Bella Morris, Jan Teggin and Freya Gresty, this created space to pass around the back to Izzy Gilbert and Elsie-May Cottrell and work the ball down the right through Mabel Hazlehurst. A quick pass from Erin Harden picked out Sue Read in the dee and her slip pass to Freya Gresty saw her shot rebound off the keepers’ pads for a penalty corner.

The second half saw Whitchurch come out pushing for a goal and from a penalty corner Rachel Chesters gave them the lead.

Alderley Edge started to push forward looking for an equaliser and from a fine tackle and pass from Esme Mackreth she set free Freya Kellet who made a fantastic run down to the right passing to Sue Read to score Whitchurch’s second.

Alderley continued to push forward and won a short corner which was calmly defended by goalkeeper Phoebe Gregory. In the final minutes some lovely skill by Alice Snaith in midfield created a chance for Whitchurch but it was not to be.

Sandbach Men’s 1s 3 Whitchurch Men’s 1s 2

In a thrilling early season hockey clash, Whitchurch 1’s faced off against Sandbach 1’s, and the match proved to be a rollercoaster ride. Whitchurch unfortunately found themselves in a tough situation early on as they went down 3-0 within the first 15 minutes of play. Sandbach were quick off the blocks and showed their attacking prowess right from the start.

However, Whitchurch displayed remarkable resilience and determination. Just before the half-time whistle, Tom Forster delivered a stunning strike into the back of the net. It was a moment of brilliance as he capitalized on a rebound from the keeper’s save during a short corner. This crucial goal gave Whitchurch a glimmer of hope as they headed into the break trailing 3-1.

The second half brought renewed energy and determination from Whitchurch. They controlled the game, putting immense pressure on the Sandbach defense. It didn’t take long for their efforts to pay off. Phil Handley showcased his skills with a well-executed goal after some tight play in the Sandbach D, narrowing the score to 3-2.

Whitchurch continued to dominate the second half, launching attacks and creating opportunities. However, despite their relentless efforts, they couldn’t find the equalizer. Sandbach’s defense held strong, denying Whitchurch any more goals.

In the end, it was a valiant effort by Whitchurch as they fought back from a three-goal deficit to make it an extremely close contest. The match ended with a final score of 3-2 in favor of Sandbach, but Whitchurch’s second-half performance left the players proud of their determination and fighting spirit.

General News

WHC – Explanation of membership and match fees

As we start off the new season, we have been getting a number of questions around payments and membership.

All the information around being a member of the club can be found in the ‘Welcome Packs’ at www.whitchurchhockeyclub.com/joining

Membership fees

The fees below cover players to be a member of Whitchurch(Shropshire) Hockey club from 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024. These can be purchased via ‘Store’ on Teamapp

All players are required to join as members to represent the club at any level. These cover affiliations to England Hockey, Regional bodies, insurance, club investment, etc.

The deadline for payment this season is Saturday 14th October 2023 after which an additional £5 admin fee will be added.

Senior membership(Over 18) £93
Student membership (Year 8 and above or in full time education) * £50
Associate membership** £23
Academy membership £16

*NUS card required for over 18s in further full time education

** Players who play infrequently or are away at university in the coming season but who would still like to play when at home.

 

Match fees

Senior member £6.50 per match
Student £5.50 per match
Associate Dependent on which of the above two you come under with age / student status
Academy* £4 per match

*paid in cash on the day to the team organiser

Throughout the season we capture who has played which games via Teamapp, we then at intervals throughout the season issue invoices to the players for the games played via email (important that contact details in Teamapp are up to date). It is these fees that cover pitch hire, officials, food, etc.

We also rely heavily on players paying promptly and getting in contact if you have played games but haven’t received invoices. For Under 18s who have been given parental permission to be contacted directly, invoices will go to the player, so please pass on to whoever is paying.

Senior Training

Senior training on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings is predominantly paid for by the collection of match fees which is why at Whitchurch we offer free training to anyone who regularly plays for any of the senior teams during the season.

For those who play infrequently or only attend training we take a register each week and will invoice £3 per session at various intervals throughout the season.

For summer training we don’t  have income from match fees to support free senior training so we charge £3 per session to all players, this will be invoiced as per the match fees.

Academy

Academy is run separately from the senior club and whilst selected players may attend both Academy sessions on Saturdays and senior training during the week the payments are separate.

For Academy we charge in half term blocks and payment is made in advance of the blocks starting. These blocks can be paid for via ‘Store’ on Teamapp.

This allows us to minimise the administration of the coaches and volunteers at the session to focus on delivering hockey, it allows us to cover the cost of the pitch hire and allows us to plan in advance the number of coaches and volunteers required to cover the numbers of players attending.

Unfortunately this is none refundable based on attendance.

We have tried for many years to keep the costs of hockey to a minimum and are one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest in the area to provide hockey to as many people as possible.

If you have any issues or questions about payments please get in touch with treasurer James Partington at treasurer@whitchurchhockeyclub.com as we are willing to support wherever possible to help people play.

Committee News

Chairman’s Newsletter

Hello to all WHC Members,

I hope you’ve all had a restful and relaxing summer break, but now it’s time for the fun to really begin. Welcome to September and the start of our 2023/24 season! For those of you who played in the Summer Hockey League at Deeside, well done, some good results against some strong opposition and while not all fixtures could be fulfilled, to be unbeaten in those we played is an excellent showing. To the ladies who took part in the Telford League and only went and won the whole thing a huge congratulations – we are very proud of your achievement.

First league fixtures are on 23rd Sept but there are 1 or 2 friendlies and other things leading up to then, I’ve listed these below but get on to TeamApp and see what else is happening around the club. I know there are plans afoot for drinks and a curry after the club day so speak to your captains and get signed up.

Dates for your diary:
Training starts w/c 4th September (see TeamApp for more details)
Academy starts Saturday 9th Sept. at 10am
Club Day on Saturday 9th Sept. (12 – 3pm @ SJT – please sign up on TeamApp)
Race Night coming up in October – more information soon
Xmas Do on Saturday 16th December – save the date and get your sparkle on!

As a committee we have been working tirelessly over the summer to ensure the club provides what our members expect, and ensure that facilities and the club itself are ready for this new season. We remain affiliated to Whitchurch Rugby Club and I would always encourage our members after games to get over there and show our faces, the more we do this the more it begins to feel like a combined sports club and our home too. I know many of you are hoping for a new pitch at SJT and we are aware it’s seen better days. We’re working with the school, local council, Shropshire council and England Hockey to try and make this happen. When we get closer the whole club will have a role to play so we will be in touch with more information as soon as we have it, but I might advise not holding your breath – these things can be a drawn out affair.

This club is run purely on volunteers and their support is what makes hockey happen for us and this town. Maybe there’s something you can do or would like to try and support the club with. Please reach out to one of the committee and let us know how you might be able to support. Any and all help is always welcome.

We are pleased to say that, in these financially uncertain times, the membership fees and match fees for this season will not increase on last year. However, it is important for the continuity of the club that we pay on time and when asked. Membership fees are available to purchase right now on TeamApp and Whitchurch Hockey Club remains one of, if not the cheapest club to play at certainly in the region and maybe even in the country. Should you be impacted by financial hardship at this time then please I urge you to speak to your captain or one of the committee so that we can help – we do not want to lose anyone from the club and financial hardship should not be a barrier to playing sports ever.

There have been some changes to the committee so as a reminder I share the below positions:
Chair – Martin Beecher (me)
Vice-Chair – Cath W-Gresty (also Ladies 1’s team captain)
Treasurer – James Partington
Secretary – Alex Fry (also team and academy coach)
Development Officer – Craig Hockenhull
Protection Officer – Suzanne Foulkes

If you have any comments or suggestions for the club please reach out to one of us as we are always happy to receive feedback and improve the club for all.

I look forward to seeing you all on the 9th at the Club Day, if not earlier at training and wish you all the very best for the upcoming season.

Martin Beecher
Chair