Doncaster Ladies' 1s 3-1 Fylde Ladies' 1
Women's England Hockey League North Conference
The Fylde Ladies 1st XI travelled to Doncaster facing opposition not just from a strong hockey team, but also from the elements, with torrential rain throughout the whole game. Fylde were far from a damp squib however and this showed with their explosive attacks being generated from the Fylde defence and spreading like a wildfire up the pitch to the eagerly awaiting sticks of the Fylde forwards.
The unremitting efforts were rewarded in the final minute of the first quarter with a beautifully worked turnover which resulted in play switching from left to right, finding the stick of Natasha Hartley-Smith, who sent a strong ball down the right to eventually find the D and on to the formidable stick of Hattie Madden resulting in a league-class goal.Sister, Bo Madden (player of the match), proved her worth by being ever-present wherever the action was, finding herself equally important in both the defensive and attacking 23.
Fylde were able to keep the scoreline 0-1 due to the level-headed captain Vicki Rukin working intuitively with Lucy Woods and Jayne Wilson until the final quarter when Doncaster put three lucky goals away in almost as many minutes leaving Fylde reeling. Regrouping however came too close to the final whistle and a last ditch attempt to bring the score line up at a closing penalty corner failed to produce a goal.
Making vast improvements from last weeks’ performance, next week Fylde hope to take their game away to newly promoted Didsbury Northern.
Didsbury Greys Ladies 1s 3-2 Fylde Ladies' 2
North Hockey League West Division 2
Fylde Ladies 2nd team played their first away match against Didsbury Greys. With a largely new line up for this season, Fylde were really unlucky to concede a very early goal against them, which was contested to no avail, as Fylde players believed the ball had already gone off the back line before the shot was taken. However, undaunted the whole team continued to work extremely hard in very wet conditions, and after a number a short corner opportunities that couldn’t find the back of the net, finally Hannah Callagher scored her debut goal for the 2nd team with a perfectly struck straight strike from the top of the D.
Back from half time, Didsbury managed another goal from a short corner to put Fylde on the back foot. Once again, the whole team worked hard to pull back the deficit and had the majority of the possession the second half, putting the opposition under plenty of pressure. Fylde’s second goal came from a real team effort, starting with Emily Marsh at the back with a lovely ball cutting straight through Didsbury’s midfield line and was finished by Emma Savidge (also her debut 2nd team goal!). Despite further pressure, Fylde conceded a short corner late into the second half, which was also hotly contested due to Didsbury’s striker missing the ball and injuring herself with the stick follow through. However, the goal stood and Fylde battled valiantly right until the final whistle tfor an equaliser, but were very unlucky to come away with a loss.
Fylde Ladies' 3 2-0 Pendle Forest 2nds
North Hockey League West Division 3 North
Ladies 3rds achieved their first win of the season after battling against a promoted Pendle Forest 2nd team and storm Alex. The 3rds fielded another young side with Beth Cosgrove and Hennie Thompson both appearing in their first competitive games for the 3rd team. The team also welcomed back a former Springfields junior in Jourdan Kenny, making her first appearance in Fylde colours.
Fylde took a while to settle and Pendle were on top in the first twenty minutes with strong midfield and forward play. Good persistence and a high work rate in midfield driven by Katherine Wholey and Charlotte Thomson started to create chances whilst Anya Jackson made some crucial saves in goal.
In the second half, Fylde took advantage of a penalty corner with Olivia Merrick converting a rebound. The rain soaked team continued to create chances and it was a flair goal that sealed the three points when Jess Cole made another attack down the left, looped a shot over the Pendle GK and Megan Coar took the ball mid air and converted it over the line. The team defended as a unit in the final stages, sealing the win and clean sheet.
A great win for the third team and confidence ahead of a local derby next week against Preston HC. Player of the game: Anya Jackson
Windermere Ladies 1st 3-0 Fylde Ladies' 4
Lancashire Central Women's Hockey League Premier Division
The Ladies 4th team travelled north to play to Windermere in their opening match of the season. Despite the rain and the 3-0 loss they played some great hockey showing plenty of promise for the season ahead.
Congratulations to the new youngsters playing their first adult game and to the player of the match Abigail Johnson who shone in defence.
Fylde Ladies' 5 0-1 Fulwood Ladies
Lancashire Central Women's Hockey League Division 1
When the pre match weather check showed the chances of heavy rain increase from 96% to 100% at 4pm we were reminded that the days of pre season training in our vest tops were well and truly over.
The Ladies 5th team braved storm Alex and headed on to the pitch for their first match of the season. With the addition of some new players the team soon found their feet. Marcy Jeffery, Vic Latham, Phoebe Caunce and Grace Finney developed some good play to the left, Debbie McClelland, Izzy Osbourne, Katie Arnold and Katie Thompson pushed hard down the right. Soraya Rigby and Lali Atherton made some great passes through the middle. Alas all was in vain as and we just could break the firm defence of the opposition in the D.
Our defensive line was solid, with our knight in shinning armour Anya Jackson making some great saves. Annabel Sunnucks, Summer Holroyd and Eve Gooderham were consistently intercepting and pushing play into the oppositions half. Fulwood were lucky to slip a single goal through, but when I say the score didn’t reflect the game it didn’t. The team had the possession, they had the ball in the oppositions 23 for a big part of the match.
Brilliant effort by all. MOM Victoria Latham.
Brookfields Ladies' 2 1-7 Fylde Ladies' 6
Lancashire Central Women's Hockey League Division 2
A very wet Saturday afternoon saw the newly formed Ladies 6th team take to the pitch against Brookfield Ladies 2s. A promising start saw some great stick skills and quick passing and Fylde took an early lead with their first goal. A quick turn around following Fylde’s second goal helped Brookfields find the back of the net but this did not deter the team and soon Fylde scored a third goal.
A quick half-time chat from Fran Loffler-Thompson and back out we went, with great interceptions, accurate passing and good clean tackles Fylde took the score line from 1-3 to a whopping 1-7 win!
Goals from Lilly Jones x2, Georgia Nicholls x2, Sofia McGhie x2 and Holly Whiteside x1.
Fylde Men's 1 P-P University of Liverpool Men's 1st
North Hockey League West Division 2
Due to Covid-19 the students from Liverpool were unable to travel and play Fylde Men's 1's at Mill Farm, so now they must wait another week for their inaugral game in Division 2 of the North League, away to Windermere.
Preston Men's 4s 1-10 Fylde Men's 2
North West Hockey League Division 2 North
Fylde gathered at Preston's home ground (the cage) at 1pm for the big local derby in hopes of securing their first league win in torrential rain. A new era for Fylde 2s with Alex Horrocks & Ben Mortimer taking over the captaincy and debuts from Matthew Tomlinson, Dylan Jordan and Simon Holt created welcome competition for places in the squad. The match started well for Fylde, with promising runs of play from the off Fylde looked in control of the game. The first goal came from a baseline run from Aaron Sadler who slotted it past the keeper into the range of Phil Hope who clinically finished the goal with signature technique. Play was fast in the game due to the wet surface which made it perfect for Fylde’s quick attacking play. Preston got the second goal against the run of play to draw level. A well won short corner that whipped into the D causing chaos for the defence, the ball ended up in the net after an unfortunate own goal from Tom Davidson (classic Moose).
The third goal in the game came from a well worked short corner, Luca Sempers finishing the chance with a cracking drag flick into the top left corner of the goal stunning the keeper and the defender. In this very one sided game the next chance came from veteran Alan Simpson who chipped the ball into the right forward Sadler, who took a touch in the D and sent a rocket towards the keeper, who stood still as the ball flew through his legs. The next goal was from a very well worked Fylde press with Horrocks intercepting the ball in midfield, creating a counter attack that saw a pinball passage of play which found centre forward Jordan who flicked the ball over the keeper into the corner of the net. The final goal before half time came from Sadler when he ran down the right hand side of the pitch towards the baseline where he slotted it into the net through the keeper making it 5-1. As the second half began the confidence of Fylde, and an inspiring team talk from coach Chris Simcock and the captains, transformed the team's play and pushed them to keep scoring. Centre-back pairing of Ben Mortimer and Alex Brandwood controlled the game from the back and ousted any potential attack from a young Preston side. The sixth of the game came from the centre forward Chris Walker who closely dribbled through two defenders to slot the ball into the corner to get in on the action. An amazing passage of play followed this goal where right forward Sadler got played through to be one on one with the keeper. Sadler dribbled round the keeper revealing an open net where the inexperienced youngster put the ball narrowly wide making a fool of himself and fell to the floor in disgust!
The seventh goal came from Sadler after a splendid one-two with attacking partner Luca Sempers, who dragged the defender out wide and passed the ball in for an open net slot in that Sadler did not fail to finish to complete his hat-trick.The 8th goal came from Davidson who compensated for his early own goal by scoring a goal after a jumble in the D from a short corner. The 9th came from another great passage of play which included multiple shots before Walker eventually finished the chance. The final goal came from Sadler for his 4th where he ran with the ball around the top of the D and in towards the keeper where he again put it past the keeper into the backboard of the goal performing his signature Aaron Shearer goal celebration. Overall it was a great day for Fylde which provided lots of confidence for the rest of the season. Notable performances from the promoted Harry Gordon at right half and the whole midfield who worked hard to keep possession and win the ball back quickly.
Fylde Men's 4 P-P Keswick Men's 3s
North West Hockey League Division 4 North North
Due to Covid-19 Keswick were unable to undertake the two hours journey to Mill Farm.
Fylde Men's 4 3-6 Fylde Men's 3
Friendly
Due to Keswick not traveling during Covid-19, both the Men’s 3’s & 4’s had a free weekend and with the home pitch already booked, another friendly was arranged. The teams were decided more about who had an away blue top, as well as the usual white one, rather than on actual merit, but the squads were split into 10 v 10.
Despite the continuous rain soaking everyone, and some none too flattering middle aged bodies on display in the clinging wet tops, a good natured but competitive game was played.
The 3's put away their chances in the first half for a 3-1 lead, but the 4's put more pressure on in the second half, with the final score 6-3 to the 3's.
Jay Mayne scored a hat-trick for the 3's, including a sublime drag flick at a short corner. Captain Ollie Holmes, Hugo Mace and Luke Hitchen each scored one, whereas for the 4's Caine Draper scored two and Nigel Sadler the other.
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