30th Oct 2010, Away Chester

Friendly Won 4-2

Another week, another chance for the Ladies ones to stretch themselves against higher opposition as Lymm took on a Chester team currently lying mid-table in Division two, and it was the away team who were out of the starting blocks first- pressuring Chester into losing the ball and keeping possession well.

A deserved breakthrough arrived when Lisa’s ball onto Jayne’s run created a gap in the Chester defence. Evading a couple of challenges Jayne found the net. Lymm increased the pressure on Chester, doubling the lead when Meg Mousdale intercepted an attempted clearance, attacked the byline, and won the penalty corner- Jayne Buck smashing in her second of the match.

Nadine Roe was unlucky not to add a third after excellent team play from Kate Arber and Natalie Heap engineered a reverse-sweep chance but the ball went narrowly wide. Natalie herself was unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions but got the goal her movement merited to put Lymm three ahead at the break.

In Ben’s words, a classic case of a game of two halves followed. Lymm marked the re-start with another spell of excellent pressure- Jayne Buck again forcing a defensive deflection into a goal- but after that Lymm’s intensity seemed to drop. The game became more open with Chester taking advantage of home support and building pressure with a succession of penalty corners.

Although Kate Arber was hit on the hand from an original shot several inches higher than the backboard, Chester were awarded a flick. They put it away excellently and the momentum of scoring carried them to another goal from a penalty corner- annoying both for the team and Amy Heywood’s desire to keep clean sheets.

Becks Pilkington and Jess Dorman led the fight back- almost literally (footballers), and Lymm had several chances to score more but the game ended 4-2 to Lymm. A decent score-line, but disappointing after such a strong half. Another lesson that as Lymm go up the leagues, other teams won’t just lie down (unless they’re taken out by Jess or Becky).

Special mention to our supporters and a big thankyou to Mike Jones, and to Barry from Runcorn for coming along especially to umpire- it was appreciated.

MVP was selected as Chester alumn, Lynne ‘Raffle prizes’ Pyman. Div of the Day went to Jess Dorman who is on for the hattrick next week. Hopefully the team can pull together to win it for her.

Scorers:
Buck 3
Natalie Heap 1

23rd Oct 2010, Away Alderley Edge

16th Oct 2010, Away Chester

League Won 11-0

A stodgy first half, and a better second half. Away from the pitch, Helen Weston, Natalie Heap, Claire Dobson and Kate Arber are forming a close harmony singing group- specializing in a Christmas repertoire. Book now for birthdays, weddings, and bar mitzvahs.

Scorers:

Kate Arber 2
Jayne Buck 4
Natalie Heap 3
Nadeen Roe 1
Helen Weston 1

9th Oct 2010, Home Lymm

League Won 1-0

Warrington came to defend and made a good job of it, too. Hollie broke their hearts with a reverse flick high into the net.

Scorers:
Acklam

2nd Oct 2010, Away Sale

19th Sept 2010, Away Clitheroe

Friendly Won 3-1

Wettest day ever!! But an excellent result- best performance of the season so far.

Scorers:
Roe 
Buck
Mousdale

18th Sept 2010, 12:15 Push Back, Home Padgate

League: Won 9-0

The ones kicked off life in division three with a convincing win over Timperley. Lisa created the opening goal when she dribbled into the D and squeezed the ball past an onrushing keeper. Megan Mousdale, on league debut, helped Lymm to a second with a driving run from the right, her final ball forcing the Timperey player to deflect into her own net.

Lymm kept up the pressure well, retaining the ball, and supported from deep by the enterprising work of fullbacks Jo and Claire. Lisa added her second with a cheeky reverse-flick effort over the keeper’s pads, and the resultant pushback saw Helen Weston win possession early, setting up a flowing team goal to put Lymm 4-0 up.

With Jayne Buck firing in an unstoppable strike to make it 5 at the break, Ben Hodkinson’s halftime teamtalk focused on better percentage hockey- and making it into double figures at full time.

The second half found the team getting to work early, Jayne expertly finishing inside the post after a fast-break series of 1-2s with Helen Weston.

A period of scrappy hockey followed- Lymm lacking the first half’s industry and failing to make the most of scoring opportunities but Hollie Acklam and Meg were still able to add a goal each. Meg made it a hattrick performance with a solo goal after picking up the ball deep, cutting through the middle of the defence and slotting past the goalkeeper with a reverse-sweep.

The game finished 9-0, so no double-figured win afterall but still a solid, professional performance to begin the new season.

Player’s player was named as Jayne Buck, doing double-duty by hitting her own foot instead of the ball and thereby securing Div of the Day. MVP went to Helen (Elizabeth) Hunt; hi-five, Hels!

Special thanks to Ben, the umpires Peter Hull and Alison, and, as always, our sideline support.

Scorers:
Mousedale 3
Buck 2
Aklam 2
Hartley-Woodrow 2

4th Sept 2010, 14:15 Push Back, Away Knutsford

Friendly: Won 6-0

After a nice, long summer break away from all forms of hockey (yeeeah, not so much. See below), the Ladies ones reconvened at Knutsford for the first 11-a-side match of the season.

Directed from the sidelines by first-team coach Ben Hodkinson, Lymm pressurized Knutsford from the whistle, working hard to create attacking opportunities. After good work from the mids Jayne Buck and Alex Mitchell, Lisa Hartley-Woodrow shimmied through into the D and slid the ball past the keeper, giving the away side the early advantage.

Seizing the initiative, Lymm added a second when Jayne picked up the ball at the top of the D and fired a trademark bullet into the net.

Knutsford responded, but Lymm’s defensive work was excellent- Jo Hartley, the Hunts, Dobson and debutant Lucy Williams putting in some great tackles and working hard to protect Amy Heywood’s goal. Without dominating possession, Lymm continued to look the more dangerous side and excellent play from Nadine Roe was rewarded when a cross came in from the right and Lynne Pyman was there to apply the finish- excellent goal.

Lymm made it four before the break when Hollie Acklam was sent through and coolly beat the keeper to slot the ball home.

Halftime saw Ben congratulate the attitude of the team and ask for a bit more composure in possession. Also, he wanted a penalty corner won within 3 minutes of the re-start.

The side duly obliged- with at least 5 seconds to spare. But Knutsford defended well and got the ball clear. A few more routines also yielded no goal, which is not the kind of percentage hockey Ben demands- so watch this space (and watch out for Sexual Chocolate).

Knutsford, a quality Div 2 side, also won a couple of pen corners but the Lymm defense stood firm, and Amy Heywood was on top form when called upon in open play.

At the other end Lymm went close with a couple of dangerous crosses cut back from Lynne and Nadine. But the cheekiest effort of the day belongs to Hollie Acklam who tried a lob from the edge of the D, forcing the Knutsford keeper to tip the ball over the bar. In the end though, Lymm sealed the victory with two expert finishes from the skipper- the first after a great ball in from Hollie was laid off by Helen Weston, the second after a one-two with Helen was met at pace by Lisa who drove into the D and slammed the ball into the net.

The final whistle went with both teams starting to feel the effect of the heat of the day, so, as ever, there’s lots to improve on, but overall a satisfying start to the 2010/11 season.

Special mentions- to the Hams for umpiring and coming to support us. Mrs Weston wishes it to be known that the way the team played was her best birthday present of the day (it was the mini-roll, surely!?).

Div of the Day: Hel Hunt- this is what happens when you don’t go back to the club for teas
Player’s Player: Lucy Williams- unless you’re new and play extremely well!
Oppo’s player: Alex Mitchell

Scorers:
Aklam
Buck
Pyman
Hartley-Woodrow 3

Ladies Manchester Summer League: Champiooonay!!

Mixed Manchester Summer League: nearly Champiooonay!! (runners up)

Wilmslow 7s tourno: Champioooonay!!

Sale Ladies tourno: Champioooonay!!

Prescott Mixed tourno: 1st team- Champioooonay!!
                                        2nd team- very nearly Champioooonay!! (4th?)

Prescott Ladies 7s: nearly Champiooonay!! (runners up)

Clitheroe Ladies 7s: we shall never speak of this again.

Preston Ladies 7s: nearly Champiooonay!! (runners up)