Three on the trot for first team

Francesca Lees

OLDHAM Ladies Hockey club's first team are riding the crest of a wave in the North Hockey Women's League Division Two South-West.

Timperley were their latest victims, by virtue of a 2-0 scoreline, for a third success on the spin and they now sit joint third in the table alongside Sale.

Although missing Jordanna Rawlinson and pacey forward Rebecca Blair, Louise Howard returned up front for Oldham, who were aiming to leapfrog their opponents.

Visitors Timperley started well and pegged back Oldham for the first 10 minutes. However, a great block high in the air by Kasia Faulkner and good goalkeeping by Sarah Simpson kept them at bay.

Oldham warmed to the task and the front three of Howard, Karen Rowley and Yvonne Jackson linked up well together.

STOPPED

The breakthrough came when a Timperley defender inadvertently stopped Howard's shot with her stomach on the goal-line. A penalty stroke was awarded and Rachael Johnson finished with aplomb.

Amy Broadbent was commanding and Chidi Onuoha, playing her last game for the club before moving to the Midlands, was attentive as ever.

Timperley upped the ante in the second half, with Oldham playing on the break.

Oldham pressed where they could, won the ball high up the pitch, and were happy to let Timperley have the ball in areas that wouldn't hurt them.

A good run down the right saw Jackson evade a Timperley challenge. Her cross was deflected to Fran Lees (pictured), who calmly slotted home despite two defenders trying to stop the shot on the line.

Jackson almost made it three following a short corner from Oldham.

Comfortable in defence, the home side notched a well-deserved clean sheet for goalkeeper Simpson, skipper Daisy May Ward, Broadbent and Onuoha, while Lees played the holding role in front of the back three.

Oldham go to Sale this weekend.

Team: Simpson (GK), Broadbent, Ward (C), Onuoha, Lees, J Perry (player of the match), Faulkner, Y Jackson, Johnson, Howard, Rowley.

OLDHAM'S second team swept aside Didsbury Northern fourths 4-2 for a first victory of the season in Greater Manchester Ladies League Division One.

Three goals to the good at the break - Captain Lisa Staniland, Louise Howard and Lorna McGuiness were on target. Oldham had to withstand a second-half fightback from Didsbury who reduced the deficit by two.

SHORT CORNER

However, Oldham sealed the points when Gillian Jones fired home from a short corner.

Team: Green (GK), Tindall, Bratt, S Lord, Faulkner, Meanock (C), Jones, H Jackson, McGuiness, Howard, Cherryholme, Ward.

A 3-1 defeat at the hands of leaders Rochdale firsts was tough to take for Oldham, who played with a new defensive formation.

Goalless at half-time, Rochdale broke through almost immediately from the restart and then added a second in this Greater Manchester Hockey Associaton Division Three fixture.

Sue Bratt handed Oldham a lifeline with a neat reverse stick finish, but concentration levels dropped and Rochdale scored a third.

Team: Chadwick (GK), S Lord, Ashton, Cooper, Burns, Bratt, Bates (C), O Perry, Alcock, Boon, O'Donnell, K Lord, Hargreaves.

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