Yvonne’s heroics in vain

Oldham Hockey Club firsts, from left to right, back: Rebecca Johnson, Emma Burns, Amanda Smith, Karen Rowley, Lesley Beddow, Oona Cassidy, Sally Richmond. Front: Gill Lord, Yvonne Jackson, Sarah Simpson, Louise Howard, Daisy May Ward

HOCKEY:

MIDFIELDER Yvonne Jackson was outstanding for Oldham Hockey Club firsts, but she was unable to prevent her side from slipping to a 2-0 defeat at home to their Didsbury Greys counterparts.

The hosts were again guilty of wasting several chances in the North Women’s League Division Two clash.

And they paid the penalty as Didsbury scored two second-half goals from penalty corners to claim all three points. Defeat leaves Oldham eighth in the table.

It was a similar story for the club’s second team who, despite enjoying the bulk of possession, were beaten 2-1 by Manchester University in Division One of the Greater Manchester League.

After falling behind early in the second half, Oldham hit back through a deserved Christine Holman leveller with 10 minutes to go. But as Oldham pushed forward in search of a second goal, Manchester University broke away and forced a penalty corner from which they bagged the winner. Donna Tindall was the stand-out player for Oldham, who remain bottom of the table.

On a brighter note, the club’s third team, thanks to a first-half goal from Regan Green on her debut, overcame Stockport Bramhall 1-0. Oldham stood firm against a Stockport onslaught in the second period to bag a much-needed victory and climb to sixth in the standings.