Firsts suffer home woe

HOCKEY:

OLDHAM firsts brought down the curtain on 2013 with a top-of-the-table clash at home to Alderley Edge.

And it was the visitors to Newman College who emerged victorious, courtesy of a 3-1 scoreline in North Hockey Women’s Association Division Two South-West.

The first half featured plenty of attacking play from both sides, but it was Alderley who made the most of their chances to score three goals.

A formation change in the second half from Oldham saw striker Louise Howard drop into central midfield and she immediately breached the Alderley Edge defence from a penalty corner.

But Oldham were unable to find a second goal to put any late pressure on their opponents.

OIdham return to action in the New Year when the University of Manchester are the visitors.