Cup spoils, league point for Oldham

GOALS . . . Louise Howard.

HOCKEY: A LEAGUE point and progress in the Greater Manchester Hockey Association Women’s All Divisions Cup made for a successful weekend for Oldham Ladies Hockey Club.

In the quarter finals of the knockout competiton they defeated Bolton seconds 5-3, even though the hosts were handed a two-goal start as they play two divisions below Oldham.

The home side took the lead through a Karen Rowley penalty stroke after a Bolton defender had stopped a Rachael Johnson shot with her foot. Rowley added a second goal after Louise Howard had picked her out from a short corner.

Johnson scored Oldham’s third — an unstoppable strike — and when Howard was taken out by the Bolton ’keeper, Rowley had the chance to complete a hat-trick. The attempt was missed, but Howard made it four in the bottom left-hand corner.

Howard grabbed her second and Oldham’s fifth against a tiring Bolton team, who managed a late consolation.



OLDHAM’S second string can look forward to a second-round tie in the Greater Manchester Hockey Association Division One Cup after a 2-0 penalty stroke defeat of their Moss Park counterparts.

The score was 1-1 at full-time, forward Laura Rice equalising with an outstanding strike from the top of the ‘D’.