Wins for Lancaster Hockey Club over Chester and Lytham St Annes

Here are the latest match reports from Lancaster Hockey Club.

21st October 2023

Lancaster 1s 1-0 Chester 1s

Traffic issues on the M6 meant that Chester’s and an appointed umpire’s arrival was delayed. Lancaster didn’t let the delay deter their preparation for the match and went into the game focused.

Both teams looked keen to attack but both the Lancaster and Chester defence fended off any danger.

Chester had the first chance when they broke the Lancaster defensive line driving down the right baseline, feeding the ball to the back post for a tap in. However, goalkeeper Leighan Bleasdale dived from her left post to smother the ball to safety.

Twenty one minutes into the game, Ali Standeven-Johns drove the ball at pace into the D and had a shot from the right-hand side. The shot was saved but debutant Beth Fletcher made it 1-0 to Lancaster after harassing the goalkeeper on the rebound until the ball crossed the line.

Into the second half the Lancaster defence of Jayde Christeansen, Angie Evans-Hill, Katie Oliver and Zoe Oswald were determined to keep a clean sheet, tackling hard and clearing wide! Libby Thwaites in the midfield ran a mini marathon jumping back to defend and then driving forward in the attack.

Chester had their best chance in the second half when they drove into the D on the left-hand side, the initial shot was saved but the rebound beat Bleasdale but Oswald had other ideas and sprinted towards the goal keeping it out of the net but couldn’t clear to safety, a third rebounded shot came in but it was once again saved on the line by Oswald’s heroics.

There were 15 seconds remaining and Lancaster looked like they were on the verge of taking away the three points but possession was lost in the attacking D and Chester drove the ball forward winning a penalty corner as the final whistle blew.

The Chester players surrounded the D and injected the ball to the top, a straight strike was fired to the right corner of the goal but Bleasdale cleared wide with her right foot. A Chester player shot on the reverse but the strike was off target into a crowded area and was judged dangerous, giving Lancaster the win.

Lancaster move to third in the league as we go into the half-term break.

Team: Lauren Allwood, Leighan Bleasdale (C) (GK), Jayde Christeansen, Angie Evans-Hill, Beth Fletcher, Holly Hunter, Katie Oliver, Zoe Oswald, Ali Standeven-Johns, Helen Trotter, Libby Thwaites and Julie Walker

Goal Scorers: Beth Fletcher

Players of the Match: Libby Thwaites and Zoe Oswald

Sponsor: Sue Bridges Estate and Letting Agents

Ball Sponsor: Janet and Don Dixon

Lytham St Annes 2s 1-3 Lancaster 2s

Lancaster started the brighter of the two teams on Saturday. There was some great link up play down both wings from Ellen Wills, Kathryn Ellison and Paula Miquel Fosco, that saw a number of Lancaster opportunities be saved, as the Lytham St Annes goalkeeper was equal to everything. The deadlock was broken though in the 19th minute when the ball was fired into the D, for Emily Verden to tap the ball home.

Lancaster continued to push with Rebecca Airey controlling the game, driving the team forward. Emily Bamber-Dowthwaite and Izzy Liver saw their shots being saved by the goalkeeper again and again. Lancaster continued to push, in the 28th minute the ball was once again fired into the D and after a scuffle, found its way to Emily Verden who smashed the ball home again.

Lytham started the second half the stronger of the two teams, the defence of Molly Chapman, Emma Wood, Lottie Horner and Amelia Welch remained strong making great tackles and interceptions whilst Goalkeeper Rebecca Halliwell made a number of key saves to keep them out. Lytham eventually found a goal with a well flicked deflection catching the Lancaster goalkeeper wrong footed and despite her dive and attempt to push the ball away, the team watched the ball spin and pea roll into the goal off the post.

This seemed to spur Lancaster on, in the 63rd minute Naomi Obsorne went on a solo run into the D, the team and Lancaster coach Karen Chapman all urged her to shoot and she revelled in the opportunity. She calmly struck the ball before watching it sail into the top corner of the opposite side of the goal, leaving the Lytham Goalkeeper no chance.

Lancaster continued to press, but the final whistle was blown before they could score again. The final result was Lytham St Annes 2s (1), Lancaster 2s (3).

Team: Rebecca Airey, Emily Bamber-Dowthwaite, Molly Chapman, Kathryn Ellison, Rebecca Halliwell (C) (GK), Lottie Horner, Izzy Liver, Paula Miquel Fosco, Naomi Osborne, Emily Verden, Amelia Welch, Ellen Wills and Emma Wood

Goal Scorers: Emily Verden x2 and Naomi Osborne

Players of the Match: Emily Verden and Naomi Osborne

Ball Sponsor: Janet and Don Dixon