Macc’s Mixed team retain Blackpool title
EASTER weekend saw the annual run out for Macclesfield Hockey Club’s mixed team at Blackpool Hockey Festival and it was success again as they beat Newcastle in the final to once more bring home the trophy.
We also saw a great personal achievement for our Men’s 1s keeper Brian Boardman who has been selected for the England Over 40s squad in the four nations tournament – a congratulations from us all!
This weekend saw Macclesfield Hockey Club’s final week of league matches as the season is wrapped up.
A successful season thanks to all the hard work and effort of our players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, and supporters as we have seen two confirmed promotions and every senior team finishing in the top half of the tables.
First up on Saturday were the Ladies 3s who drew to Crewe Vagrants 3s, 1-1.
A frustrating result for the Macclesfield side as they held the majority of possession throughout way traffic as great runs With Player of the the match but were una- up the wing provided Match Emily AllmandSmith ble to capitalise on all the plenty of opportunities for having a great chances they created. the Ladies 3s to threaten game, the side looked set The first half was one the Crewe defence. to score and were finally rewarded as Megan Behan (1) converted the opening goal.
Still looking threatening going into half time, the home side were unfortunate to concede a lastminute short corner that drew Crewe level as the whistle blew.
The second half was more of the same as Crewe continued in their relegation battle, with neither side able to up their tally and the final result sat at 1-1 and the Ladies 3s confirmed their 4th place finish.
Next at home were the Men’s 1s who rounded off their back-to-back promotion with another win over Chester 2s, 8-4.
With regular keeper Boardman away on England duties, it fell to understudy Isaac Collins to step into goals, putting on a great performance as the side confidently took all three points.
Chester looked to sit back in a half court press which was unfortunately broken down within minutes by the Macclesfield forwards as a quick 1-2 between Mark Lockett and Ewan Campbell (1) saw the goal over the line within a minute.
It didn’t take long before a second followed as James Allmand-Smith’s (6) powerful short corner strike sent the ball flying. Still showing little willingness to put the pressure on, Chester were caught out again as AllmandSmith converted a further two goals before the visitors snapped into action forcing Collins to make a fine diving save, emulated by Aaron Gaskell minutes later before Chester gained a goal of their own as the ball was rocketed into the roof of the net and the score was 4-1 moving into half time.
Both sides upped the intensity as play restarted and Chester pulled back a second that was quickly countered by AllmandSmith following a disguised pass from Gaskell down the wing. Attacking en masse, the visitors gained a short corner that was slipped past the Macclesfield defence. With Noah Axcell sending a cracking aerial ball the length of the pitch, saw some great link up play throughout the team set Allmand-Smith up to tap in his fifth.
Coming back yet again, Chester pushed hard and took their fourth and final goal as they recycled the ball around looking for an opening. Macclesfield were not done yet though as Will Allmand-Smith (1) made a blistering run, eliminating several defenders and delivering an unsavable strike and a final goal from James Allmand-Smith saw the final tally sit at 8-4.
Following were the Ladies 1s who defeated Stockport Bramhall 1s 7-0.
With second place secured, Macclesfield went out to enjoy their final match and demonstrated high skill and composure from the first whistle.
As pressure was applied on the Stockport defence straight away, an unfortunate foot on the line presented the opportunity for the home side to score their first goal as Captain Sarah Duffy (2) cooly converted a penalty flick. Doubling their lead in minutes, strong pressure and creative play saw Ella Kenworthy (3) finish a great team effort.
Keeping communication high, balls were calmly played into spaces across the pitch, and it wasn’t long before Kenworthy put the side 3-0 up. With a goal apiece from Duffy and Kenworthy, the Macclesfield side held a comfortable lead.
But, with another outstanding game, Player of the Match Francesca Losa (1) made a great interception and run to make it 6-0 going into half time.
Aiming to practise a different formation in the second half, play was more varied, but Macclesfield continued to hold strong to deny Stockport a spot on the score sheet as Sophie Carter-Bloor (1) finished off the game with a cross goal that took the score to 7-0 as the Ladies 1s now hold the most goals scored in their league.
To top off their season as league champions, the Men’s 2s made the trip over to Deeside Ramblers 4s in a 3-1 win as Roland Alston (1), Will Roberts (1) and Simon Darlington (1) all making it on to the score sheet as they came from 1-0 down to level at 1-1 going into half time while 1way at Northern 2s, the Men’s 3s returned with a 2-0 loss.
For the final home game of the year, the Men’s 4s took on Golborne Development in a 0-0 draw as the Ladies 2s ended on a high, coming out on top in their derby against Alderley Edge 4s in a 5-1 win.
It was a strong performance from the Macclesfield side who secured a third place finish as they look to be strong contenders in the next season.
Scoring opened as Aoife Middlemass (1) deflected in a short corner, swiftly followed by two tap ins from Libby Allan (3).
With a penalty flick converted by Alderley, Macclesfield still held the play as Allan and Helen Saunders (1) scored twice more to seal the win.
A thank you once again to everyone involved in ensuring such a successful season for Macclesfield Hockey Club and for reading these reports, we’re already looking forward to the 2024-2025 season!