FOUR-MIDABLE NORTH STAFFS CRUISE TO VICTORY ON LICHFIELD VISIT

NORTH Stafford Ladies firsts moved up to third place in Midlands Three North West after a 5-0 win at Lichfield.

The Ladies are now just a point off the top following a fourth successive victory.

Captain Emily Dulson scored twice, while there were further strikes from Ruby Morris, Fran Callwood and Zara Jones.

Lichfield had no answer to a series of fast paced attacking moves, while at the other end goalkeeper Keira Willott kept a fifth consecutive clean sheet. The positive form for the Ladies section continued as the Ladies seconds made it seven wins out of seven as they beat their Bridgnorth counterparts 2-1 in a hard-fought encounter at Clayton Hall Academy.

Amy Elson-evans put North Stafford ahead early in the first half, before Bridgnorth struck back from a short corner.

North Stafford piled on the pressure in the second half, only to be denied by strong saves from the Bridgnorth keeper.

The pressure, though, told and captain Jo Royall scored her fifth of the season to secure all three points and extend the Ladies’ winning run.

There were disappointing results from a men’s perspective as the firsts succumbed to a 5-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Warwick. A lacklustre start to the game saw North Stafford concede two early goals and by half-time the hosts led 3-0.

There was an improvement in the second half with a more uplifting performance. Ollie Power scored with a crisp reserve strike, but other opportunities to add to the tally were squandered. Warwick also added two further goals of their own to run out convincing winners and add to the misery for a North Stafford team in desperate need of a confidenceboosting win.

The Men’s seconds slipped to back-to-back defeats as they were edged out 2-1 at home to local rivals Stone seconds.

North Stafford dominated the first 20 minutes, producing their best period of hockey of the season. Jon Snape opened the scoring as a mazy run from right back took him into the D, where his shot proved too powerful for the Stone keeper to stop.

Numerous other opportunities and short corners were squandered though, which would prove crucial later in the game.

Stone grew into the game and in the second half they equalised from a short corner converted by Jono Allchin.

Allchin then scored the winner late on, blasting in to round off a swift counter-attack much to the frustration of the hosts who had dominated possession and control of the game for vast periods. North Stafford Men’s thirds faced a Newport firsts side who had scored more than 50 goals in their first six games of the season.

John Minshall’s side made the worst possible start as they fell behind within 20 seconds against the league leaders.

The performance was much improved though from there as a well-organised resilient display limited Newport to a 3-0 half-time lead.

Four more goals, including two in the final minutes, meant that the game finished 7-0, but the scoreline was not a fair reflection of a performance full of spirit and determination against a side destined to win promotion at a canter.

The Men’s fourths had a superb 9-1 win away against Lichfield fifths at Whittington Barracks. Hat-tricks from Jared Cordes and Ade Sylvester stole the headlines, while there were further goals from captain Alan Lewis, James Barker and Lawson Riley.

The Men’s fifths, meanwhile, suffered a heavy defeat at home to Finchfield.