21th January Match Reports

Stockport Team Match Report

REDDISH LOSE TOP OF TABLE CLASH

The latest match in the Stockport league saw first play second in what would turn out to be an excellent display of why these two teams are in their current positions. Both Reddish and Heaton have attacking styles and this clearly showed during the early stages of the match. Heaton began to use their strong hits to carve open the Reddish midfield and for much of the start of the match the ball spent most of it time in the Reddish D. The constant pressures lead to a Heaton goal, one which found its way into the back of the net through a crowd of players.

The goal seemed to wake Reddish up and from then on they focused their attacks using the strong runs of wing player Susan Elcock to drive into the Heaton D. At points during the first half, all of the Heaton players were back in their own half helping to stop the onslaught of attacks from the reddish layers. Sam Piggin being very close not the level the scoring with a chance at the back post, after a run down the middle of the pitch resulted in a free hit in dangerous Heaton territory.

The early Heaton dominance eased towards the end of the first half and Reddish were looking the stronger team going into half time as they continued to attack using the width available and putting powerful crosses into the circle. The very open first half ended with Heaton one nil up and both teams went into half time showing why they are so placed in the league. Lots of attacking flare and clear cut chances proved for an entertaining second half.

Not wanting to be beaten by the league leaders, Reddish came out stronger in the second half and their fast paced attacks lead to a number of early penalty corners. Reddish Equalised 2 minutes into the game.  A penalty corner was converted at the back post by Laura Woodhead. After most of the Heaton defence though the danger was over, Laura kept the ball in play and managed to squeeze it in at the narrowest of angle to bring the scores level.

Sensing the ominous pressure from Reddish, Heaton quickly took advantage of the lack of concentration in the Reddish defence and four minutes into the game retook the lead. An attack starting in the midfield caused confusion in the Reddish defence and a strong shot made its way over the line. With the score now at two-one, the Heaton turned on the style which has seen them take a big lead at the top of the league and they scored two goals in quick succession.

Their third goal was a reddish own goal, after a strong drive caused a deflection off a Reddish stick and the fourth was the result of a shot from the top of the D from a penalty corner. A fiercely struck shot into the bottom right hand corner gave the goalkeeper no chance and Heaton took an unassailable lead. The Reddish attacks were now few, yet the forwards continued to try to get the ball into the Heaton circle.

However Heaton handled the pressure well and long passes up into the Reddish half created a shooting opportunity for Heaton’s Jenny Foster which she converted with a fantastic rising shot into the left hand top corner. The score could have been six but a stop on the line by Bernadette Pheiffer kept the score at five-one. This was to be the final score with Heaton winning the top of the table.

Rachel Dunley