LYTHAM
men's first team kicked off 2001 with their best performance of the season to
record a convincing 3-0 win over high-flying Cheshire club Deeside Ramblers.
Playing
superb flowing hockey and showing resolute defence, Lytham always looked in
control with victory never in doubt. The tone was set when captain Richard McGee
made a good interception releasing an early ball to Craig Nuttall who calmly
beat at least three players before slamming it home from the edge of the circle.
More
good hockey resulted in Dave Robbins adding a second with an equally impressive
run before flicking the ball home. Centre backs Chris Kay and Mark Lees were
playing superbly- with an impressive work rate from the whole team.
Robbins got the third goal after Pouncing on a loose ball and pushing
home from an acute angle.
Lytham
Men's seconds drew 3-3 at Wilmslow. The
home side started the stronger and went ahead from a scrappy penalty corner.
Lytham
equalised soon after with a well taken goal by Richard Isherwood making a
welcome -return to league hockey, and they went on to equalise twice more after
the home side had taken the lead.
Lytham
could have won the game in the dying minutes when John Langford was virtually
rugby-tackled but managed to lay the ball off to Graham Stuart who missed a
great chance to win the game.
Lying
just above the relegation zone it was vital Lytham thirds found some form - and
they did in style with a 4-2 win against Chester fourths at Bispham.
It
was sweet revenge for Lytham who had been thrashed 8-0 by Chester earlier in the
season.
Sloppy
defending allowed Chester to take the lead against the run of play, but a superb
flick by Rob Davis deservedly brought them level.
Lytham
were unlucky not to take the lead when what looked a perfectly legitimate
penalty corner routine was ruled out.
Chester
again took the lead, but this proved only to spur Lytham into even greater
action with Anton Wright, Michael Satterthwaite and Dave Burns starring in
defence.
Lytham
were rewarded when skipper David Bleasdale passed into the circle and Burnett
deflected home. Graham Shaw put
Lytham front after a superb solo run and they sealed victory with a fourth.
Lytham fourths lost 2-1 at Oxton the home keeper Matt Harwood doing well to deny Lytham's earl pressure and Mike Gannon par
ticularly unlucky not to score.Oxton
took the lead after 20 minutes and to add to the visitors' they lost centre back
Chris Mailings through injury hit on the arm from a high clearance.
Lytham started the second ha with renewed vigour. Jake Lavin and Simon Gardiner both making penetrating runs and Marc Wilkinson and Ken Ashworth outstanding in defence, and Lytham found a way through when Wilkinson and Mike Gannon combined to send Gardiner through to score. However, Lytham were undone in the closing stages when an Oxton penalty corner trickled over the line.
Men's 5th No Report Lytham Badgers lost 4-0 at Bowdon. Wingers Keith Stone and Ashley Walsh performed well and full backs Andrew Taylor and James Benson also stood out.Women's 1st
Lytham
Ladies firsts lost 3-1 at Lancaster seconds.
After last week's fine cup win Lytham struggled to get going.
And it wasn't until 15 minutes left that Ruth Blackburn scored from a
well-worked penalty corner.
Lytham Ladies seconds lost 5-0 to Nelson seconds at Ansdel, and to add insult to injury Lytham lost Jenny Lang through injury.
No Report