BOLTON Hockey Club’s women’s firsts go into the festive break in high spirits after a 1-0 win at Bowdon thirds in North West Women’s Two South.

In a strong start to a fast-paced game, Bolton found themselves with a high press. Great communication from defence through to the forwards allowed the visitors to move seamlessly up the pitch, adding pressure to the Bowdon defensive line.

Bolton forward Angelie Chitre sprinted skilfully and tirelessly through the Bowdon defence on numerous occasions and despite being fouled, the umpires played the advantage, as she got herself out of trouble almost every time.

The visitors created a number of chances with Laura Watson extremely unlucky not to break the deadlock. Her mazy run took out a number of Bowdon defenders, with her shot beating the goalkeeper but finding the inside of the post and flashing along the goalline before being cleared to safety.

Bowdon’s goal frame was rattled again as the first half drew to a conclusion, with a direct ball in from Yasmin Aldcroft finding a deflection from Chitre. The looping shot would not dip in time and clipped the top of the bar.

Bolton stepped up the pace in the second half, transferring the ball across the defensive line with force and making the Bowdon forwards work hard to try and regain possession.

With the half pushing on and the score still goalless, a scramble in Bolton’s D saw Kirsten Price clear the ball to left midfielder Watson who drove the line to create an attacking opportunity, transferring the ball through the middle to utilise space across the pitch.

An attacking run from forward Chitre found the foot of a Bowdon defender in the circle winning a short corner.

The short corner was injected strongly by Jenny Brookfield, trapped by Emily Wilkes and converted by Lu Bull with a firm drag flick from the top of the D, finding the space between the Bowdon goalkeeper and post player to break the stalemate.

After Bolton went up 1-0, they showed a solid defensive performance, breaking down any Bowdon chances and minimising any shots on goal, with goalkeeper Nyemh Johnson clearing strongly to maintain a clean sheet.

Bolton sustained an immense amount of pressure in the last 10 minutes as Bowdon searched for an equaliser but none was forthcoming as the visitors showed an impressive defensive display which led them to victory after a hard-fought match.

Bolton remain at the top of the table at the midpoint of the season unbeaten after 10 wins and one draw going into 2022.

The women’s thirds were also winners, beating Sale 4-2 on home turf in North West Women’s Six East.

Skipper Katie Bent won the toss and opted for first pushback. Midfield and forwards Anna Howarth, Nicky Ashurst, Louisa Yoxall, Emma Begg, Caitlyn Murray and Viv Lake were straight on the attack, with a ball sent from Bent into the D to find Yoxall who went past a defender and sent the ball screaming past the keeper into the net.

Bolton heads were up and again they were on the attack with a ball down the right finding Caitlyn Walker and a flick on to Lake saw her drive into the D and send a missile past the defender and through the keeper’s legs with a satisfying thump onto the back boards.

Sale were determined and made work for keeper Charlotte White, and Masooma Bagas, Jo Tanner and Murray.

And before half time the visitors found the net twice to make it 2-2,

After a determined team talk at half time, Bolton came out with new passion and soon found the ball moving up the pitch into Sale’s D.

Lake found a foot in the D and gave Bolton several penalty corners but could not convert.

The hosts stole possession back and Ashurst drove the midfield, across to Lake into the D, before a slip through to Bent to cleanly send the ball past the keeper.

After the restart, Bolton’s Isobelle Baird tackled and sent the ball up the pitch to Begg and after another slipped pass to the top of the D, Bent screamed the ball home to round off the scoring and put Bolton fifth in the table with games in hand on teams above them.