Bolton Hockey Club’s men’s firsts played out an eight-goal thriller with Timperley thirds in North West Men’s Division Three South as they drew 4-4 at Leverhulme Pavilion.

It was the toughest test yet against a Timperley side going into the clash with a perfect 100-per-cent record

The hosts started brightly, keeping Timperley at bay and creating some half-chances, before captain Scott Mather opened the scoring midway through the first half with a lovely lifted finish beating the keeper.

It was soon two. Sam Robinson is a fan of the driving dribble and he had Timperley defenders on the back foot with his quick feet, and quicker hands. His shot left the keeper no chance as Bolton took a strong lead.

It got worst for Timperley before the break as they were reduced to 10 men as a player saw yellow for a poor challenge.

However, after half time, and mere moments after being restored to 11, Timperley were back in it.

They earned a penalty corner that was dispatched with precise accuracy.

A second short corner moments later was originally thought to be well defended, however it was seen as a deliberate infraction, stopping a goal and the umpire awarded a penalty stroke. Timperley were now level at 2-2, just 10 minutes into the second half.

From the push back, Bolton instantly responded, Mather again the beneficiary of some fine play from the home front line.

In classic basketball style it had become very loose and goal-filled, and Timperley got back level again with another penalty corner, before Carl Philbin scored a thunderbolt from open play.

With Bolton leading, and only 10 minutes remaining, ill-discipline again hit Timperley, as they were reduced for a green card.

However, they would have the final say on proceedings. With just five minutes to go, another foul within the D again led to a penalty stroke and Timperley had their equaliser.

Despite some final flourishes, the exciting encounter ended all square and Bolton can take pride in being the first team this year to take points off Timperley.

The men’s seconds had their own 100-per-cent record to maintain, and were confident going into Saturdays away tie at Bury seconds in North West Men’s Division Six East.

However, trouble struck early as traffic management issues, meant they only had 10 players to start the match.

For the first 15 minutes they held out well, and the 10 men dominated much of the possession.

However, a minor drop in concentration saw Bury take the lead, a nice passing move finished off at the far post.

Moments later, Bolton, now restored to 11 men and a substitute, were level. Quick work from Shahwar Azeem saw him blast the loose ball into the net.

A rash challenge from the Bury keeper gave Azeem the chance to get Bolton in front but his penalty stroke was saved, despite protestations the keeper had moved early.

The story for the rest of the game followed a similar pattern; Bolton well on top, but either not quite getting the umpire decisions, or coming up, once again, against a keeper in fantastic form. One particular save from Kyle Hatch earned applause from the sidelines.

Bolton pushed for the winner, but tempers boiled over and they were once again reduced to 10, for a five-minute yellow card.

Bury had one chance to snatch it at the end, but Bolton goalkeeper Sam Wood was alert and slid out brilliantly to clear the danger.

It was first dropped points for Bolton, but they stay undefeated and top of the table.

The men’s third team had a tough task away at promotion-chasing City of Manchester thirds in North West Men’s Division Six East and the day did not start well as the hosts took an early lead within 10 minutes, the Bolton defence allowing the striker a simple finish.

Bolton struck back, with two first-half salvos from their striking duo. First, Daniel Parsonson flicked home to level the scores, before captain Phil Morgan gave the team the lead with a sensible finish at the near post.

City were not to be outdone and came out in the second half with renewed purpose.

They equalised halfway through the second half, before a penalty corner saw them take the lead.

Bolton pushed to get the equaliser, and were harshly punished and reduced to 10 late on, for an innocuous foul. City then tightened up and closed out the game to win 3-2.

The women’s firsts faced table-topping Winnington Park firsts at home in North West Women’s Division Two South.

The away side have been scoring at ease this season and it didn’t take them long to get into the lead.

Bolton had an early warning from a penalty corner, but it was not heeded, as a second attempt flew into the backboard for the lead.

Winnington soon made it two when some slick passing in the midfield enticed the Bolton defence forward, and a ball over the top released the Winnington striker, for a one-v-one opportunity she expertly put away.

In the second half, the pattern remained much the same; Bolton probing, but trying to stay tight, fearful of conceding another.

On 60 minutes their resolve finally broke as Winnington wrapped up the match with a third.

Bolton did get a consolation late on, Chloe Frost, recently welcomed back into the team, scored from a tight angle to give them something to smile about on a tough day on the pitch.

It has been a tough start to the season for the women’s seconds, three draws their only points so far this season.

Goals have been hard to score and easy to concede and their latest North West Women’s Division Four East clash saw them host Sale seconds.

It was a familiar story - some nice, interlinked passing but no penetration up front.

Then, when the ball was turned over, the opposition found it too easy to get through.

On two separate occasions it was lost balls that caused quick turnovers and goals for the opposition.

There were moments where Bolton did test the opposition goalkeeper, but they weren’t able to get a goal back and get themselves back into the game as they went down 2-0.

Top side Wigan seconds were always going to be a stern test for the Bolton women’s thirds, the North West Women’s Division Six East leaders having scored twice as many as they have conceded.

Things got harder in the first half, as hosts Wigan wracked up four unanswered goals.

The home side were ruthless and in the second half extended their lead to 5-0, before Bolton managed to register at the other end when Lexie Myatt scored from open play.

Wigan were not in the giving mood and scored a sixth before Emily Cass pulled another back for Bolton.

It was a tough game which the women’s thirds will learn from.