Bolton Hockey Club’s women’s firsts returned to action with a big 4-2 win at Stockport Bramhall firsts in North West Women’s Division Two South.

The team have found themselves in a lower league position than they had realistically planned for at the start of the seasonv- a combination of selection woes and a high-calibre opposition leaving them down in 10th.

However, they had to play both teams below them, starting with Stockport Bramhall last weekend.

It was not a great start as Stockport took an early lead. A straightforward ball into the D was arrowed into the top corner from open play, the Bramhall striker with plenty of space and time to pick their spot.

Bolton started to turn the tide on 15 minutes, enjoying possession higher up the pitch. And a smart finish from a tight angle from Lu Bull brought things level.

This allowed Bolton to play with more freedom and they started to dominate the contest, with some sharp passing and clever skill.

However, chances came and went without them being able to make their dominance count before half time.

Bolton came out the second half as they finished the first, pressurising Stockport and keeping them on the back foot.

A second goal came after a fine dribble down the right saw the ball fed into the D, where Bull who was waiting to deflect it into the far corner.

As time started to run down, Bolton relaxed having dominated for so long. This complacency allowed Stockport to find an inevitable equaliser from a penalty corner. Stockport pulled a routine off the training ground, ignoring the straight shot and moving the ball across the D before slipping it to back post for a tap-in.

Bolton were drawing a game they had dominated but with five minutes to go, they earned a penalty corner. With a hat-trick chance, Bull took control from the top and powered the ball into the near corner.

And with only moments left, Stockport rushing allowed for another chance, Bull again shooting, but this time the keeper made the save, the bouncing rebound was fired into the net by Jenny Brookfield.

The victory saw the women’s firsts move 10 points clear of relegation, and they will be looking to catch the pack above them as the season enters it’s final phase.

In other games over the weekend, the women’s seconds game at Bowdon fifths in North West Women’s Division Four East was cancelled due to Bolton being unable to get a team out.

The point deduction penalty leaves Bolton bottom, four points from safety.

The women’s thirds lost 5-3 on Sunday in North West Women’s Division Six East at Didsbury Northern Development team, goals from Imogen White, and two from Katie Bent not enough to see them move up from ninth.

The men’s firsts got a 3-2 away victory at North West Men’s Division Three South basement team West Derby seconds.

Greg Dorsky and two goals from Damien Pearse gave them a victory that moves them up to fifth place.

The men’s seconds suffered only their second defeat of the season in North West Men’s Division Six East, losing 3-0 at home against Sale seconds.

They remain top of the table, but their lead is cut to a single point.

In the same division, the men’s thirds’ winning streak came to an end in a bad-tempered 1-1 draw at the Leverhulme Pavilion against Bury seconds, but they remain seventh.

The stalemate was punctuated with a slew of cards for both teams - Bolton’s goal from Nathan Watts coming when his side found themselves down to nine players.