27th September
Warrington took on Stretford who are one of the strongest teams in the Manchester & District League at Great Sankey. Warrington were without Molly Boniface Ashton who is injured.
Warrington started well with a goal from Connor Lynch who is playing well as his fitness improves. The quarter was without incident until with just over a minute left Luke Boardman was excluded and Stretford scored an equaliser.
With 11 seconds to go Ben Dailey put Warrington in front with an important goal. In the second quarter Dom Richards was excluded and within seconds Stretford equalised. Then two Stretford players were excluded but Warrington could not take advantage which was costly as Stretford hit back with a goal and took the lead. Stretford then had two more players excluded and again Warrington did not convert the man ups. Stretford were then awarded a penalty but the inform Luke Atkinson ensured the scorer was not troubled. The quarter ended 2-3 to Stretford.
In the third quarter Stretford had another player excluded again Warrington didn’t convert the power play and again Stretford scored to make it 2-4. Warrington fought back with a goal from Dom Richards and then by Ben Dailey to bring the score to 4-5.
In the final quarter the first goal would be important and it was Stretford who scored first to go 4-6 in the lead. The players had a taste of strict refereeing and in a two minute period Stretford had four players excluded and Warrington’s Emily Bowater was excluded twice. Neither team scored from a man up. Eventually Stretford scored but again gave away two further man ups Warrington again failed to convert the advantage into a goal. Connor Lynch then scored with 19 seconds to go but it was too late for Warrington and the game ended Warrington 5 Stretford 7. Stretford had 14 exclusions to Warrington’s 4 and Warrington did not convert a single man up which clearly cost us the game.
My thanks to Tom Costello for coaching the team in my absence.