HOCKEY: Macclesfield under-11 girls team put in a respectable performance, notching up two fine victories in the Manchester League tournament.

With four games to play, the junior team were keen to get off to a winning start, and that’s just what they did, with an excellent victory against their first opponents, Bury.

Quick passing passing through the midfield by Charlotte Russell and Catlin gave Macclesfield many opportunities, and it was Sarah Duffy who scored the first goal when she took on the defence and her first-time shot beat the goalkeeper.

Brimming with confidence, Macc controlled the game and Russell got the second when the goalkeeper was unable to keep out her hard strike.

Macclesfield’s next opponents were Stockport, a big, strong team that proved a struggle to compete with. Excellent defensive play by Alice Waterhouse and Acacia Ford stopped much of the attacking play, but Macclesfield were unable to clear the ball and allowed a rare shooting opportunity for Stockport.

Goalkeeper Olivia Richardson was unable to stop the ball crossing the line.

Macc pushed forward for an equaliser, but were caught on the attack to go two goals down.

But Macclesfield bounced back in their clash with Bolton. With quicker passing and driving of the ball by Liberty Allan and Ford, Macclesfield dominated the game. Shots from Duffy and Russell just went wide of the post before Allan’s determination allowed her to smash home the winning goal.

Intercepting a wayward pass, she drove into the D to take a first-time strike to score.

After three tiring games, Macclesfield came across a talented Alderley Edge for their last match of the tournament.

Macclesfield knew this was going to be a tough game but started out very well.

More outstanding defensive play by Waterhouse and Ford kept out the Edge attacks and Richardson pulled off a good save at a fierce strike, conceding a short corner from which Edge hit the winner from the top of the D.