HOCKEY: Alderley Edge secured promotion back to the North Premier division with a win double on Saturday.
First up was Leeds the only side Alderley had lost to this season. Edge had a four-point advantage and flew out of the blocks with the front line of Joe Coxon, Sam Gregory and Ben Gregory heaping the pressure on the Leeds defence, the keeper making some good early saves.
It was no real surprise when A Adam Wildig found the bottom corner of the goal with a reverse stick shot.
Alderley increased the lead before half time, when sustained pressure led to Sam Gregory tucking away after good work by Andy Williams and Andy Taylor.
They started the second half in the same vein but it took a penalty corner to produce the next goal, Khalid Sawas clinical in a busy D, volleying into the net.
Leeds now started throwing everything at the Alderley back line, but James Riley remained the quieter of the keepers and Wildig struck again to make it 4-0.
Leeds pressed hard and a tremendous rearguard action kept them at bay but eventually they managed to pull one back.
Alderley ran out deserved 4-1 winners and knew one more win would secure promotion. They didn’t have to wait long as only 90 minutes later they lined up against Stockton.
The game could not have been more contrasting, with Alderley unable to produce the intensity of before, while Stockton sat deep and played on the break.
Stockton did take the lead when their forward held off two men and in off the far post. However, Raj Kay broke forward from defence and set up Wildig at the back post to equalise.
In the second half Wildig struck again with a smart finish from close range.
But Edge again let Stockton in and conceded when additional forwards pushed up and the free player scored with an outrageous lob.
Alderley were still fractious but in the final five minutes, a penalty corner saw Wildig fire a cross-shot, blocked by the keeper, but Ben Gregory who rifled into the roof of the net. Promotion was secured when Wildig completed his hat-trick.
Alderley Edge now need one point from their last two games to be crowned champions.
