In a great week for Alderley Edge Hockey Club, five of their six teams came away with points and, approaching the halfway stage, promotion is the aim for at least four.

The team of the week is the men’s seconds, who are now five points clear at the top of North West Two, following a 9-2 victory over Prescot.

Sam Baker grabbed another hat-trick, Andy Jackson scored twice from drag flicks, Danny Butterworth marked his return from injury with a goal, Chris Hardy added another from a corner and the other scorers were Matt Hardy and captain Kieren Hall.

The Men’s first team are currently third, three points off the top and two points behind second place in North Division One.

Alderley could have gone clear at the top as the travelled to league leaders Leeds. In a game where many Alderley players had excellent individual games and where the two teams both played good high-tempo hockey, it was difficult to separate the teams.

Andy Williams and Joe Gregory were both very tidy on the ball and disruptive in the midfield, prevented Leeds’ build-up play. Leeds were able to maintain possession at the back, but could create nothing in attack.

Alderley always looked dangerous on the break through Ben Gregory and Adam Wildig, but the two failed to convert the chances they created and the first half finished goalless.

The stalemate was thanks in part to the Leeds keeper making two excellent saves from Warburton’s penalty corners.

The second half was more intense, resulting in the umpires clamping down on any foul play.

Barnes was guilty of a rash challenge and was sinbinned for questioning the officials’ decision, Leeds’ penalty corner clearing the crossbar.

Leeds looking to win corners were awarded another for an offence outside the D, but Alderley’s defence held firm.

Edge won a corner of their own with a well worked move from hit into the D, which was dummied and struck a defenders foot. The routine did not quite click though and the game remained deadlocked.

With five minutes to go Leeds won another penalty corner and this time the drag flick was right on target.

Alderley had a chance to grab the equaliser when Wildig burst clear, but the onrushing keeper denied him with a fine one-on-one block, confirming Leeds’ 1-0 win as Alderley’s late push for an equaliser fizzled out with Ben Gregory’s consignment to the sinbin.

Edge’s men’s thirds are in joint second place and grabbed an important 1-0 win over local rivals Macclesfield.

The fourths won 4-2 at Northop Hall and the fifths drew at Deeside. The table-topping sixths beat Wilmslow fourths 3-1.