This weekend saw the end of a highly successful league programme for Alderley Edge Hockey Club’s men.

In the North Premier League Edge’s first team travelled to relegation-threatened City of York, who needed to win to guarantee survival.

Alderley, fresh from touring Holland over Easter, looked in control early with Sibley and Whitehead thwarting any York attacks and starting attacks.

Gregory and Coxon both had half-chances and forced the York keeper into action as he was sharply off his line to block.

As the game progressed the pace of the pitch seemed to be slowing both teams down and no real clear-cut opportunities arose for either side.

Hughes and Jackson were tidy in midfield and Bryant ensured possession was maintained. Both teams saw penalty corner chances come and go.

The second half followed a similar path with York keeping men behind the ball and trying to catch Alderley Edge on the counter-attack.

The plan worked as a missed tackle allowed York to get to the base line and the ball fell kindly to the hosts’ forward whose first time slap-shot found the bottom corner of Riley’s goal.

Alderley kept pressing and, under pressure, York repeatedly turned over possession.

But it was not Alderley Edge’s day as Sibley’s reverse-stick shot flew wide and Warburton’s deflection went the wrong side of the post.

As they game drew on York started create chances of their own with Riley (pictured above) coming up with a couple of notable saves.

The game finished 1-0, and despite ending on a low note, Alderley Edge reflected on what has been a positive second half of the season and they’ll look forward to another year in the North League’s top flight.

The second team finished off with a convincing win, having already secured second place and promotion to the North League for next season. They travelled to West Derby and came away 5-1 winners.

Ben Gregory was the star with a goal and a couple of assists; Sam Baker grabbed two goals. Kieren Hall and Julian Scarsbrook, with his first of the season, ended the scoring.

The third team’s season has already finished and they topped the table by an amazing 22 points in the final standings.

The fourth team went down 1-0 to Chester and finish the season in an impressive third place.

The fifth and sixth teams were in action, but they’ll reflect on third and second-placed finishes respectively. The sixths were only denied the title on the away goals rule.

The seventh team joined halfway through the year, did not play and finished in mid-table.

With no relegations for the third year running, along with  three promotions and two third-place finishes, it has been another successful season for the hockey section at Alderley Edge.