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Students serve up tough lesson
Blackpool and Wyre Ladies Hockey Club 2nds v Lancaster University at Stanley Park. Shona MacPherson.
Blackpool Men’s promotion push in division three of the North West Hockey League suffered a setback when they were beaten 2-1 at Lancaster University.
Blackpool started brighter in windy conditions and soon went ahead through Ian Swaine’s penalty corner strike.
It was nearly two as Dave Morgan beat his marker only to shoot inches wide, though Lancaster ended the half strongly with sustained periods of possession.
In a scrappy second half, Lancaster turned the tables with two goals in quick succession – a deflected shot and a well-worked short corner. Dan Woodman and David Wright kept Lancaster at bay from then on as Blackpool pressed for an equaliser, but chances were wasted and Morgan was denied by a double save.
Blackpool Seconds kept their promotion hunt alive by winning their first game of the year 4-1 at Carlisle in division seven north.
After a slow start, Blackpool’s pressure paid off as Andrew Mortimer opened the scoring.
Chris Hocking quickly added a second to make it 2-0 at half-time.
Carlisle caught Blackpool napping to pull one back, and a tense period followed until Hocking’s second restored the two-goal cushion. The victory was sealed when Paul Atherton scored from a short corner.
It was a tough weekend for Blackpool Ladies, whose three sides all battled against teams above them in the league.
The senior side went down 2-0 at Garstang in the Lancashire Central premier division, having seen a fifth-minute Kandy Cardwell goal ruled out because the ball hit her foot.
Garstang broke the deadlock with a scrambled goal just before half-time and sealed victory midway through a second half in which good saves and goal-line clearances thwarted both sides.
Blackpool Seconds were unlucky to lose 2-1 in an excellent, end-to-end game away to division one leaders Lancaster University.
Blackpool weathered the early storm but still trailed at half-time. Lynsey Shewin equalised coolly early in the second half, following excellent play from Meghan Fearn.
Becky Brookes and her University counterpart both made outstanding saves but it was the home side who sealed victory with another fine goal. Midfielder Shona MacPherson was Blackpool’s player of the game.
Blackpool Thirds were unable to field a full team against division three leaders Southport Seconds, who were dominant from the start and won 14-0 despite excellent displays by player of the match Hannah Bower, Chloe Mallinson and Emily Copp.
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Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
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