BOLTON Hockey Club's first team travelled to Crewe brimming with confidence after a highly successful pre-season and came away with a 1-0 win.

Bolton had to battle from the first whistle in a hard and fast league fixture against a side that have proved stiff opposition in recent years.

Bolton started well but struggled to settle into the passing game they had enjoyed pre-season due to the hassling and hard work of their opponents. This led to a very disjointed first half, in which neither team looked like scoring until Bolton won a penalty corner.

The team worked a routine straight from the training ground that finished off with Peter Friend slotting the ball home from a yard out after a sublime pass from Matthew Short.

Bolton had to survive a barrage of penalty corners in the second half without creating much in the way of chances.

But for the heroics of Rob Allen in the Bolton goal, Bolton might have conceded at least one of the 14 penalty corners they had to defend.

On Saturday, Bolton welcome Nelson to Harper Green.

Bolton 2nds went down 5-2 to Crewe.

They never recovered from a poor start as Crewe raced into an early lead. Matthew Simpson levelled matters midway through the first half, but Crewe hit back to take a 3-1 lead.

Things improved after the break and Richard Moore pulled the score back to 3-2. Bolton at that stage looked to be in control. but after Simpson was yellow carded and sin-binned for the remainder of the game, quickly followed by captain Richard Turner, Crewe took full advantage of nine-man Bolton and fired in another two goals.

Bolton Badgers beat Bramhall 3-1, Phil Johnston, Dean Currie and Scott Mather scoring the goals.

The second half saw some good attacking by Richard Coles on the right but goals were a scares commodity on this day. Finally Scott Mather scored a goal of his own to put Bolton 3 - 0 up. Bramhall produced a bit of a fight back, but could only score a consolation goal mainly thanks to some great goalkeeping form Matthew Gaskell in the Bolton goal.

A good start to the season particular now some badgers have moved up to the senior sides and new players have come in to fill the gaps left behind.

Bolton HC Ladies 2nd XI 7 vs. Didsbury Greys 2nd XI 2

BHC get off to a flying start

BOLTON HC Ladies seconds got their season off to a great start with a comprehensive 7-2 win over newcomers Didsbury Greys.

The visitors turned up with only ten players, and BHC made the most of the advantage, Jenny Washington scoring the first of her four goals with a reverse stick sweep.

BHC soon made it 2-0 with Lindsey Blackmore following up on the keeper's initial save to score but Didsbury caught them napping later in the half, and managed to pull a goal back after a goalmouth scramble.

After the interval, BHC kept up their pressure, and the goals kept coming. Washington, the game's star player, hit another three goals, Robyn Smith added to the tally, and Helen Small completed the rout.

BHC Ladies' third team lost 1-0 at home to Gallaghers.

Bolton HC Ladies require a goalkeeper for this coming season. The club provides training every Thursday evenings from 7.30pm to 8.30pm at Harper Green School, Farnworth, and any level of experience will be considered. Visit the club's website - www.boltonhc.co.uk - for more details.