BOLTON Hockey Club's fortunes continued to dwindle with a 2-1 defeat at Plas Coch.

The Firsts started the season brightly but the defeat followed two draws. Chris Aitken got the goal.

The Seconds fared much better against West Cumbria with a 4-1 victory.

Bolton took the lead from a short corner with a well-rehearsed routine which allowed David Tonge to fire home. A second came from Peter Friend who slipped the ball past the goalkeeper with ease following an unselfish set-up from Damien Pearse.

Bolton added a third from the restart when Tonge's cross was deflected towards the keeper by Richard Turner and Friend scored his second.

West Cumbria pulled a goal back but another well worked short corner fell to veteran Dave Turner who scored.

The Fifths gained their first league win of the season with a comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Formby Fourths. They opened the scoring when a pass from Steve Cornfoot set up Dave Fox for a clinical finish before Cornfoot scored the second himself with a rasping shot after some excellent approach play by Julian Hickinbottom. Cornfoot added a second before captain Carl Philbin rounded off an impressive all round display with the fourth goal.

The Ladies had a disappointing 2-1 deafeat after dominating the early stages against local rivals Mantos.

Vicky Warburton put her side ahead with a short corner but Mantos came back strongly to take victory.