Bolton Hockey Club’s men’s firsts ended a run of three defeats in a row with a stunning away win at second-placed Neston thirds in North West Men’s Three South.

With half of the first team absent, a scratch team travelled to the Wirral in hope.

The game started relatively even, the Bolton players trying to find their groove, while Neston pushed and probed in a general stalemate.

The umpiring was even but strict and a careless word from a Neston player saw the first card of the day - a green card for back chat - and this would set a tone.

Both teams saw chances come and go but it was Bolton who opened the scoring from an unlikely source. Centre-back Ryan Aldred picked up the ball outside the D, no Neston player closed him down and the moment he was inside he pushed the ball towards goal.

It was not the most fiercely struck shot but with bodies in the way, it ended up inside the near post. Neston queried if it was outside the D, but after a short conference between the umpires the goal was given.

Damien Pearse returned from the bench to last mere moments, as he found himself in trouble with the umpires just before half time, adjudged to have committed a deliberate foul and receiving a yellow card.

Neston started the second half on the front foot, looking for an equaliser and they pushed and probed, forcing several great saves from keeper Jack Wood.

The hosts found themselves a man short for repeated fouls, but things soon evened up, as goalscorer Aldred was put on the naughty step for a deliberate block.

Bolton did everything they could to keep Neston at bay and it was a heroic effort from the makeshift team, who held on for a famous 1-0 away win.

With some of the team with the firsts, the Bolton men’s seconds looked to keep their winning streak alive against Timperley sixths.

A quiet first half for both teams saw few chances, as the two teams battled out a goalless half.

The second half saw players tire and as gaps appeared, the goals arrived.

Timperley took the lead, with Bolton hitting back twice in quick succession through Stuart Wallace and Greg Dorsky.

But they could not hold on for the win with Timperley getting an equaliser just before the end as it finished 2-2 in North West Men’s Six East.

The women’s firsts lost 3-1 at home against high-flying Fylde seconds, who sit second in North West Women’s One.

Bolton looked to build on just their second point of the season the previous week, with another encouraging home performance.

But the visitors took a mid first-half lead, nice work down the right seeing the ball cut back before a scuffed and deflected finish.

Two minutes later it was two, the Fylde player given the freedom of Bolton inside the D, as she made no mistake finding the bottom corner.

A strong half-time lead was soon extended as Fylde converted a penalty corner routine.

At this point they took the foot of the accelerator and allowed Bolton back into the game, the hosts pulling one back through Lu Bull who scored after an excellent short-corner routine.

A topsy-turvy game for the women’s seconds saw them win 3-2 in North West Women’s Four East against Sale seconds.

They took an early lead via Jenny Brookfield, before Sale’s equaliser.

Brookfield scored again with Sale again matching just after half time.

But it would not be a seconds game without a goal for Viv Lake and she had the last word with the winning goal.

It was a day to forget in North West Women’s Six East for the women’s thirds as they were hit for six, only a late Kate O’Riordan goal giving any kind of consolation at Bowdon sevenths.