Bolton Hockey Club’s women’s first enjoyed a first win of the campaign in North West Women’s One last Tuesday night.

It has been a tough season for the team after promotion last season - the challenge has been a step too far for much if this season.

There has been great effort, and so many nearly moments, but they were in danger of going the season without a victory with just three draws to their name and no win ahead of a midweek home clash against Brooklands Poynton seconds at the Leverhulme Pavilion.

Knowing any dropped points would confirm their relegation, the home side needed a fast start, and a fast start they got.

Brooklands were sloppy at the back, Lu Bull winning the ball high up the pitch and she slotted a perfect pass through for Jen Brookfield to slot home with just six minutes gone for the perfect start.

The visitors grew into the game, got on to the ball and started to move it around well, but they faced a wall of determination, as Bolton managed to keep them quite for much of the first half.

Each side had chances in the first period but nothing concrete and the half petered out.

The second half started much like the first, Brooklands caught cold as Bolton were red hot.

They earned a penalty corner, which was initially cleared. Emily Wilkes worked hard to get the ball back and recycle it back into the D for Bull to fire it into the net. Bolton were in dreamland with 50 minutes gone.

As time ticked by, the Bolton resolve was tested - nerves jangled but they stayed strong.

Brooklands ramped up the pressure, until finally they got their reward. There was an overload into the D, and their player rounded the keeper and slotted into the empty net on 63 minutes.

Bolton now faced probably more pressure than they had all season and the question was could they hold out?

The game became cagey as Brooklands had chances, and Bolton cleared one off their own line with Bull, the hero.

In the end they were all heroes as they hung on for a well-deserved 2-1 victory.

The following night, the men’s firsts travelled to Wigan firsts in North West Men’s Three South and drew 3-3.

Always a feisty affair, this one was no different. Bolton started the better team and had early half-chances before the hosts got into the game midway through the first half.

Wigan earned a penalty corner with 22 minutes gone - a miss-hit shot wrongfooted everyone and went in.

Bolton upped their game and with their third penalty corner they equalised. They worked a training-ground routine as George Brennan tapped home after good work from Sam Robinson to level the scores at half time.

Bolton started the second half fast and from another penalty corner, Scott Mather found Sam Robertson who had a space the size of the DW Stadium to score at the near post.

It really should have been 3-1, but Bolton were wasteful.

And they were punished when central defender, Joel Reiss slipped and gifted the Wigan striker the ball to slot home after a one-on-one.

It went from bad to worse for the visitors when Wigan took the lead a few moments later - a slick move before a strong finish in the D.

The conditions worsened with the wind making it difficult for both teams as Bolton chased the game.

They left gaps and were grateful to keeper Amu who kept them in it with some fantastic saves.

And they got an equaliser when a good pass from captain Mather fed Lee Rammage, who rolled the defender to power his shot through the keeper’s legs.