Bolton Hockey Club’s women’s firsts waited all season for a first league win - and then another came along in the very next game.
After a midweek triumph at home against Brooklands Poynton seconds, the team then notched up a 5-3 victory against Clitheroe Blackburn Northern firsts four days later.
The team are still in with a chance of catching 11th place in North West Women’s One, being six points behind with two games to go and a superior goal difference.
At Leverhulme Pavilion, it was a clash between two teams who have either struggled to score or found it difficult to keep clean sheets.
Bolton started as they had finished midweek, a little nervy, and straight away Blackburn took advantage, their striker finding space to smash the ball into the bottom corner after just three minutes.
But this is a Bolton team that has found resilience, and by the 10-minute mark they were level. Jen Brookfield finished a lovely one-on-one, with a delicate chip over the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Minutes later Bolton took the lead. Solid play in midfield saw the ball transferred quickly and Emily Wilkes found herself free inside the D to finish.
No sooner were they in front, Bolton were pegged back level at 2-2, as Blackburn found an equaliser on the 24-minute mark from a penalty corner dispatched first time.
Bolton did not rest and were soon back in front, though, Brookfield with her second of the game with a thunderous finish after fine work down the attacking left.
Then, just before half time, Bolton increased their lead through a penalty corner dispatched by Lu Bull.
With a strong half-time lead, it was important for Bolton to push on, and push on they did.
In the second half they extended their lead further when Brookfield got her hat-trick. Fine work from Erin Turner saw close quarter control before a fine shot was saved, but Brookfield was on had to tap home.
Blackburn did get one back before the end from a penalty corner, but Bolton hung on for their second win in a week.
The women’s seconds had a double header last weekend.
On the Saturday they played City of Manchester seconds at home and lost 4-0.
City are flying high in North West Women’s Four East and proved why with a comprehensive victory - four unanswered goals, three in the first half.
Safely in mid-table, with no chance of catching fifth, the seconds were at home again on Sunday against Didsbury Grey’s seconds knowing a win could see them reach sixth spot.
Didsbury are the team in fifth, but there was little to choose between the two teams, barring some moments of real quality from the home side.
Bolton’s Debbie Green opened the scoring early in the first half, before Viv Lake doubled it soon after.
Then, just before half time, Nicola Ashurst put Bolton three up.
Didsbury pulled one back in the second half, but Bolton held out with a strong defence for a 3-1 triumph to move up into sixth in the table.
Meanwhile, the women’s thirds beat the Stockport Bramhall Development team 3-1
Goals from Katie Bent, Louisa Yoxall and Emma Begg gave them victory in North West Women’s Six East.
In North West Men’s Three South, Bolton’s men’s firsts travelled to Mosley Hill firsts still chasing third place.
Victory would put them in the driver’s seat going into the final weekend and they secured a 3-2 win.
Mosley had struggled this season and will likely be relegated, but they did put up strong resistance at home.
However, it did not stop Sam Robinson from scoring an early goal before the hosts hit back deep into the first half.
Feeling reward for their efforts they lost focus and allowed Sam Williams to score as Bolton took a first-half lead.
Mosley equalised again, before Bolton scored the winner late on.
Some late ill-discipline from Robinson did not cost the team and victory was confirmed.
The men’s seconds looked to build on a great result the previous week against Buxton against City of Manchester thirds at home.
City took an early lead, before a change in tactics saw Peter Cole equalise and Bolton start to dominate the half.
It did, however, end all square at half time.
In the second half, City hit two quick sucker-punches to deflate Bolton’s enthusiasm and while they did score a penalty corner late on, they were unable to find a winner and went down 3-2 in North West Men’s Six East.
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