Sale Ladies are physically limping towards the end of the season, literally in many cases, but will always stay strong for their club.

The first team went away to Bolton and so it began: the given postcodes were slightly inaccurate and the playing facilities sub normal standards, from the Sale team that were present only 80% were fit to play, due to work commitments some were still on their way. Some might say the usual pre match ritual for Sale!

Sale started well and played some really great hockey having a few chances going wide of the posts early on. Eventually Ruth 'Rufus' Finley stepped up to finish a great attack from the team to put Sale 1-0 up. 

Bolton attacked but Sale soaked it up and turned it back on them. It was during one of the Bolton attacks that Sales’ keeper Sarah Bedward was struck on the shin/ankle putting her out for the rest of the game and possibly the last few games of the season. Bolton scored from the short given from Sale putting the ball out to allow help for the injured keeper. Sale finished the first half and played the second half with Sarah Roberts (captain) volunteering for the kicking back role. It was testament to her and the whole team that the final score was only 2-1 to Bolton (another strike from a short corner).  A huge thanks to one of the Bolton player/spectators who came to the aid of our injured player, supplying her with a chair, first aid support and reassurance for the rest of the team. Bolton also contacted the club via social media to send their well wishes later in the day. So aside the keepers injury,  a loss and playing in undesirable conditions,  it really should have been a terrible experience but somehow thanks to our Sale team and the extended hockey family of Bolton we can still say it was a great game. Sale were even gracious in accepting hospitality before rushing off to coach/umpire and support other teams playing elsewhere in the North West. 

(The Sale team would also like to thank Beth Millman ( player of the match)  and Karen 'Kaney’ Tyson for their assistance for Sarah at the hospital.) 

11/3/17

Sale Ladies 1sts packed up their troubles and went to Wrexham for the day.  With the luxury of 12 players and a decent warm up Sale started well. The coach had prepared them well for the notorious bouncy pitch (some players even used their chins to test the bounce of the pitch). They played some slick passing hockey and had several shots towards goal. Wrexham played their long ball game relying on the favour of the bounce working for them. Eventually it did and they scored, soon after Jane Fylan evened up the score and Sale continued to own the pitch and play the better hockey. 1-1 at half time. Wrexham started the second half very strongly and had switched from the long ball to quick passes through the middle,  it caught Sale out and they scored three on the bounce ( sorry not sorry!)  Sale regrouped and told themselves to keep pressing forwards soon a goal came for Sale,  Hannah Aldridge finishing a fast paced attack from a defence

clearance with some impressive dribbling and passing from the forwards. Sale were building and needed a few minutes more to secure another two goals for the draw but sadly they ran out of time. Wrexham's celebrations showed how much it means to beat Sale.

Thanks to Sub goal keeper Lisa Wilton who then rushed off to play her second game of the day. 

Sale Ladies 2s hosted Macclesfield at William Hulme playing in Div 1. Sale 2s are playing the kind of hockey that deserves a win. They have battled on, learning and improving from each game overcoming illness, injury and player movement whilst willingly supporting the 1sts in their higher division quest. 

Sale 2s looked like they were enjoying their hockey, it was end to end and hard work but they put passes together from defence to midfield and in turn midfield picked out the spaces and the runs by the forwards,  they just needed to get it in the goal. They ended the first half 0-0 but understood they just needed to keep playing and the goal would surely come.  Well into the second half the pressure resulted in a short corner that was effortlessly flicked over the keeper and off the underside of the cross bar by Carol Savage. 

Sale suddenly had belief they pressed on. More great linked play from the whole team resulted in Chloe Holmes scoring from close range. Now Sale had victory in their sights.  You would have thought that Sale being in this slightly unfamiliar position would panic, if they did you didn't see it. What you could see was players using every bit of their bodies to protect the ball and the lead (heads included). A sliding goal line clearance by super sweeper Caroline Dunn supporting the amazing play by goal keeper Lisa Wilton kept the clean sheet. Well done to the ill/injured players who played a small but invaluable role in giving other players a rest when needed. The players themselves were in slight shock dealing with the strange feeling of a win but the spectators enjoyed the great result, that was thoroughly deserved and a pleasure to watch, more of the same next week please.