HOCKEY: ELLESMERE Port Ladies travelled to Crewe on Saturday and earned a well-deserved 2-2 draw.
Port started the game confidently, creating a number of chances, with Charlotte Dodd and Rebecca Jaques causing the home defence problems with their pace.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half as Sarah Ball dribbled her way through the Crewe defence and finished the move off with a stylish reverse-stick flick.
Crewe responded just before the interval with a goal of their own after a one-on-one with Port's goalkeeper Jo Heydon, and took an early lead in the second half from a penalty-corner routine with the ball going in at the far post.
Port heads didn't drop though and they kept causing the home side problems, and on a number of occasions, Crewe were penalised for body checking and aggressive play.
The visitors equalised through Charlotte Dodd after she buried the rebound from an earlier shot, leaving Crewe's keeper no chance, and were in control for the remainder of the game and were unlucky not to get a winner.
In men's action, Bebington have gone top of The Northern Hockey League Division Two West table after a 3-2 win at Belle Vue over third-placed City of Manchester on Saturday.
The visitors started brightly and took the lead through John McMullen, who put the ball into the net from a short corner while Mark Wilkie added a second.
The first 10 minutes after of the interval were messy and Bebington hit a post and put the rebound wide of an open goal before Manchester levelled proceedings.
Mark Wilkies bagged a third for Bebington, who hung on despite further Manchester pressure, and a second goal for the home side.
Bebington seconds played Oxton in a derby match and despite having more of the territory, they were unable to create any worthy chances and went down 4-0, while the thirds were beaten 1-0 by Rhyl seconds.
The fourth team edged out Macclesfield 3-2 in a game they should have won easily. Neil Tolley bagged a brace while Paul Seymour was also on target.
There was woe for Bebington's fifth and sixth teams as they were beaten 8-1 by Oxton, with Alex Jarman netting, and 3-0 by Tameside seconds respectively.
