Hockey is back: Losing starts for Fylde and Lytham St Annes Ladies as league season begins

A depleted Fylde Ladies’ team began their National League Conference North campaign with a 5-0 defeat at home to Pendle Forest.

Jayne Wilson and debutant Natasha Hartley-Smith defended solidly as Pendle were restricted to one first-half goal. They added four more despite Lucy Eagling driving Fylde forward down the right.

Sisters Amy and Danni Merrick, and Tenika Jennings also impressed on debut for Fylde, who travel to Doncaster on Saturday.

Fylde 2 started their division two west campaign with a goalless draw against the Lymm first team at Mill Farm.

There was action and short corners at both ends, though Fylde may be the happier side having lost twice to Lymm last season.

Fylde 3 started with a 2-1 home defeat to the Leyland and Chorley senior side in division three west.

A Fylde team which included seven debutants, seven under-16s and five products of the club’s junior system matched the visitors for long periods and took the lead after half-time, when Megan Coar converted Jess Cole’s cross.

Fylde created more chances but an injury to player of the match Charlotte Thomson proved a turning point. Still, this was a positive start for a young side who did not concede a single short corner.

After back-to-back promotions, Fylde Men begin their West Division Two season at home to Liverpool University on Saturday buoyed by a 5-0 friendly win over Lancaster University.

Josh Boyne scored twice as Fylde moved into a 3-0 half-time lead at Mill Farm. Jordan Payne bagged one in each half, with Oli Sandamera also on target.

Fylde 3 started their season in North West Four North North with a 1-1 home draw against the newly-formed Brookfields team.

Fylde opened the scoring midway through the first half, when Jay Mayne swivelled to convert a cross by debutant Simon Holt.

Another debutant Cameron McIntyre, aged 14, made an outstanding penalty save to keep Fylde in front until half-time.

More saves by player of the match McIntyre frustrated Brookfields until they equalised from a short corner five minutes from time. A goal-line clearance denied Fylde a last-minute winner, though the draw was probably fair.

Most Lytham St Annes Hockey Club teams start their season this weekend, though the ladies’ senior side began with a 4-1 defeat at Halifax in one of two games played in North Division One.

After what felt like a lifetime away from hockey and a difficult journey across the Pennines, Lytham started strongly and took the lead inside three minutes as Georgina Read swept the ball home from Ash Colvin's expert pass across the top of the D.

Lytham defended a series of Halifax corners before the hosts converted one to level the scores at half-time.

The visitors were confident at the break as they spoke of holding the middle and using the width of the pitch, but they fell behind to a deflected shot on 54 minutes.

Halifax scored twice more to seal victory but this was a positive Lytham display, with Hazel Cockerill the player of the match, and everyone enjoyed being back on the pitch.