Men’s Hockey 1st’s remarkable cup form continued as they ran riot with an impressive 11-0 win against University of Manchester’s 4th’s at USA.

After high-scoring wins in the last two rounds of the competition, winning 10-0 and 10-2 respectively, UCLan produced another virtuoso performance against a disorientated Manchester, that sees them progress to the quarter-finals of the BUCS North Cup.

“It’s nice to progress to the quarter-finals, and to score so many,” John Edwards said after the game. “Hopefully, our Cup form can continue”.

Despite an hours’ delay to the game, UCLan were ahead in a flash after the kick-off, courtesy of Will Lacey, and were soon two up after Edwards’ deflection from the top of the ‘D’.

Two goals in two minutes by Tom Davidson, the first after a run by Rob Taylor, put UCLan in cruising mode before Manchester even had time to settle into the game.  Their lack of control and organisation was antithetical to UCLan’s own performance as the home side dominated all areas of the pitch.

After twenty minutes, Mike Holmes scored the fifth goal with a near post finish, and Lacey scored his second fifteen minutes later, coolly rounding the keeper after a penetrating pass through the defence by Preet Rayat. 

Seconds later and Sam Ross scored UCLan’s seventh, also rounding a beleaguered keeper to close out the first half.

The second half was now a case of saving face for a sorry looking Manchester side, and they did start to look like posing some threat to a confident home side. However, with just over ten minutes gone into the half, Tom Kendall put pay to any resistance from the visitors, hammering home a close range finish. Seconds later, Ross scored his second to add to UCLan’s flurry of goal-scoring action.

Taylor got a well-deserved goal towards the end of the game with a powerful shot from the top of the ‘D’, and Holmes scored his second of the game with an exquisite reverse shot from a close angle to round out an impressive win for UCLan, albeit against poor opposition.

 By Edward Connolly

Men’s tennis 1^sts conquered Manchester 3rds in the first round of the cup, as the reigning winners looked to retain the trophy.

In the first doubles tie Mike Austin and James West paired up to produce their best performance of the season as their dominance at the net won the tie for the visitors.

The second doubles tie was less than straight forward for Andy Jones and Jake Grinsill. The UCLan pair took the first set in relatively easy fashion. They we’re forced into a deciding match tie-break for the second, but came out on top clinching the set 12-10.

In the singles, Austin continued his impressive 100% record as he swept his opponent aside with relative ease 6-4, 6-3.

At number two West played out a lengthy match against his Manchester counterpart. West took the first set comfortably but then conceded the second set. The match then went to a match tie-break which West won 10-6 to give UCLan an 8-0 lead.

Grinsill’s opponent then suffered a severe slump in form in the singles as Grinsill increased UCLan’s lead with a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

Jones played out the final match against a tough opponent with the match going to a tie-break. Jones fell behind early on and never fully recovered losing out 11-9 for Manchester to take two consolation points.

Austin’s team will be hoping to maintain their good performance when they face the same Manchester team away in the league.

By Jake Grinsill

A brace of goals from UCLan striker Joe Shelmedrine proved futile as Football Men’s 1st’s lost their fourth game in the league, against the University of Manchester 5-2.

It was top versus bottom going into the game, played at UCLan Sports Arena, and it was the visitors who ultimately took their chances in a highly tense game.

Manchester were most dangerous when their left winger was involved in the play, and after a narrow miss early on, ghosted in after losing his marker and duly slid the ball into the back of the net.

For definitive periods of time during the game, Manchester controlled the midfield, led by their captain who dictated the play in the middle. In turn he constantly utilised their #9 up-front, who possessed height and strength in abundance to prove a real problem for UCLan’s defence.

Two goals in two minutes from their striker dented the home side’s hopes of getting back into the game. The first came after a low cross from the right wing, which was flicked past UCLan goal-keeper Matt Bell.

The second came from UCLan’s lack of concentration from the ensuing kick-off, as the Manchester striker raced down the right wing.  Although his initial shot was well saved by Bell, the rebound fell to his feet for the second and decisive shot into the top corner.

UCLan valiantly came back from this however, with two goals themselves in as many minutes just before half-time. Shelmedrine managed to gain space after turning the defender in the box, and finished well with a low shot.

His and UCLan’s second was incredibly well-taken after a mix-up in Manchester’s defence left the ball being headed back to their keeper. Shelmedrine latched onto the end of it and effortlessly lobbed the oncoming keeper.

As tensions started to rise in the game, with both teams guilty of ill-timed tackles and bookings, it was Manchester who scored the next vital goal with their #10 scoring at the near post from a low cross.

The game was all over when the visitors got their fifth, after Paul Alexander brought down Manchester’s captain in the penalty area, allowing their striker to complete his hat-trick by duly dispatching the penalty.

“The score line didn’t represent our performance, and I’m gutted for the lads”, said Captain Luke Smith.

On losing so many games already, Smith stated: “When we stop creating chances, then we’ll worry.”

UCLan’s next game is away at Lancaster, as their aim to win their first game of the season continues.

By Ed Connolly

Two goals in the last ten minutes saw the Men’s 4ths throw away a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 against Manchester Met 2nds

In a game marred by high winds at UCLan Sports Arena, Jamel John’s goal had looked to have secured all three points for the hosts, but a slick move and shot into the bottom corner gave the visitors hope a minute later.

A mix up between UCLan keeper Chris Anderson and his defender left the Manchester forward with the simple task of slotting into the empty net to secure an unlikely point.

As the hosts frustration grew, they were reduced to ten men in the last minute for kicking out.

Earlier, the visitors had taken the lead as a free header from the middle of the box slipped through Anderson’s fingers.

Goals either side of half time from Richie Sandham and Kyle Burton had put UCLan ahead before the late drama.

The game was always going to be a difficult affair with a swirling wind. Despite playing into the wind UCLan started the stronger, causing problems with several long throws.

Anderson was at full stretch to turn a shot around the post, as the visitors began to take advantage of the conditions, but the UCLan keeper was at fault for the opener minutes later.

The Manchester player was left in acres of space in the middle of the box, and although his header from a right wing cross lacked power, Anderson couldn’t hold on as it trickled into the net.

Despite the setback, UCLan continued to press, captain Mark Vincent coming close twice in quick succession.

His powerful long rang effort just went over the bar, before a header from a corner was cleared off the line.

The deserved equaliser came on the stroke of half time. Burton, who gave the visitors left back a torrid time all afternoon, went driving into the box before cutting back to Sandham to tap in.

After the break, with UCLan now having the wind at their backs, Anderson was caught out again within seconds. Rushing out to claim a ball which held up, allowed Manchesters striker to get there first and round the keeper, only for Mike Arnison to make a diving block to stop the goal-bound shot.

The home side took the lead two minutes later, a long ball over the top sent Burton clear. The defenders all stopped for offside, but Burton played to the whistle which never came and slotted in the bottom corner.

Manchester had the ball in the UCLan goal again, only for the effort to be ruled offside, much to the disgust of the striker who was subsequently booked for dissent.

When John slid in a third goal, reacting quickest after Sandham’s free-kick was parried by the keeper, a third successive victory looked to have been secured.

However, the defiant visitors never gave up and fought back to secure a point.

By Ciaran Thomas

Two goals in three second half minutes handed Football 3^rds a 3-2 win over Manchester 3^rds at UCLan Sports Arena and allowed them to leapfrog their opponents in the table.

The early exchanges were even, but it was Manchester who had the first real chance of the game. A corner swung in from the left found the head of the visiting skipper, but he couldn’t keep his header down.

Manchester continued to press and on 14 minutes had a strong penalty claim turned down by the referee. Strong tackles were becoming a factor in the game and Matthew Bradbury was soon booked for UCLan after what seemed like a strong but fair tackle.

On 20 minutes, the visitors did take the lead. The ball bounced around inside the area and, as UCLan struggled to clear their lines, the Manchester centre forward nipped in to smash past the home goalkeeper.

Slightly against the run of play though on the half hour mark, UCLan found their equaliser. Matty Collum raced through on goal and was seemingly brought down in the area, but the referee disagreed and waved played on. Collum capitalised from the resulting throw-in to leap high above the defender and flick a header into the far corner of the net.

However, UCLan were on terms for just two minutes as Manchester scored a well-worked goal to retake the lead. A good ball out wide found the visiting left winger who put in a beautiful cross that found the unmarked centre forward to turn it home.

The final chance of the first half came when UCLan skipper Declan O’Shea’s through ball found Daniel Morgan but he could only blaze over from inside the area.

Manchester had a glorious chance to extend their lead just a minute into the second half but the striker couldn’t turn the ball home on the stretch from six yards.

The game then became scrappy as both teams fought for possession and Rick Young was booked on 53 minutes for UCLan after a late tackle.

The home side found their second equaliser on 68 minutes after a moment of madness from a Manchester defender. A throw in came in from UCLan and the visiting defender kicked out at his man, giving the referee no choice but to award the spot-kick. Morgan converted the penalty high into roof of the net to make it 2-2.

The home side’s winner followed just two minutes later. A long punt from the UCLan keeper was flicked on into the path of Ben Polak who slammed a shot off the far post and into the net.

UCLan managed to hold on for the remaining 20 minutes with the only scare coming in stoppage time, when Manchester blazed over from 6 yards after a corner had been flicked on.

Afterwards captain Declan O’Shea said: “It is a great result! I thought we sat too deep in the first half, but second half we pushed up and it worked for us.

“I’m pleased with all the lads today; they worked hard and got their rewards. Hopefully we can take this result into our game against Bangor next week.”

By Ashley Lambell

The Men’s Badminton 1sts advanced to the second round of the BUCS Northern Conference cup after thrashing the University of Cumbria 1sts 8 – 0 at Foster Sports Centre on Wednesday.

UCLan never really looked in any trouble against a side who were ranked three leagues below the home side. However, in the previous week this same Cumbria side had beaten UCLan 2^nds 5 – 3 so the 1sts knew that revenge would be sweet.

Singles players Graham Hollingsworth and James Pickard had given the home side early confidence winning both their matches in straight games.

Pickard was playing for the first time this season and he looked like he had never been away, winning 21 – 15, 21 – 12 in his first match and bettering that result prevailing 21 – 12, 21 – 9 in his second. Hollingsworth was his normal, dominant self winning to 17 and 16 in his first and to 13 and 9 in his final match.

The doubles encounters were of a similar outcome. Adam Spence and Mike Hubbard beat the Cumbria second pairing 21 – 10, 21 – 12, whilst UCLan’s other pairing of Adam Rowan and Jamie Allen won 21 – 11, 21 – 12.

As the matches were reversed, both the UCLan pairings convincingly won in straight games. Spence and Hubbard won 21 – 14 in their first game and then gave the Cumbria pair a hammering in the second winning 21 – 5. Rowan and Allen’s second match was slightly tougher, but proved only a minor scare as the UCLan pair won 21 – 16, 21 – 14.

UCLan had not dropped a single game throughout the match and after being on the wrong end of an 8 – 0 white wash last week, they had returned the favour this time out. The result meant UCLan men’s 1sts progressed to round two of the cup- where they will meet the University of Manchester 2nds.

After the match, veteran of the team, Graham Hollingsworth was impressed with the teams’ performance:

“We were literally on fire!” he said.

On a more down to earth note, Captain Adam Spence was pleased with the win:

“It’s good to be back on winning ways after a bad result last week”

UCLan 1sts now turn their attention back to the league, as they travel to Manchester on Wednesday to take on one of the strongest sides in the league Manchester University 1sts.

By Jamie Allen

It was last second heartbreak for UCLan’s Mens Basketball 1sts as they lost out 72-70 in a tight encounter with Manchester 1sts.

However, it could have been so different as, with the last shot of the match, Chris Smith missed a three pointer that would have given UCLan the win in their first game in Divison 1A, after last season’s title win.

“We did a decent job, but are just a little bit disappointed to lose at the end,” Coach Craig Wright said afterwards.

“Offensively we weren’t quite in sync, there were a couple of times we got good looks, which is what we want.

“But other times it sort of went away from that.”

UCLan were the brighter team from the start, three early turnovers gifting Smith and Matthew Brown easy points as the hosts raced into a 18-5 lead in the first quarter.

They could not build on the good start as 10 unanswered points from Manchester saw them close the gap, and the visitors took a 22-20 lead with the final points of the first quarter.

There was controversy four minutes into the second quarter, as Manchester had not recorded one of their players on the official team sheet handed in before the game.

After a lengthy delay in proceeding and discussions between both benches, officials and scorers it was ruled the visiting player would not be able to take part.

UCLan were awarded four penalty shots, but with concentration broken only scored one.

Despite being a player down from their squad, both teams traded points throughout the quarter, with the same two point margin separating the teams at the break, the score at 43-41 to Manchester.

After the half time break, chants of ‘defence’ were coming from both benches as both teams struggled to add to their points total, the score locked on 49-43 to the visitors for around five minutes.

A flurry of points towards the end of the third period saw Harry Beenham hit a three pointer seconds after Manchester had recorded one of their own, but it couldn’t prevent the visitors stretching their lead to 56-52.

A good start to the final quarter was required and UCLan got just that, pulling the scores back to 58-58 in the opening exchanges.

With the pressure building, frequent time-outs broke up the rhythm of the match, allowing Manchester to pull out a five point lead, as UCLan missed a couple of costly penalty chances.

The home side wouldn’t give up however and kept narrowing the deficit all the way until the end, where with two points separating the team Smith had a shot from wide for three points. But it hit the rim and bounced agonisingly away with just seconds remaining on the clock.

It proved to be the last chance as the visitors held on to an important victory.

By Ciaran Thomas

Badminton men’s 1sts got off to a perfect start after a 5-3 win over a travelling Manchester University 2nd team in the opening game of the new season.

With the Badminton team featuring a fairly new set of players this year, due to many of lasts year’s competitors moving on, this made victory even more impressive.

Graham Hollingsworth and debutant Martin Hepworth gave UCLan a steady start, both winning a singles match each, with Hepworth managing to come from a game down to win in three in his final match. Manchester’s number one singles player however was impressive, winning both his matches to level the tie up at 2-2.

Doubles partnership Jamie Allen and Adam Rowan won both of their encounters, scraping through 21–19 in the final game of their last match, with the wins helping put UCLan in the driving seat.

Captain Adam Spence, playing alongside newcomer Eddy Lu Xuan Ya, were involved in two hard fought doubles matches. The first match went the way of Manchester but the UCLan pairing, who had only played together once prior to the game, battled through their last match winning 21–19 in the final game.

These last round of matches won by the UCLan team proved pivotal in the winning 5 – 3 result.

After the match, a tired Spence said: “It was a tough opening game to the season, but we pulled through in the end.”

Spence is now left with a selection headache ahead of the next match, after two good performances from the debutants.  Singles player James Pickard, who earlier withdrew from the team due to illness, is set to return for next week’s match but it will be a tall order to replace a winning team.

Spence stated: “It’s a good start to the season for us especially after back to back losses at the end of last season.”

UCLan Men’s Badminton 1sts will be hoping they can continue their good work when they take the tough trip to Banger on Wednesday.

By Jamie Allen

UCLan 2-2 Manchester

A last minute Steve McCall header gave UCLan Men’s 3rds a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw against Manchester University.

With the away side dominating possession it didn’t take long for the opening goal to arrive, with Manchester taking advantage of the huge gap at the back to comfortably go ahead.

UCLan were made to chase the game with Manchester creating a number of chances.

However they were made to pay for those missed chances when the home side equalised with their first shot of the game right on the stroke of half time.

Striker Ben Roberts picked the ball up in the box before deceiving the goalkeeper with a delicate chip.

The start of the second half continued with Manchester’s dominance in the midfield, but quickly turned into a scrappy affair.

When Manchester pounced to take the lead for the second time, it seemed likely it would secure all three points.

However an error of judgement by Manchester’s keeper in the dying minutes allowed McCall a free header.

He powerfully headed into the back of the net, producing an exciting end to an otherwise poor match.

UCLan Captain Lee McGivern was delighted with his side’s effort with the final result feeling more like a win having twice gone behind.

“We got stuck in and got our rewards. Now we can go and look forward to the last game of the season,” said the winger.

By Dan Birch

UCLan 7-0 Manchester

An emphatic display by UCLan Men’s Hockey 1sts ensured a comfortable 7-0 win over Manchester 3rds.

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