WINNINGTON Park 2nds finally collected their first points of the season on Saturday when Tom Groves, who came on as a substitute with only three minutes to go, still had time to score the winner against Ulverston.

He replaced Rock Jagielka up front and fully justified taking a weekend break from college by smashing a deflection into the side of the net from Jeff Dodd's shot.

Also inspirational in Park's win was another returning player, Andy Cartin, who was back in the side after injury.

Despite a bright start from Winnington, neither side dominated the first half and both wasted chances from penalty corners and open play.

Ulverston were frustrated by John-Paul Dodd, who denied their forwards on a number of occasions.

Although Dominic Shrub went to the sin bin for repeatedly offending, it was the gritty midfield determination of Jeff Dodd which drove Park on to victory.

With both sides sensing that one goal would be enough, the introduction of Groves could hardly have been better timed as he entered the fray to score the dramatic late winner.

Winnington Park 1sts were washed out at Timperley, and on a wet weekend, the 2nds were fortunate that they had the perfect plastic pitch at Sir John Deane' s College to play on.

The 3rds lost 2-1 at Bolton (S Cowill); the 4ths beat Holmes Chapel 6-1 (R Whittle 3, D Fulwell 2, J Sharp).

OVER 100 players and parents are set to flock to Winnington Park Hockey Club for a junior tournament on Sunday.

It is being held as part of the club's £3,750 Millennium Festival Awards For All grant, at Middlewich Sports Centre, starting at 10am.

There are two age groups competing, under-11s and under-13s, and teams include Winnington Ladies, Holmes Chapel, Deeside Ramblers, Chester and Brooklands.

Indoor facilities will be provided for the players and parents between the matches, which will be seven-a-side.

For further information contact Tom McLean on 01606 889037 or 01978 663241.

WINNINGTON Park Ladies fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Sheffield on Saturday.

Park played well in atrocious conditions, but they failed to match the Yorkshire team's incisive movement in attack.

Sheffield opened the scoring in the first half, but excellent forward play from Thwaites and Miller almost brought an equalizer before driving hail forced a stoppage which affected the home team's concentration.

However, a half-time talk from injured captain Rosie Field galvanised Park and they had a 10-minute spell of domination early in the second period.

Defender Cath Edmondstone made some useful forays into the attack and Winnington got their reward when Karen Thwaites scored after a free hit just outside the D.

However, Sheffield exploited Park's failure to keep possession in midfield and their winning goal came after a well worked series of passes from the Sheffield forwards.

WINNINGTON 2nds' game against Warrington was called off due to a flooded astroturf pitch at Lymm High School.

The 3rds also had a bad weekend, losing 2-0 to Warrington 2nds. Both Warrington goals were scrappy affairs and Park had most of the possession.

Several near misses came from Lisa Edwards and Sam Lewis and Kate Leonard produced some fluent attacks on the left. Player of the match was Anne Smeaton.

THIS weekend, Winnington 1sts have a league game against Ben Rhydding on Saturday, followed by a Hockey Association Trophy tie at Surbiton.