HOLMES Chapel first team got into the groove last Saturday, looking much more like the team that nearly got promoted from this division last year against a team that had beaten them twice last year.

Holmes Chapel cruised to a deserved victory which sets them up nicely for the remainder of the season.

Taking inspiration from the ever-youthful Edwards, who took up a more forward position, Holmes Chapel looked like a team that is going places.

The first half was an evenly contested affair, which was superbly umpired, ending at 0-0.

During this half, Holmes Chapel carefully marked the experienced Neston players, with John Buddle looking as solid and stiff in the tackle as ever.

The growing band of Holmes Chapel supporters urged their team to make their dominance pay in the second half.

It was not long before their requests were heeded as Robson set up Buddle to fire in a centre which Edwards flicked over the advancing goalkeeper.

The 1-0 lead seemed to settle Holmes Chapel as they played some of their most silky hockey of the season, leaving the normally critical coach Marshall, purring with delight.

Given the lead, returning vice-captain Baker, started to pull the strings in mid-field.

His pass to Edwards allowed him to fire in a cross, which the ever-alert Taylor deflected past a helpless Neston goalkeeper.

Debutant Ross Bailey, recently promoted from the second team, consistently posed questions to the Neston defence, and it was his quick running which allowed the space in which Taylor set up Oliver for Holmes Chapel's third and final goal.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.