Alderley2 vs Neston4

Match Report by BEN HOLROYD

Jason Longs fab 4s made the trip to Alderley this week to play their 2nd team.

In the warm up, gossip was that their second man's an actual Argentinian ex-pro. Nothing better to settle your nerves. Great.

Then our 4th man goes down injured before a ball's been hit, so we're staring down a 12pt deficit before the match has even started. Looking like it was going to be one of those nights.

The wind was swirling, rain threatening — this was going to be a tricky one.

Anyone who's played Alderley knows the courts are stupidly tight, so it was always going to come down to serve and volley and getting the ball out wide.

Myself and Craig took on the top pair, already behind schedule with all but a 2min warm up. The first few games were cat and mouse as we tried to settle in and figure each other out. The 'pro' was having a wobble, and we exploited it to perfection when we broke at the crucial 7th game. Craig dominant at the net, me using the new serve to keep them pinned wide into the side benches / fences over and over. The pro spent more time on the floor than on his feet. First set to us 6-3, second set was textbook — we smashed through it 6-1.

Shirley and Molly never looked fazed, despite a close first set 6-4 the second was more routine finishing 6-3. Molly put on a serve and return masterclass, had the oppo glued to the baseline and trams the whole way through, while Shirley casually mopped up at the net. Solid.

Sue and Lucia on the bottom courts took the first set 6-2 comfortably, then Alderley's bottom pair found some fight and clawed back in the second. The ladies held their nerve, Sue's experience seeing them through an edgy tiebreak to take it in two.

Craig and Shirley paired up on top court and never looked bothered, 6-2 6-3, job done.

Molly and myself paired up for the first time and clicked straight away. Molly running things from the baseline, my serve and volley too much for them to handle. 6-1 6-1.

So after the early panic and the kerfuffle with the injury, the 5s regrouped and played some serious tennis. 36 points on the board, another step toward the play-offs.

As we left victorious, the Alderley lot were in deep discussion with their 'pro,' questioning his credentials. Maybe he just had a bad day. We've all been there.