The men's second team have got off to a mixed start in Division 4 North of the North West Hockey League, the division to which they gained promotion last season.

Firstly, starting off with the 4-2 away win against Warrington 1st team on Saturday 22nd September...

With about the strongest available squad for the opening week, the Greens took a while to get their one-man advantage to show, despite Warrington being undermanned for the whole game with only 10 players. The opposition were not helped by a couple of cards in the second half which temporarily sent them down to 8 men and allowed Urmston to take full advantage of the better class they'd shown for most of the match.

Goals came from Monk brothers Owen and Lewis, as well as forwards Stu Higginbottom and Rob Skelley. Aaron Kelly deservedly took a pretty unanimous Man of the Match, having shown great tackling and pressure on Warrington's key man at centre forward.

The second match saw a 5-2 loss away to Formby 2nd team, with goals from Rob Skelley and Captain Ric Clarke.

The Greens were up against the toughest opposition they've faced in recent years; a fit, well drilled, young squad. At 4-2 down in the second half, Urmston had their best spell and could sense a comeback, looking the more likely team to score for a 15 minute period. But it was not to be; Formby's class and fitness showed, as did Urmston's recent loss of a couple of key rotations in the defence. The three in the back line battled hard alongside Man of the Match keeper Chris Bates, who will all feel hard done by to have conceded five. The team showed great class in keeping up their composure and work rate against a tough-tackling side, but were ultimately outclassed.

After only two weekends, the majority of teams are on 3 points, with only Didsbury 4s registering more than one win, topping the table with all 6 available points.

The 2s look forward to their first home match on Saturday 6th October at Wellacre, against their rivals from last season, Horwich 1st team. Last season saw the Greens as the only team to beat their fellow promotion chasers, also securing an away draw in a typically fiesty match.

Push back time 13:15 @ Wellacre Academy.