WILMSLOW Hockey Club men took over top spot thanks to a last-gasp victory over Crewe Vagrants at Oakwood Farm.

Steve Edmonds sparked scenes of wild celebrations by scoring the winning goal 20 seconds from time.

Edmonds found the net on the back of great work at the other end of the field.

A Crewe penalty corner was expertly defended by Pete Hallinan and Wilmslow won a free hit.

From the resulting attack, James Warburton was able to pick the pocket of the Crewe defender after they had won the ball back and played Edmonds in for a one-on-one with the Crewe keeper.

Vagrants’ main threat was from swift counter-attacking hockey, using their fast forwards and long-ball tactics.

They also managed to apply some sustained pressure early on and a mistake by Wilmslow gifted Crewe the early lead.

It was the wake-up call they needed.

Wilmslow’s play became dominant and although a number of clear-cut chances were missed Bastiaan Steffens stepped up to flick a penalty corner high into the corner of the net for 1-1.

Another sloppy error in midfield led to another breakaway goal for the visitors though before half time.

There was an increased dynamism surrounding Wilmslow’s game in the second half and Bastiaan was able to flick another past the Crewe keeper and set the scene for the match-winning act late on.

The men’s seconds drew 5-5 with Bowdon in a see-saw encounter.

Wilmslow opened the scoring when Rick Pheiffer converted a short corner, but it proved a short-lived advantage as Bowdon quickly hit back.

Wilmslow continued to take the game to the home side and gained due reward when James Bell then bundled his way through the defence before slotting home.

Pheiffer then doubled the advantage with a well-taken deflection.

After the break Bowdon increased the ante, a quick-fire double levelled matters as Wilmslow struggled to maintain their discipline.

Prolific Pheiffer brought up his hat-trick with a 15-yard pile driver before Wilmslow were again pegged back.

It took a last-gasp goal from Bell, after some excellent work by Jack Wright, for the points to be shared.

The men’s third team defeated Alderley Edge’s sixths 7-1 in a top-of-the-table clash.

Wilmslow keeper Matt Brickhill made a string of superb saves to keep the scores level before his side gained control of the game.

Goals were scored by Welsh, three, Young, two, and Roberts, two.

The men’s fourths overcame Alderley Edge’s sevenths 2-1 win.

The women’s first team beat Sale 1-0, the seconds disposed of Buckley 3-0 with Rachel Payne scoring a hat-trick.

Wilmslow’s third team 2-2 against Timperley, while the fourths lost 2-0 to Sandbach’s first team.

The women’s over 35 team beat Cronkbourne from the Isle of Man 3-1 in the England Hockey Vets Cup.