ALDERLEY Edge Hockey Club’s women’s first team took another step towards retaining the Investec Trophy by advancing to the semi finals.

They had to keep their nerve to see off City of Peterborough in Sunday’s last-eight tie, winning a nail-biting penalty shoot-out after the game ended in a 3-3 draw.

The visitors had looked the stronger team for long periods, but goalkeeper Nat Stevens was the hero in the shoout-out.

Edge have home advantage again in Sunday’s semi final as they take on Lancaster for a place in the final.

Before their cup heroics, Edge beat Lymm’s firsts 3-1 to keep their hopes of promotion to the Investec Conference North.

Although secure in second place in the North Division One behind Leeds University’s firsts with one game remaining, a confusing chain of events has them waiting to see whether Belper get relegated to allow them to take their place in the division above.

Elsewhere, the women’s seconds were in fine form with a 12-0 demolition of Bowdon’s fourths.

Jude Offer scored four times, while Nicola Hall added a hat-trick in a fine performance from Edge.

The thirds were beaten 4-0 at Macclesfield's firsts and the fourth team were edged out 2-1 by Lymm's thirds, but the fifths were 3-2 victors over Lymm's fourths 3-2 thanks to goals from Emily Stapely, Flossie Blackwell and Hannah Lee.

The men’s firsts recorded a 6-3 win on the road at Ben Rhydding to secure third place in the North Premier League, their highest ever league finish.

Ben Gregory scored a hat-trick and further goals from Simon Parr, James Warburton and Angus McCormick means Edge still have an outside chance of finishing second.

Sadly, however, the men’s seconds sit bottom of the North Division One and face relegation after losing 3-2 at Lancaster.