BURY Hockey Club captain Karen Nicholls believes a national scheme to tempt women back into the game has helped push the ladies seconds to the brink of promotion.

Nicholls’ side moved top of Division Three of the Greater Manchester Women’s Hockey Association with a 2-1 at home to Stockport Bramhall 3s on Saturday.

The skipper proved to be the match winner, smashing in a last-minute short corner to claim all three points.

Lisa Davies' opener, her fifth goal of the season, had been cancelled out after Stockport grabbed a fortuitous equaliser when a deflected shot looped over the home side's stranded keeper.

But up stepped Nicholls at the death to help Bury leapfrog leaders the University of Salford into top spot.

The women's second team have now won seven and lost just one of their opening nine matches.

And Nicholls said their fine form owes much to the Back to Hockey scheme.

“We have had a lot of new players come to the squad after taking part in the Back to Hockey sessions,” said the skipper.

“The club got involved as part of their backing for the I Will If You Will campaign in Bury.

“The sessions are run in conjunction with England Hockey and are designed to ease women back into the sport who maybe haven’t played since school, or as an introduction to hockey for women who have never played.

“We have had women who have not played for maybe 15 years who have enjoyed the sessions so much they have gone on to play in our side.

“So the size and the quality of the squad has really improved and we have seen that in our results.”

Nicholls has also been impressed with the impact new coach Sam Sheik, who plays for the men’s first team, has had on the side.

“I think the ladies seconds and the men’s first team have both recruited new coaches this year and it is probably no coincidence we are both enjoying really good campaigns,” she said.

“Sam has helped to give the team more of a game focus.

“He has watched our games whenever possible and picked out things we can work on in training and the tweaks he has made have really had an impact in matches.”

Nicholls also picked out a few key players who have helped give the team an extra edge.

“Rachel Bailey has been a star in our midfield, while Lorna Wroe has weighed in with the goals as our top scorer and Faye Strong has been very solid in defence.

“The side is very strong overall though and if we continue playing the way we have in the first half of the season then I am sure we will finish in the top two and earn promotion.

“But we want the title and I think our game against University of Salford next month will be key to that.

“We inflicted their only defeat of the season, so we know we can beat them, but they thrashed us in the cup the following week so that will be a massive test for us.”