DATE

REPORT

20 March

Ladies 2nds vs Brooklands – Lost 0 - 3

Chester finished their league season ending in mid table of Cheshire Div 1. The last match against Acton was played in gale conditions, which nearly led to the match being abandoned as the goals were being blown away. In the first half Chester had the majority of possession, but were not able to capitalise on this. In the second half Chester again kept possession well, but the luck of the umpiring decisions fell against them. Chester lost 3-0.

13 March

Ladies 2nds vs Buckley – Won 2 - 0

Chester started the match with confidence and immediately put pressure on the Buckley defence. Laura Wilson fired in some excellent crosses from the right, which were narrowly missed by the forwards. The pressure continued through the first half, but it was beginning to look like Chester were never going to get the ball in the back of the net, numerous chance fell to Amie Devlin and Sarah Richards who just weren’t able to get the right connection. The second half  Buckley started well, but Chester soon found their goal scoring skills in this half. Amie took a lovely deflection from a short corner routine to get Chester’s first goal. The second came from a superb run by Tracy Hunt who took a cracking shot from the edge of the D that Philippa Brooking just got a touch on to claim the goal.

6 March

Ladies 2nds vs Oxton – Lost 1 - 4

Chester put on a good performance against league leaders Oxton, with the scoreline somewhat flattering the Oxton team. Chester’s goal came from a short corner stuck by Laura Wilson with Amie Devlin getting the final touch to deflect the ball into the net.

28 February

Ladies 2nds vs Timperley 2nds – Won 2 - 1

In an evenly matched game Chester started well. Keeper Sharon Durrow, who got man of the match, saved a penalty flick in the first few minutes of the game. This gave Chester confidence to strive forward and Amie Devlin sent a scorcher into the backboard giving Chester the lead. Shortly before half time Laura Wilson managed to get on the end of a lovely cross by Jill Parkinson to give Chester their second goal. Chester lost a bit of composure in the second half forcing keeper, Sharon to make a number of superb saves and unfortunately Timperley pulled one back.

14 February

Ladies 2nds vs Warrington – Won 2 - 1

Chester did not put on a very pretty performance against Warrington. At half time the score was 1-1, in a match that Chester should have been easily winning. Amy Devlin had scored the first goal from a short corner strike. The second half did not see much of an improvement, fortunately captain Donna Jones put away a second short corner strike to give Chester the win.

7 February

Ladies 2nds vs Brooklands – Won 1 - 0

Chester were determined to get some points from this match against Brooklands. The match was evenly matched with both teams playing a similar style of hockey, but Chester just had the edge on the possession. Shortly after half time Chester were awarded a short corner, that was soundly struck by captain Donna Jones and was sweetly deflected past the goalie by Lisa. With about 15 minutes to go the heavens opened to a downfall of hail. Play continued in appalling conditions with neither team able to see much of the ball. The final score remained at 1-0 to Chester

31 January

Ladies 2nds vs Poynton – Won 5 - 1

In the driving rain at Manchester, Chester were soon showing their strength with captain Donna Jones sweeping the ball into the net with her reverse stick in the first 10 minutes. Shortly after, Amy Devlin secured a rebound from a short corner to give Chester their second goal. Some lovely individual skill from the half way line led to Philippa Brooking walking through the Poynton defence to put away Chester’s 3^rd goal, followed by a fourth from Philippa just before half time. In the second half Chester relaxed a bit too much and allowed Poynton to put one away from short corner, however Amy Devlin responded to score her second soon after with a nudge of the ball over the goal line – they all count. Chester finished with a well deserved 5-1 victory.

24 January

Ladies 2nds vs –  Buckley – Lost 2 - 3

Chester were the stronger team from the start and played a good passing game. Buckley scored first with a questionable goal, which Chester responded to with a well-rehearsed short corner leading to Mel Coulson slotting the ball in the net. Laura Wilson scored her first goal for the second team with a lovely strike from a short corner. After the break Chester continued to dominate the game, but were unable to convert any of the numerous chances that followed. A frustrating game for Chester, that they didn’t deserve to loose.

10 January

Ladies 2nds vs – Poynton (Cheshire Cup – semi final) – Lost 1 - 3

Chester gave Poynton, who play in the division above them, a run for their money in this Cheshire Cup Semi Final. Chester looked the dominant side in the first half and had a couple of chances that they couldn’t convert into goals. 5 minutes into the second half Poynton scored a goal, only for Chester to respond within 1 minute with a cannon ball shot into the back of the net by Frances Waters. The score remained at 1-1 until five minutes to go when Poynton managed to net 2 goals. Man of the match was Rachel Edge.

13 December

Ladies 2nds vs Winnington Park – Cheshire Cup - Won 7 - 1

Chester found their form once again in their Cheshire cup quarter final against Winnington. Chester dominated from the whistle and within 10 minutes Dawn Nancollas had converted 2 penalty corners with accurate strikes. A third goal was converted by Philippa Brooking from a short corner rebound and new player, Lisa, deflected a lovely goal into the top corner of the net to make it 4-0 by half time. After the break Frances Waters converted another rebound from a short corner and Philippa Brooking got her hatrict with 2 more goals from open play.  Winnington got one back before the final whistle to give a final score of 7-1 and Chester through to the semi-finals. Philippa was awarded man of the match.

6 December

Ladies 2nds vs Macclesfield – Lost 1 - 2

Chester started with a positive mental attitude thanks to their warm up by Jane Bills and were rewarded early on with a short corner strike from Sarah Richards being deflected into the goal by Philippa Brooking. Unavailability in the team meant that key forward Dawn Nancollas was playing at the back, consequently the team lacked it’s usual structure which took its toll on the game. Macclesfield levelled the score before half time, then scored once more 15 minutes from the end. Chester were unable to respond and the scoreline remained at 1-2.

29 November

Ladies 2nds vs Brooklands – Lost 1 - 3

Chester started strong with a goal fired in from captain Donna Jones. However, this was short lived as Chester lost their formation and Acton replied with an equaliser within 10 minutes. After half time Chester were still not able to find their usual game. Opportunities were there for Chester, but they were unable to convert these into goals, resulting in a disappointing final score of 1–3.

15 November

Ladies 2nds vs Oxton – Lost 1 - 4

The game against the top of the table side was always going to be a tough one. The loss of key defender Fiona Tamblyn-Jones to the 1st XI and Amy Devlin resting an injury sustained the previous week, made the game even tougher. In the 1st half the rearranged Chester side’s performance was a far cry from the display a week earlier, and they went in at half time 3-0 down. After a stern team talk, the 2nd half performance was a vast improvement. Dawn Nancollas sneaked a goal with 10 minutes to go. Chester battled hard for the remainder of the game, until Oxton broke away late on to add a 4th and end Chester’s hopes.

8 November

Ladies 2nds vs Timperley - Won 3 - 2

The fast pitch at Timperley set the pace of the match. Chester used this to their advantage letting the ball do the work and within 10 minutes Mel Coulson converted a well-rehearsed short corner. Unfortunately Timperley responded 2 minutes later, but Chester were not to be outdone and skipper Donna Jones struck an excellent shot from the edge of the D within another two minutes. Amy Devlin was unfortunately injured by a high ball to the knee just before half time and took no further part in the match. Chester now without any subs had another two minor injuries, but the players played on. Timperley took advantage after half time and equalised before Chester settled back into the game with some excellent individual skill from Philippa Brooking who passed to Dawn Nancollas to sweetly put away the winning goal. Dawn Nancollas got man of the match.

1 November

Ladies 2nds vs Brooklands – Lost 0 - 1

The match with Brooklands started at a fast and furious pace, which continued for most of the game. Chester had more possession in the opposition D, but failed to convert any of their chances, Philippa Brooking narrowly missing a strike from a short corner. Five minutes from the end of Brooklands converted from their only short corner, unfortunately Chester were unable respond and the match finished 0-1.

18 October

Ladies 2nds vs Whitchurch – Lost 0 - 1

Due to the half term break Chester played a friendly match against Whitchurch, consequently the enthusiasm was somewhat lacking. Despite this Chester put on a good performance working the ball well and dominating the play. But it was destined to be one of those games for Chester who hit the post twice and numerous well structured attacks failed to result in a goal. The second half saw some interesting tackles from the Whitchurch defence in their D, despite this Chester battled on. Whitchurch then popped one in from nowhere towards the end of the game resulting in the final score of 0-1.

11 October

Ladies 2nds vs Poynton – Won 8 - 1

Chester were the stronger team straight from the whistle in their match against Poynton. Within 10 minutes 2 short corners had been converted by Tracy Hunt and Philippa Brooking. Chester held their formation well, utilising the whole pitch in a good passing game. Youngsters Amy Devlin and Sarah Richards worked well together up front and used their speed to put away 2 goals a piece from open play.  Jane Bills and Tracy Hunt claimed 2 further goals from rebounds on short corners. One consolation goal from Poynton left the final score at 8-1. Sarah Richards was player of the match.

4 October

Ladies 2nds vs Macclesfield – Draw 3 - 3

Chester started slowly allowing last year’s rivals, Macclesfield, to put away two goals before  picking up the pace. Chester had a string of short corners which they failed to convert until Fiona Tamblyn-Jones finally converted one with a strike from the top of the D. The second half proved to be entertaining with plenty of end to end hockey. A third goal for Macclesfield early on didn’t faulter the determination of the Chester team. Same Queck took on a number of Macclesfield players and crossed a superb ball into the path of Dawn Nancollas who slotted the ball into the net. 5 minutes before the final whistle Dawn again found the net from an acute angle to level the final score at 3-3.    

27 September

Ladies 2nds vs Hope – Won 7 - 0

Chester dominated the match against Hope, playing a well structured game which resulted in being 4-0 up by half time with goals from Philippa Brooking, Dawn Nancollas, Sarah Richards and Frances Waters. The second half continued to provide some good teamwork and further goals from Mel Coulson and two from Amy Devlin secured the 7-0 victory.