DATE

REPORT

20 March

Mens 3rds vs Oxton 4ths  – Draw 2 - 2

Chester played there last game of the season against promotion chasers Oxton and finished with a credible draw in gale force winds. Chester's goals were scored by midfielders Mark Harnden and Tom Selby, Harnden's strike being the pick of the two smashed into the top corner.

6 March

Mens 3rds vs Crewe Vagrants 3rds – Lost 3 - 4

Chester 3rds will for a second consecutive season narrowly miss out on promotion after losing a tough game at promotion rivals Crewe. Chester's goals came from on form midfielder Mark Harnden, who scored an excellent hat-trick which was his second in two weeks.

14 February

Mens 3rds vs Warrington 3rds – Won 3 - 2

The say, ‘all is fair in love and war’ but this was no romantic affair. Chester soon gave the ball to Warrington who took advantage of poor marking to take the lead. This refocused the Chester side who, battled and were unlucky to go in still behind. Chester started the second half more true to form with Ralf Swift manfully driving home the equaliser. Then Alan Watt scored a fantastic goal that was just reward for his attacking prowess taking Chester into the lead. Despite the Chester pressure Warrington would not capitulate and with tempers frayed Warrington were awarded a veritable cavalcade of corners from which they were eventually to equalise. Chester however showed their mental toughness with Mark Harnden scoring an awesome crowd-pleasing winner. The Chester defence held firm for a 3-2 victory, which was in the end well deserved . 

7 February

Mens 3rds vs Sale 2nd – Won 5 - 3

Chester arrived in plenty of time to be well prepared for this game and started with the fast flowing hockey from the previous week. Ralph Swift dynamically netted from a North cross to give Chester the early lead. Things were soon levelled though when a deflected ball landed right in the path of the Sale forward who duly obliged for his team. The second half saw Chester go to sleep and Sale score two well-worked goals. With 18 minutes to go, and his side 3-1 down captain Attwood asked Chester to switch on, and they did. Hill netted on the rebound from an Attwood and Harndon Short corner, soon after Swift netted again. Hill grabbed a scrambled 2^nd from a short corner before Swift daintily tickled the ball home for his hatrick. The final score 5 –3 reflecting Chester’s grit and determination.

31 January

Mens 3rds vs Bebington 3rds – Won 3 - 1

After a couple of unsatisfactory performances Chester were out to prove they really could play hockey, and play they did! From the outset Chester dominated the game with Bebington camped in their half of the field. Chester opened the scoring when Ralph Swift blasted home. Swift then doubled the lead with a delicious finish to a well-worked move, orchestrated Selby and North. Bebington did apply some pressure with Attwood clearing off the line but most of the attacks were confidently dealt with by Mark Walmsley. Hill was unlucky when he scorched one over the bar just before half time. Ible added a third for Chester in the second half, with Bebington’s late goal coming as the blues were looking for their fourth. Chester’s superior work rate and effort won the game, 3-1 a great team performance.     

17 January

Mens 3rds vs – Alderley Edge 3rd – Lost 1 - 2

Top of the table matches tend to be hard fought affairs and this one was no exception. Alderley Edge played some great attacking hockey but the resolve of the Chester defenders, especially the superb Danny Hill, kept Chester in the game. As the half progressed Chester showed much more composure with Andy Patterson creating some good openings which Chester were unable to convert. The second half began the way of the first with Chester defending well however they were unfortunate to pick up a couple of injury’s and this allowed Alderley to find the yard of space the needed to score a great opener. Alderley soon scored another but Chester refused to capitulate with Paul North sweetly converting Hill’s pinpoint accurate cross. The remainder of the game mirrored what had gone before with Chester defending, Lee Eaton in goal saving well on a number of occasions. The result was perhaps a fair one with Chester giving away possession too easily and having to work hard to re-gain the ball.

10 January

Mens 3rds vs – Rhyl and District 2nd– Drew 1 - 1

6 December

Mens 3rds vs – Llandudno 1 – Draw 1 - 1

Chester made the long trip to Bethesda at the weekend where games are never easy to win. In the first half Chester were very poor at times and were lucky not to go 1-0 down early on, when the ball struck a Chester foot on the line, but the resulting flick was put wide. Eventually Llandudno did take the lead after a poor pass from a Chester player lead to an easy goal. In the second half Chester started to play better and after winning numerous short corners, but failing to capitilise from them, they finally did with ten minutes remaining, when Tom Selby sweeped the ball into the bottom corner from a tight angle. Chester did go forward looking for a winner, but couldn’t find it. A fair result in the end.

29 November

Mens 3rds vs – Deeside Ramblers 4ths  – Won 3 - 2

In a typically action packed local derby, Chester pulled off an inspired victory. The game started in dramatic fashion when Deeside scored with their first shot on goal, an excellent move from Chester then lead to an equalizer from Matthew Tottey with his and Chester's first shot on goal. Within two minutes though Deeside were ahead again, with their second attempt at goal sneaking in. All this and it was only ten minutes into the game! The game died down abit after this with Chester putting on the pressure, but with no reward. Chester came into the second half with new found energy and passion after Ben Attwoods half time team talk. Chester continued there good movement and passing from the first half, with Ralph Swift having a particulary influential game down the right side. Deeside had a few chances in the second half, but with the solid defence of Kev Robinson, Tony Nicholas, Ben Attwood and Dan Hill little came from it, with Captain Attwood making an important goal line clearance. It wasnt until ten minutes from time that Chester's pressure paid off when Tom Selby crashed in the equalizer from the top of the D. This wasnt enough for Chester though and they pushed forward for the winner and with two minutes to go it came, Matthew Tottey with his second of the game cooly slotting the ball passed the Deeside keeper. Chester deserved the victory, with every player putting in 100%.

22 November

Mens 3rds vs Alderley Edge 3 – Lost 1 - 3

In a physical game, the scoreline did not reflect Chester's performance. After early pressure Chester took the lead, when  Andy Patterson deflected Ralf Swift's shot past the keeper. With little, Edge equalised when a tame shot was deflected past the stranded Lee Eaton in goal. Edge took the lead in the second half with a good move and finish. As Chester pushed   forward for the equaliser, Edge killed the game with a counter attack goal.

11 October

Mens 3rds vs Bebington 3rds – Lost 4 - 2

Chester fielded a much changed team in this top of the table clash against Bebington and paid a heavy price. Despite early pressure Chester failed to capitalise on their opportunities and allowed Bebington to take the lead before the break. Bebington came out the stronger team at the start of the second half and within 10 minutes had scored another three. Chester started to play together in the later stages of the game and were rewarded when Julian Bills deflected the ball into the goal. The final minute saw Tony Nicholas sweeping the ball into the goal from the back post for Chester’s second goal. Final score Bebington 4 Chester 2.

4 October

Mens 3rds vs Llandudno 1sts - Won 5 - 1

Chester started well and dominated the first 15 minutes but failed to score. After sustained pressure Andrew Paterson found Tim Davies in space who flicked over the advancing keeper for the first goal. The score remained 1-0 until halftime. After a sluggish start to the second half by Chester, Llandudno scored an equaliser from a dubious short corner. Gerry Winter scored a crucial second goal after a scrappy short corner. Tim Davies added the 3^rd from close range. A well-deserved goal came next from Craig Hockenhull who had worked tirelessly up front. In the last 10 minutes the ball was passed to the top of the D for Hockenhull to execute a perfect sweep into the top right corner of the goal. A good performance from Chester leaving them at the top of the league.

27 September

Mens 3rds vs Warrington 3rds – Won 5 – 0

Chester travelled away this week to Warrington where they dominated their first league match. Roger Leech netted the first goal after a well worked short corner. After beating two players Mark Harndon drilled the ball into the far left corner for Chester's second. The score remained 2-0 until half time. After which Richard Nicholas added a neat reverse stick goal which was slid underneath the goalkeeper. Tim Davies added the fourth and fifth goals after skillful setups from the Chester forwards. A good performance from the 3rds and a clean sheet for Chris Faulkner leaves Chester with a good foothold at the top of the league table.