DATE

REPORT

20 March

Mens 6ths vs Winnginton Park 3rds – Won 6 - 2

In relaxed friendly game Chester mustered a scratch side with the aid of the opposition.  With only nine players there was plenty of space to manouvre.  Winnington opened the scoring while Chester settled down but scores were level at two each for half time.  The team talk at the interval identified accurate early passing to be the key and this was put into practice in the second half.  The result included hat tricks for Danny Hill and Craig Duffy.  Winnnington's youngest player-loan helped set up two of the goals while Roger Watts in goal stopped some solid shots.

14 March

Mens 6ths vs Tameside – Lost 1 – 4

Chester were away for this rearranged game against top-of -the-table Tameside and succeeded in worrying the opposition judging from the volume of shouting.  Chester played some of their best hockey this season and despite the home side going two up were not upset.  Chester found their form to stretch the defence and get one back early in the second half.  Tameside rallied and went one more ahead.  In the last minute their umpire reversed a decision going against Chester and this caught Chester off guard for the final goal.

13 March

Mens 6ths vs Neston 4ths – Lost 1 - 4

Without league pressures for this game Chester played well from the start and opened the scoring with a manouevre in which Richard Wood drew the defence to the left and then crossed the ball to Peter Cunnington waiting at the right post.  Neston were able to sustain their work rate due to the presence of four subs while Chester despite valliant efforts and opportunities could not find the net again

6 March

Mens 6ths vs Manchester Trinity 3rds – Lost 0 - 11

Trinity were determined to maintain their isolated position way ahead of the rest of the division and arrived with a 15-strong squad.  By half time they were about eight up courtesey of defensive errors which they were quick to pounce upon.  Chester managed to stem the flow slightly in the second half and even created a couple of opportunities for consolation goals but they remained opportunities.

21 February

Mens 6ths vs Triton 3rds – Won 2 - 0

Chester managed a full squad which soon settled down to constructive hockey.  The effort was rewarded midway through the first half when a long corner from the left, strong enough to get to the right wing, was centred and converted by Jonathan Smith.  Just before half time a cross from the right wing into the circle enabled Paul Lariat to nudge the ball in for a two goal lead.  This is the way it stayed until the end with Chester very much in control despite the efforts of Triton who will surely end up near the top of the league.

14 February

Mens 6ths vs Wrexham 4ths – Lost 2 - 7

The league makes no allowances for half term holidays so that the lower sides suffer in terms of player numbers.  Thus Chester went away to Wrexham with only nine players.  Despite this disadvantage, Chester played well as a team with plenty of spirit and energy and came close to scoring a couple of times in the first half.  Only superiority in numbers ensured Wrexham were four up at half time.  Chester increased their efforts in the second half and were rewarded with goals from Richard Woods and Jonathan Smith and were unlucky not to have scored a couple more.  The second half was a moral win.

7 February

Mens 6ths vs – Sale 3^rd – Lost 0 - 7

Sale third eleven proved to be a settled team from the start and were more than a match for the Chester side.  The hosts regular line-up was disturbed by team changes so that the normally supportive teamwork and accurate passing was sporadic.  Sale were quick to capitalise

31 January

Mens 6ths vs Bebington 6ths – Lost 1 - 5

Chester were a player short and could not cover the ground quickly enough in midfield to maintain control of the game.  They did launch several attacks and Jonathan Smith was on hand to convert a cross from the right to foil the keeper.

24 January

Mens 6ths vs Warrington 4th – Draw 2 - 2

In a keenly contested game, Chester played the first half a man short but with 110% effort managed to get ahead when Richard Woods lofted a lose ball into the net.  Soon after the turn round Warrington equalised but the late arrival, Larry Noble, was on hand to put Chester ahead again.  Chester's tiring midfield could not stem Warrington's final attack which produced the equaliser with five minutes to spare.

17 January

Mens 6ths vs – Alderley Edge 5^th – Lost 0 - 8

Chester were beaten on the break by a very fast Alderley side which made the score look a bit desperate.  Although Chester had an equal share of possession and played constructive hockey they could only get near the other goal a couple of times.

10 January

Mens 6ths vs – Triton 3rd – Lost 0 – 2

Chester could only field six regular players and engaged the services of casuals.  Despite the odds this side put up a creditable performance against a regular side.  If anything Chester played the better hockey for the majority of the game and would have won if short corners were counted in addition to goals.  Given a full squad of regulars for the return match there is confidence that points will be retrieved.

3 January

Mens 6ths vs – Bowden 8th  - Lost 4 - 7

Bowdon's development side is a match for any team and the Chester side raised its game coming from two goals down after twenty minutes of the game to to four apiece with twenty minutes left.  Bowdon threatened with every opportunity in the circle and came out on top.  A superb display of hockey with goals from John Crinson (2), Richard Selley and Chris Moulson.

6 December

Mens 6ths vs – Neston and South Wirral – Lost 1 - 7

The score did not reflect the keenly contested game with a scratch Chester side up against a regular fourth team.  Chester looked most comfortable in the first half with Alan Watts getting on the scoresheet.  Injury and reshuffling of positions with a sub meant Chester were unsettled in the second half.

29 November

Mens 6ths vs –. Deeside Ramblers 5th  - Lost 0 - 3 

For this rearranged friendly Chester put together a scratch side supported by two of Ramblers subs to make the eleven.  What ensued was an enjoyable game with plenty of action but with no score at half time.  The Chester side lost pace in the second half and Deeside took their opportunities well.  Man of the match was Graham Stewart who donned the goalie's kit for the second time this season to make some fine saves and restrict the Ramblers to three goals.

22 November

Mens 6ths vs City of Manchester – Drew 3 - 3

In an exciting end-to-end game a youthful visiting side led the scoring but Chester kept up the work rate for Simon Nichol to equalise.  The second goal came from Pete Cunnington at a penalty corner and John Crinson evened the score in the last five minutes of the game.  A good result with the points shared as in the away game three weeks previously.

15 November

Mens 6th vs Tameside 2nd - Lost 0 - 7   

This appeared to be a confrontation between heavy artillery and the light infantry.  Chester outclassed the opposition with its teamwork and at least equal posession but goals were difficult to find.  Lee Warburton had several good chances which were blocked by a solid defence.  Tamesides shell-shots were hard and managed to penetrate the defence.

8 November

Mens 6ths vs – Manchester Trinity 3 – Lost 0 – 7

Chester travelled with a young side to Manchester to take on the league leaders who hadn’t lost a match so far this season. Trinity played a fast game using the width of the pitch to good advantage and stretched the Chester defence right from the start. Despite some good saves from Roger Watts in goal, Chester trailed 4-0 at half time. Chester settled down in the second half and played some good hockey until the defence decided to joint the attack and left gaps at the back which the home side took advantage of. A spirited performance from Chester but the opposition was much stronger all round.

1 November

Mens 6ths vs City of Manchester – Drew 2 - 2

Chester started with three disadvantages - little experience of the Commonwealth Games water-based astro pitch, only ten players and lack of a regular goalie. However, with spirits intact and sound tactics, Chester held the advantage for most of the game and opened scoring with a goal by Lee Warburton to give a first half lead.  Manchester came back but Lee kept Chester ahead with a second goal.   A dubious decision resulted in a flick being awarded which levelled the score in the last five minutes. A fine performance by Graham Stewart in goal thwarted the opposition's attempts to take more than one point.

25 October

Mens 6ths vs Alderley Edge – Won 5 - 3

Chester took to the pitch with yet another line up and as players found their positions the home side were 2-0 down. As the first half progressed Chester settled in defence and built up good moves that tested Alderley’s resolve. Eventually the pressure told and Lee Warburton scored just before half time. In the second half Chester stuck to their game plan and Warburton scored two more, Jeff Hall scored from a tight angle and Larry Noble scored his first for the club. Good play in defence and mid field kept Chester ahead and contributed to a fine win.

18 October

Mens 6th  vs  Sale 4th – Lost 0 - 3

 Chester's optimism was dampened by two well struck goals which somehow sneaked past the defence and a third after a short corner in which both the goalie and defence were outnumbered despite several blocked clearances.  However the result did not reflect the constructive hockey played by Chester who were unfortunate not to score at the other end.

11 October

Mens 6ths vs Bebington 6ths – Lost 0 - 10

This was a match to forget for Chester. It started when they took the field with only 10 men and Peter Walmsley had to play in goal. It was a scrappy match overall. At half time the score was 2-0 and Chester felt they were still in with a chance. However Bebington capitalised on their numerical advantage and took their chances well. The visitors piled on the pressure and ran out comfortable winners.

4 October

Mens 6th  vs Warrington 4th – Won 4 - 2

Chester got off to a good start with accurate passing and support all round to be rewarded after ten minutes with a goal by newcomer Simon Nichol.   Chester maintained pressure and a good cross found Peter Cunnington well placed to score the second goal.  Warrington pulled one back just before half time.  At the restart Chester lost shape but Alan Watt managed to increase the lead.  Warrington took the opportunity of this lapse of concentration to snatch another goal.  Chester rallied and went back to playing constructive hockey enabling Simon Nichol to score his second goal leaving Warrington struggling for the last few minutes.

27 September

Mens 6th vs Wrexham 4th - Lost 1 - 3

Chester played the better hockey in this first league fixture of the season and passed the ball sensibly using the full width of the pitch.  However although quick to move forward they were slow to cover back allowing Wrexham's pace to outnumber the defence a couple of times and take a two goal lead at half time.  Chester maintained pressure in the second half and forced six penalty corners to the opposition's one and were rewarded with a goal by John Crinson.  Had all the opportunities been converted Chester would have taken the points.