Men’s 6th X1 vs Bramhall 4th X1 - Saturday 15th March 2008

Drew 4-4

The visitors from Manchester took Chester by surprise and scored two quick goals which had the home side on the back foot. Chester’s defence was solid but their misfiled leaked passes and soon Chester lost a third gaol. With some good saves from player of the season ‘keeper Chris Ward, Chester responded with a crisp goal from Ian Thomas and this gave them hope.

The tem talk at half time was positive and Chester made two changes in the mid field before the start of the second half. Just as they settled down, Chester were caught on the hop by a well worked fourth goal from Bramhall. However, this was the catalyst Chester needed and they stepped up a gear. They dominated the rest of the game and pulled back the deficit with some of the best hockey they have played this season. Goals came from Greg Lowlor (2) and John Crinson scored with a fearsome shot from a short corner in the dying minutes of the game.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Deeside 7th X1 - Saturday 8th March 2008

Lost 5-1

A much younger Chester team took on their local rivals as they were short of 4 regular players. However the youngsters played well and one of them scored Chester’s goal.

Deeside scored 4 of their goals in the first half however the score line did not reflect the territorial advantage Chester had. In terms of short corners, Chester won the first half 4 to 1 but in reality, Deeside took their chances well and found the net four times.

At half time Chester still felt they were in the game and began the second half in dogged fashion. The short corner count was again in Chester’s favour 12 to 3 and as the midfield gained control so Chester pressed their advantage spending a good deal of time in their opponents half. Young Paul Walmsley scored Chester’s gaol with a well timed shot that went over the advancing keeper. Deeside scored later on ending what was a good game with Chester’s youngsters enjoying an opportunity to play hockey with adult players.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Oxton - Saturday 1st March 2008

Drew 0-0

This was a game of two halves. The young Oxton side had most of the territorial advantage in the first half but could not crack open the Chester defence. When Chester had possession they couldn’t convert their opportunities.

In the second half Chester had most of the play but again could not score. Lawlor, Denby and Hampson all had shots that just went wide and Chester had 7 corners to Oxton’s 2.

A frustrating game that Chester should have won but failed to capitalise on their opportunities.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Lymm 4th X1 - Saturday 23rd February 2008

Lost 5-2

Chester knew they faced tough opponents as Lymm are second in the league. However, this did not diminish Chester’s enthusiasm. In a hard fought first half the visitors held up well with Byrne, Sutor and Ward in goal playing well. It was good to see the father and son Walmsley duo playing well too. Lymm had good fast forwards who scored 3 goals by half time.

After the restart Chester put the home side under pressure and their confidence waned. Chester capitalised on their mistakes and soon Sutor scored for the visitors giving them the confidence to play most of the half in Lymm’s territory. The inevitable happened and Lymm pulled one back with a breakaway goal. Chester did not give up and after a series of short corners Peter Walmsley scored a crisp goal. Lymm replied late in the game. All in all, a good game and a stout performance from Chester.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Llandudno 2nd X1 - Saturday 2nd February 2008

Lost 3-0

This was a lacklustre performance from the home team. Chester started well but faded away. They defended well with two good saves from ‘keeper Ward but Chester lacked penetration in the mid field with few passes being given to the forwards. The score at half time was 2-0 to the visitors which did not look too difficult to respond to.

Chester shuffled their line up in mid field in an effort to gain territorial advantage but this was short lived and the home side conceded a third goal. Chester had their opportunities and misses from Bones and Denby gave them hope - Lowlor struck the post too but it just wasn’t Chester’s day.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Deeside 7th X1 - Saturday 19th January 2008

Drew 2-2

Chester travelled away looking to avenge their defeat to Deeside at the end of last year.

In the first half Chester put good moves together and played well but to no avail. They were put under pressure towards the end of the half but the defence held out and ‘keeper Ward made two good saves in the last ten minutes.

Chester made one positional change at half time but the game continued in the same vein as the first half. Deeside scored fifteen minutes into the second half and this spurred Chester into action. Fozzy scored five minutes later and the whole team responded further. Alan Turner took a free hit just inside the Chester half and his crisp shot found Greg Lowlor who rounded the defence and placed a rasping shot in the far corner of the net. Deeside tied the game with the last shot of the match which was a disputed free hit.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Colwyn Bay 3rds - Saturday 8th December 2007

Lost 2-0

Chester took on the league leaders who beat them earlier this season. The visitors brought a strong side as they have set their sights on winning the league.

Chester’s defence gelled well and held up against the Colwyn attack. Keeper Ward saved two penalty flicks and frustrated the visitors with some fine saves. The score was 0-0 at half time – a score that pleased the home team as they were beginning to frustrate their opponents.

The second half started in similar fashion. Chester changed keepers and it wasn’t long before keeper Woods was in the thick of the action. After a period of play that included 8 short corners for Colwyn, the visitors scored and their apparent relief was obvious. Still Chester hung on and gained two corners themselves. Despite the robust defence of Warren, Crinson, Stewart, Hampson and Turner, Colwyn scored a second goal to seal Chester’s fate.

After the match, a senior member of Chester was heard to say that the Colwyn side would have given Chester thirds a good game – this lifted the hearts of the sixth team.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Deeside 7th X1 - Saturday 24th November 2007

Lost 3-0

This local derby had all the ingredients. Two mature sides with plenty of experience and close in the league. It turned out to be a keen tussle with the visitors gaining the spoils.

After a delayed start it took both teams some time to warm up. Good defence from both teams kept the game level until half way through the half when Deeside scored. During the period of play that led up to the goal, John Crinson, Chester’s key midfield defender was injured and had to go off. This disrupted Chester’s shape and Deeside scored another goal before half time.

Chester used 3 new players who were welcome additions to the team squad. However, the home side had lost its shape and Deeside scored a third crisp goal ten minutes into the half. This spurred the home team on and they piled on the pressure for the rest of the game. Chester were unlucky not to get a penalty when Deeside stopped a certain goal on the line.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Llandudno 2nd X1 - Saturday 17th November 2007

Lost 3-1

On paper this looked a good chance for another Chester win. However Chester could only muster 10 men and went without an umpire – both events that would tell against the visitors.

The first half settled into a rhythm that found Chester doing most of the defending. When Chester attacked it was through Greg Lowlor who found himself on his own for most of the time. The game got scrappy in parts with Llandudno’s youth resorting to frantic tactics which frustrated the Chester team. Eventually the home team scored. The first goal was allowed after the keeper was rounded through the use of a back stick infringement. The second was kicked into the dee before the shot was made.

Chester rallied in the second half and scored through a well taken penalty from John Crinson. The home side responded with a crisp goal from a good passage of play. The remaining part of the game was frustrating for Chester as the lack of an extra player and an umpire took its toll.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Colwyn Bay 3rds away - Saturday 3rd November 2007

Lost 5-0

Chester travelled to Colwyn Bay knowing they were taking on the second team in the league – a youthful side used to playing on their large pitch. Nevertheless, the mature Chester side was strong on paper and looked forward to the challenge.

The first half started quietly as each side tested the others defence. As the half wore on, Colwyn got their act together and scored 2 well taking crisp goals that ‘keeper Woods had little chance of saving.

After a rousing talk at half time, Chester responded by forcing more errors by their opponents and the game got feisty in parts. However Colwyn scored a third goal and this knocked the stuffing out of the visitors. Chester fought on gamely, putting together some of their best sequences this season, but a penalty flick and a score from a short sealed their fate.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Lymm 4ths at home - Saturday 13th October 2007

Result Lymm won 8-1

Chester took on the league leaders at home without their regular keeper – and this played a vital part in the end result. Not that stand in keeper Capt’n Clewes played badly it was just that the visitors had a strong team out and took full advantage.

It was in set pieces that Lymm were strong and they scored 4 goals in the first half all from short corners. Ably assisted by some poor indecisive umpiring, they took their opportunities well though on two occasions the umpire was duped by Lymm players.

Chester defended well and strong play from Sutor and Jones took Chester close on occasions. 3 of Lymm’s players would not have looked out of place in a third team and they formed a solid backbone for the visitors.

Lymm scored a further 4 goals in the second half with Nick Jones scoring for Chester.

Men’s 6th X1 vs Bramhall 4ths (away) - Saturday 6th October 2007

Result 0-0 draw

It took the Chester team around 10 minutes to get into the game during which time Bramhall tested the Chester defence. Once Chester got into their stride they had most of the play and territorial advantage but could not use it to good effect.

It was the first time Leif Hildingson had played competitive hockey so it took him some time to settle into his forward position but when he did in the second half Chester had some shots on goal.

It was a hard fought match but with nothing to show for the visitors. It is best summed up by the fact that Chris Ward in Chester’s goal had only one save to make but he took 2 telephone calls during the match!!

Men’s 6th X1 vs Neston South Wirral (away) - Saturday 29th September 2007

Chester won 2-1

This was the first league match for the sixth team and what a day it turned out to be. Despite the efforts of Cap’n Clewes, the team travelled with only nine players – not the best start to the season, but cry offs and injuries meant the team had to take the field two short. Not only that, the opposition was much younger and had four reserves so they could play rolling substitutes throughout the game.

However the Chester team had old, wise heads and played a solid defensive game relying on long balls to catch the opposition off guard. It took the visitors ten minutes to settle into a good rhythm. Chester’s first break came from a long pass upfield which Greg Lawlor latched on to. He rounded the Neston defence and slipped the goalkeeper to score.

The match then resumed with Chester defending resolutely with some fine saves from rooky ‘keeper Chris Ward. However Neston got two short corners and scored from a well hit shot making it 1-1 at half time.

The second half was similar to the first with Chester solid and confident in defence. Then came another break for the visitors with Lawlor picking up a long pass and slipping it to veteran Peter Cuunington who neatly put it in the back of net. Chester stuck to their game plan and ran out winners despite their numerical and age disadvantage.