Rainy Day Blues

Chester Beavers A met at the Catholic High on a wet and cold afternoon as a side in transition.

With Abigail Jeavons, Emily Hunt and Tom Lindberg playing for the Badgers and Elliot Hall not available the A's were forced to experiment with a new central midfield pairing of Jonny Riley playing at the back of a diamond and Jack Riley at the front. In defence the absence of Matthew Randles to a fractured wrist suffered in JAC training the night before meant a new face at sweeper, with Ffion Chilton moving from her usual position at left back. Lukas Pold at centre was supported by Oscar Ablett on the left and Ruby Whysall on the right.

Ella Thombs on the right hand side of midfield and Lauren Scoltock on the left hand side worked hard with Jonny and Jack to link up with Marcus Badiru at right wing and Charlie Cook up front. Grace Spender and Caitlyn Green complemented the team rotating into the side in midfield and attack. Throughout the game Chester worked hard and at times looked effective, allowing them to score three well deserved goals.

Alderley Edge were a well organised side who had clearly all played together before and were not a side experimenting with players in new positions, in the central spine of the team. Too often unfamiliarity with new positions led to mistakes which Alderley Edge were able to capitalise on. The coach's decision to experiment in this game did not help Chester against such a disciplined side who were worth their 5 goals which could have been more without Finn O'Dell's continually improving goalkeeping.

To improve Chester A's need to work as a team, rather than individuals, keep the ball pace up, make the easy passes rather than the glory passes and work the ball up the right hand side wherever possible making crossing easier.

To Chester's credit on a very cold and wet afternoon, they battled on until the final whistle, never losing heart and endeavouring to put the new coach's plan into action. Chester's players should take heart from the improvements they made and the goals they created rather than focusing on mistakes that inevitably happen with a new lineup. When rotated off the pitch all players listened and responded well to instructions and overall the team improved throughout the course of the game. Gradually the defence began to close the space between them and the midfield when Chester were on the attack depriving Alderley of the space they had used so effectively earlier in the game to break quickly and move the ball rapidly up the field into Chester danger areas.

This is clearly a group of players who enjoy their hockey and can be seen to be working hard to improve. They have all the potential required to develop both individually and as a team and their keenness and enthusiasm is much appreciated by both coach and spectators. It bodes well for a successful transition into an effective unit over the rest of the season.