Chester Mens 5s vs Denbigh Mens 1s

Chester Mens 5s vs Denbigh Mens 1s

Chester 1 - Denbigh 2

Feeney’s Fantastic Fifths knew that this was going to be a tough game against the league leaders who have scored 71 goals and only lost once so far this season which is exactly what it turned out to be. Undaunted by their opponents’ outstanding record Chester employed a 5 man midfield to absorb the anticipated midfield pressure and counter Denbigh’s preferred strategy of crashing the ball in the direction of the circle for the agile forwards to pick up, deflect or run with the ball causing problems for the defenders. A returning Sam Rogers and Dom Meikleroid showed tremendous energy, enthusiasm and fine technique as they worked tirelessly in the outside midfield channels while Ollies,and Feeney patrolled the central areas of the pitch denying Denbigh space in which to operate disrupting their normal lines of attack. This strategy worked so effectively that in one of Chester’s many counter attacks Feeney picked up a pass outside the circle, evaded a robust challenge and sent the ball through a group of players straight through the off balanced keeper’s legs to claim the first goal of the game. Determined defensive work from Uddin and Knight and another commanding performance from Sillett in goal helped to maintain this lead to the middle of the second half when Denbigh scored a fine deflected penalty corner that left the defence with no chance as the ball nestled under the cross bar. Chester continued to defend stoutly putting their bodies between the rampaging forwards and the goal frustrating their opponents’ efforts until with two minutes left on the watch a series of scrappy passes somehow evaded the defenders’ sticks with the ball somewhat fortuitously finding its way into the net. Heartbreak for Chester was soon forgotten with the realisation that the team had played some of their best hockey of the season against the strongest team in the league whose captain graciously admitted that this had definitely been their hardest challenge of the season.