Chester Men 5 Vs Keele University 1

Chester Men 5 Vs Keele University 1

Chester 4 Keele 4

Chester 5s welcomed back Chris Thomas and his son Sam for their final game of the season against an athletic and highly skilled University side that started the game expecting to dominate proceedings and continue their fine run of form that had taken them to 3rd place in the league. However, a born again midfield rejuvenated with Nico, Thommo, Samo and Adamo had different ideas combining elegantly in a series of intricate passing displays that left the students floundering in despair as they were regularly left in the wake of mazy dribbles from the midfield tyros. Thomas picked up Chester’s first after fine approach play by Nico who slipped him a delicate reverse pass at the top of the circle for the ball to be thundered home. Further midfield incursions followed with Sam making inroads in the left hand channel causing panic in the defence as he regularly beat the defenders with pace and skill eventually presenting father Chris with a shooting opportunity which the keeper saved only to find the ball hammered straight back past him at shoulder height for an outstanding goal. Collecting another penetrating pass from Uddin, the Rock in defence, the ball buzzed between the midfield finally reaching Nico who teased a defender into making a lunge for the ball beating him comprehensively to launch an inch perfect tomahawk shot into the left hand corner of the goal past a statuesque keeper. The acrobatic Andy Ollies eager to add to his impressive tally this season was desperately unlucky to see his shot somehow blocked on the line as he and Feeney worked tirelessly to chase down the ball. The students tried frantically to get back into the game but the commanding Sillett in goal expertly shepherded his defenders with the effervescent Chris Jones providing energetic interceptions, Fenney cornering stray students who escaped, Tony Nic marking tightly and Evans diligently tidying up any collateral damage. Chester’s 4th goal arrived when arch poacher Selley hoovered round a defender and launched himself full length to force the ball through a crowd of players and into the net. Against the run of play the students were awarded a short corner which was duly converted.
After a promising start to the second half in which clever attacking play led to Thomas grabbing his third goal the game quickly disintegrated into a rolling maul as the visitors had obviously decided at half time to stop Chester’s playmakers at all costs and a series of blatant stick and body obstructions, hands in the back and uncontrolled stick tackling reduced the midfield to despair as possession was continually conceded in key parts of the pitch. Regrettably tempers frayed as the dark arts hit home and Chester picked up a couple of yellow cards that enabled the students to fight back claiming a couple of goals that drew the game. Honours even at the end of the game the 5s congratulated Captain Feeney for his outstanding efforts in running the side and also Dan, the Rock, Uddin who was their deserved ‘Player of the Season’.