Hockey: Crewe game crucial for Chester’s Northern Division One title asprations

Mar 13 2009 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

TOMORROW is crunch time for Chester’s title ambitions as they travel to Northern Division One leaders Crewe Vagrants.

If they win, Chester will close to within three points of the title-chasers with a game in hand. A win for the home side would see them go up.

Chester kept their promotion bid on course on Saturday by beating Sheffield University Bankers 4-3, destroying a two-year unbeaten home record in the process.

Phil Roper displayed a sublime range of skills, bamboozled his marker and his reward was a brace of goals from penalty corners. Roper then turned provider for Pete Evans to slot home.

In the second half Sheffield pulled two goals back but Ashley Blakemore restored Chester’s lead before a late penalty corner goal had them sweating.

Chester 5ths lost 3-1 to Oxton 6ths, Michael Howard scoring for Chester. MoM was Steve Mannion.

Chester 6ths slipped to a 5-2 loss at Timperley 5ths. Pete Clewes and Peter Walmsley scored but Timperley were on song.

City of York fell victim to Chester Vintage, losing 5-2. For Chester Robbie Smith grabbed four goals and Keith Roper also scored after a mazy dribble.

Chester Ladies lost 2-1 at Sheffield Hallam. Siobhan Barnard scored late on, the team already two goals behind. Despite a MoM performance by Rachel Thomas they couldn’t find an equaliser.

Mandy Agnew and Jenny Aspinall both scored hat-tricks as Chester Ladies 3rd ran out 11-1 winners over Macclesfield. Jo Cooper (2), MoM Alicia Logan (2) and Jess Egan completed the rout. Chester Ladies 4ths drew 3-3 with Bollington. Franki Duckett (2) and Lauren Calvert scored, MoM was Di Ormandy.