Hockey: Chester miss out on promotion as Crewe Vagrants win derby

Mar 20 2009 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

PROMOTION is now out of Chester’s reach after they lost their make-or-break match at table-toppers Crewe Vagrants.

It was a tight game but Crewe put the top two places out of Chester’s grasp in North Hockey Division One with a 2-1 victory.

After a cagey first half ended goalless, Chester came out in the second looking for the result they needed. Phil Roper attempted to weave some magic while Andy Murphy stood solid at the back.

Roper’s adventurous play eventually manufactured an opportunity which Andy Dixon converted. But determined Crewe upped the tempo and when Chester went down to 10 men, the Vagrants sensed their opportunity.

The equaliser came from a rebound off the Chester keeper.

Crewe then bombarded the Chester goal with a series of aerial balls, one of which fell kindly for the hosts and was slotted home.

Chester 5ths lost 3-2 at Rhyl 3rds, man-of-the-match Ian Stringfellow and Olly Snowden scoring for injury-ravaged Chester.

Chester Ladies beat Bolton 2-1 to take an important step towards league survival.

Player-of-the-match Tanya Bradshaw made the difference with two great rebound strikes in the second half.

After Bolton took the lead in the first half Chester came out inspired and Bradshaw smashed home an equalising rebound from one of her own shots before latching onto a second with a reverse-stick finish.

Chester under 11 boys hosted the County Tournament and finished fourth.

Chester are looking for new players to join the U11s next season. Training is on Sundays, 10am-11.15am at Chester Hockey Club.