Lancaster 1 vs Chester 1

Lancaster 1s      1-0        Chester 1s

Traffic issues on the M6 meant that Chester’s and an appointed umpire’s arrival was delayed. Lancaster didn’t let the delay deter their preparation for the match and went into the game focused.

Both teams looked keen to attack but both the Lancaster and Chester defence fended off any danger.

Chester had the first chance when they broke the Lancaster defensive line driving down the right baseline, feeding the ball to the back post for a tap in. However, goalkeeper Leighan Bleasdale dived from her left post to smother the ball to safety.

21 minutes into the game, Ali Standeven-Johns drove the ball at pace into the D and had a shot from the right-hand side. The shot was saved but debutant Beth Fletcher made it 1-0 to Lancaster after harassing the goalkeeper on the rebound until the ball crossed the line.

Into the second half the Lancaster defence of Jayde Christeansen, Angie Evans-Hill, Katie Oliver and Zoe Oswald were determined to keep a clean sheet, tackling hard and clearing wide! Libby Thwaites in the midfield ran a mini marathon jumping back to defend and then driving forward in the attack.

Chester had their best chance in the second half when they drove into the D on the left-hand side, the initial shot was saved but the rebound beat Bleasdale but Oswald had other ideas and sprinted towards the goal keeping it out of the net but couldn’t clear to safety, a third rebounded shot came in but it was once again saved on the line by Oswald’s heroics. 

There were 15 seconds remaining and Lancaster looked like they were on the verge of taking away the three points but possession was lost in the attacking D and Chester drove the ball forward winning a penalty corner as the final whistle blew.

The Chester players surrounded the D and injected the ball to the top, a straight strike was fired to the right corner of the goal but Bleasdale cleared wide with her right foot. A Chester player shot on the reverse but the strike was off target into a crowded area and was judged dangerous, giving Lancaster the win.

Lancaster move to third in the league as we go into the half-term break.

Team: Lauren Allwood, Leighan Bleasdale (C) (GK), Jayde Christeansen, Angie Evans-Hill, Beth Fletcher, Holly Hunter, Katie Oliver, Zoe Oswald, Ali Standeven-Johns, Helen Trotter, Libby Thwaites and Julie Walker

Goal Scorer: Beth Fletcher

Players of the Match: Libby Thwaites and Zoe Oswald

Sponsor: Sue Bridges Estate and Letting Agents

Ball Sponsor: Janet and Don Dixon