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Post by Al on Sept 15, 2018 18:49:59 GMT
I looked at my phone as it happened, nice to see Brad Abbott dropping like a stone into this league, he had a terrible ego. Played well second half, first half struggled to get into it but we did nullify their threat quite well. Smalley, who gets slated, handling DC favourite “Lionel Arnold” very well. Abbott was good for us I quite liked him as well tbh. Thought he had something about him.
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Post by sqzl on Sept 15, 2018 18:53:38 GMT
Not performance related for sure. He actually did well against a very experienced Arnold. It was tactical looking at the way we set up second half. Roberts and Howson were good today I thought. A clean sheet! Who would have called it. Dislocated shoulder apparently - Not good, but shouldn’t be long term at least.
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Post by sqzl on Sept 15, 2018 18:55:00 GMT
I quite liked him as well tbh. Thought he had something about him. I’d rather have who we have now. Albeit older our three all have different qualities and give us great balance. Green would be the cherry when he’s fit.
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Post by Imperial on Sept 15, 2018 19:01:24 GMT
Cracking result, shame I couldn’t go today. Sounds like a hard won 3 points. Well played gents 👏
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Post by JonahCFC on Sept 15, 2018 19:05:40 GMT
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Post by Lobster on Sept 15, 2018 19:16:09 GMT
Who was our “nasty little bastard in midfield who reffed the game well“? Stopforth?
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Post by lincolnexile on Sept 15, 2018 19:22:48 GMT
Who was our “nasty little bastard in midfield who reffed the game well“? Stopforth? Think they mean Gary Roberts.
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Post by Hannibal on Sept 15, 2018 19:29:07 GMT
Well if we've got someone who can 'ref' the game long may it continue.
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Post by Rio Doherty on Sept 15, 2018 20:11:44 GMT
Sorry guys, but there won’t be a vlog out as I have somehow lost all of my videos 🙁. More importantly though, we won and have came back home with a fantastic result. I will write my summary shortly! 🔵⚪️
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Post by spencerwhelanleftpeg on Sept 15, 2018 20:16:48 GMT
Well done to all today, great result. It now seems that we may have turned a corner after the Telford game. That’s eight points from the last four. Big game against Kiddie next. If we can get a a positive result then perhaps it begins to look to look much more promising?
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Post by bluearmy on Sept 15, 2018 20:43:45 GMT
Was not expecting a win today not even a draw but well done lads for bringing the points home
Reading on Twitter looks like they won that for Bernard who lost his Grandfather 24 hours ago ( RIP )
let's get a decent crowd on Tuesday sod the shitty league on BT and support the lads once again
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Post by Rio Doherty on Sept 15, 2018 20:47:06 GMT
An absolutely fantastic result today which has extended our unbeaten run to 4 games. It was always going to be a tough ask to go all the way to York Street to pick up a win, and the manner in which we did was great. In general our performance was pretty mixed, but based on our second half showing you can’t knock us for triumphing in style.
The first half was almost the exact same to the FC United game on Tuesday, which lacked little action with the standard of football being poor. At times Boston looked rather dangerous going forward, but never had that quality to go the extra mile. I thought that we were solid defensively as we restricted Boston to little chances, and got rid of any danger successfully whenever we had to. Just like Tuesday, we didn’t really know what to do when we had the ball, which caused us to panic quite frequently and give the ball away more regularly than we would’ve wanted to. Little chances went Anthony Dudley's way, whilst whenever he was in a decent position he ended up being isolated without a partner. In a nutshell, the first half was just scrappy and seemed to be heading towards another uninspiring goalless draw.
Well then, the ‘Dynamic Duo’ must’ve said something tasty in the dressing room as in the second period we looked a completely different outfit. We began to string sequences of passes together and play the ball on the floor, which we must be doing all of the time. Gary Stopforth was an absolute workhorse in midfield, whilst the other Gary made some excellent through-balls to our forward men. A different Chester side had emerged out of that tunnel, and I started to believe that we could snatch a cheeky win. Dom Smalley has been under some unfair criticism lately, but well done to him as he was much more effective this afternoon. He was composed whenever under pressure and was a lot more solid than he was last Saturday for example. Unfortunately he came off the field with his wrist in a sling, so hopefully he’ll be OK for Tuesday. Steve Howson scored a fantastic header to give us the lead which sparked joyous scenes in the away end. After that, Dan Mooney scored a great finish to put us 2-0 to the good. Because we are Chester after all, I did feel uneasy despite us leading by two goals. Although we were in a comfortable position, I had an awful dread that Boston would claw back a goal or two to set up a grandstand finish, but thankfully they did not. In the end, a fantastic day all round and I’m glad that I was one of the 100 hardy souls heading back home with a hint of happiness 😉.
Again, I must regrettably apologise that there won’t be a vlog out due to my videos mysteriously going missing. This vlog would’ve gone down really well, but sometimes annoying things like this can happen. Hopefully the upcoming Kidderminster vlog will make up for it.
Things are starting to look up for us now. 4 games unbeaten, 2 successive clean sheets and the opportunity for us to bounce into the play-offs on Tuesday night. Of course this is Chester after all, and Kidderminster will make stuff hard for us, but our side is beginning to click. Again I must say that this season is all about consolidation, but a crack at the top 10/play-offs will go down really well for me. It will take time for everything to get into a steady rhythm, but our squad is looking a lot more competitive and able to progress. We now move onto two important home games which will hopefully attract some healthy gates. Kidderminster will be a challenge, whilst City Of Liverpool should provide us with a colourful cup tie so here’s hoping that we will follow up this brilliant result. Let’s do this.
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Post by agl on Sept 15, 2018 21:09:40 GMT
Good match summary Rio - my first game of the season and was wondering what league we were in after the first half. Boston and Spalding District Sunday league? Or were we at Boston Town, as my inept navigator and well known author originally had us heading? A dire game and two poor sides but second half transformation. Not sure if we changed tactics or it was just a good old fashioned bollocking but we started to pass and play with a bit of purpose. Towering header from Howson and a cool Mooney finish when he ran through on the keeper. Hughes could have had a third and they didn't really trouble us. Spent most of the game trying to work out all the new faces but thought Mooney has some real quality about him. Hughes and Mahon also put a good shift in and credit to the defence for a second clean sheet in a row against forwards who were supposedly going to to destroy us. The much maligned Smalley did OK before going off with a shoulder injury but fortunately not too bad to prevent him signing autographs for a group of Boston school kids. That's seven points out of the last nine, including what looked like a stiff away test.
Anyone notice that Boston had eleven players with the same name, Turnbull? Is that a first?
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Post by Rio Doherty on Sept 15, 2018 21:16:34 GMT
Good match summary Rio - my first game of the season and was wondering what league we were in after the first half. Boston and Spalding District Sunday league? Or were we at Boston Town, as my inept navigator and well known author originally had us heading? A dire game and two poor sides but second half transformation. Not sure if we changed tactics or it was just a good old fashioned bollocking but we started to pass and play with a bit of purpose. Towering header from Howson and a cool Mooney finish when he ran through on the keeper. Hughes could have had a third and they didn't really trouble us. Spent most of the game trying to work out all the new faces but thought Mooney has some real quality about him. Hughes and Mahon also put a good shift in and credit to the defence for a second clean sheet in a row against forwards who were supposedly going to to destroy us. The much maligned Smalley did OK before going off with a shoulder injury but fortunately not too bad to prevent him signing autographs for a group of Boston school kids. That's seven points out of the last nine, including what looked like a stiff away test. Anyone notice that Boston had eleven players with the same name, Turnbull? Is that a first? I almost ended up at Boston Town myself as our coach driver got confused between the two clubs, so we had to turn back round 🤣.
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Post by bonecrusher on Sept 15, 2018 21:44:12 GMT
Who was our “nasty little bastard in midfield who reffed the game well“? Stopforth? About time we had one of them. We've been far too nice for ages.
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Post by uptheseals on Sept 15, 2018 22:45:09 GMT
Some shit spouted on there, we wernt that bad They were better team first half fair enough but second half we bossed it could've been a lot more then 2-0
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Post by avfo on Sept 15, 2018 23:02:47 GMT
From local Boston paper -
It was a familiar tale in the first half for the Pilgrims as they were firmly on top but lacked the killer pass or vital touch in the final third. Blues keeper Shelton - who received treatment for a hamstring injury in an opening 45 which also saw Boston’s Ryan Qualter have his head bandaged following a collision - made routine saves to deny Walker, twice, and Nathan Arnold. Walker also forced an effort into the side netting and Ben Davies drove a hopeful hit over from distance. At the other end George Willis made his only stop of the first half when Dan Mooney’s effort from distance arrived at a comfortable height.
Chester began the second half much brighter and after Matty Hughes had drilled an effort wide they took the lead through Steve Howson. The big defender was just too strong in the box, earning himself a yard and powering home a header after connecting with Craig Mahon’s deep corner in the 51st minute. And it was 2-0 seven minutes later as the Pilgrims’ defence was cut apart with a through ball that sent Mooney sprinting on goal, the Chester man setting himself before confidently slotting beyond Willis and being mobbed by the delirious away fans. Walker thought he had opened his Pilgrims account when he smashed the ball high into Shenton’s net, but an offside flag maintained the Blues’ two-goal advantage. Willis denied Mooney his second with a firm save as the visitors continued to look far, far better than their first-half showing had suggested, pulling off an even better one-handed stop as Hughes looked set to kill the game.
UNITED: Willis, Davies, Jackson, Thanoj, Middleton, Qualter, Wright, Abbott, Rose (Ceesay 69), Walker, Arnold (Margetts 78); Subs (not used): Wafula, Marriott, Harris. CHESTER: Shenton, Smalley (Moran HT), Grand, Burton (Hughes 35), Livesey, Howson, Mooney (Jordan 89), Stopforth, Dudley, Roberts, Mahon; Subs (not used): Pritchard, Murray. REF: Tom Parsons. ATT: 1,188 (100). STAR MAN: George Willis - Two fine saves that kept the score down, left exposed for the Chester goals.
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Post by Anders on Sept 16, 2018 0:03:58 GMT
We were good value for it, whatever was said at half time worked a treat.
The first half was ridiculously bad from both teams, they were probably a shade less awful than us but crikey, that was the dullest most boring 45 minutes of football I’ve ever seen. Both teams just hoofed it to their right wings all half and barely anything happened. The only thing of note was their lad clattering in to Shenton trying to latch on to one of them.
We were much more creative after the break and created some really good chances. We were never really in much danger once ahead, Boston didn’t really do much. Doesn’t stop your nerves being shredded wheat as a Chester supporter though.
Shenton went down injured a few times, was surprised Boston didn’t try and work him more from distance considering, he wasn’t stretched by any means but dealt with everything well. Howson and Livesey both had good games in the middle and Grand also did well but was worked more than most. Good effort from Roberts after a lay-off and as usual Stopworth was everywhere. Mahon and Mooney were good getting forward in the second half and Hughes livened it up after he came on.
Boston were awful on the day, even when behind they didn’t muster up any sustained pressure or particularly good chances. I don’t think we’re anything out of the ordinary but I think the whole league is like that. It’s just nice to be winning football matches again to be honest.
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Post by Forever Blue on Sept 16, 2018 0:52:57 GMT
That was a good result for us today and I am more than happy with it, my main concern is we go out and beat teams higher than us but rollover and get beat by the likes of Blyth Spartans or draw with the likes of fcum. If we want a run at this league given that Chorley already have 28 points we have to stop leaking goals and we are in desperate need of a striker, we also need to tighten up at the back its so scrappy at times, anyway onwards and upwards
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Post by sqzl on Sept 16, 2018 2:04:48 GMT
That was a good result for us today and I am more than happy with it, my main concern is we go out and beat teams higher than us but rollover and get beat by the likes of Blyth Spartans or draw with the likes of fcum. If we want a run at this league given that Chorley already have 28 points we have to stop leaking goals and we are in desperate need of a striker, we also need to tighten up at the back its so scrappy at times, anyway onwards and upwards Forget Chorley, there’s no way our target was to be champions. 99.9% of us would be thrilled by the playoffs this year!
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Post by agl on Sept 16, 2018 7:45:53 GMT
That was a good result for us today and I am more than happy with it, my main concern is we go out and beat teams higher than us but rollover and get beat by the likes of Blyth Spartans or draw with the likes of fcum. If we want a run at this league given that Chorley already have 28 points we have to stop leaking goals and we are in desperate need of a striker, we also need to tighten up at the back its so scrappy at times, anyway onwards and upwards I think you need to be more realistic. We aren't going to storm the league like last time. If we can consistently play like the second half yesterday we will be OK, but still a work in progress. We've just had two clean sheets in a row and it's time to move on from Blyth.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 8:03:52 GMT
just a quick stat to maybe change the narrative, apart from Chorley, Chester FC currently have the best clean sheet ratio in the league. However, people will probably look at the Blyth game and continually use it to say how bad the defence is. Really good result that yesterday, missed the game unfortunately but if a draw would have been offered prior to it I think most would have taken it.
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Post by Jack on Sept 16, 2018 10:01:16 GMT
Fantastic result.
We'll learn more after another few weeks, but it does appear that we're settling down a bit and are going to be a competitive side in this division. Nothing spectacular, but hard-working and capable of beating anyone on our day. I'm more than happy with how the season is shaping up, after a very difficult start.
Kiddy is a huge game now, I'd take a point there to keep building our momentum. We're getting there.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Sept 16, 2018 11:14:25 GMT
That was a good result for us today and I am more than happy with it, my main concern is we go out and beat teams higher than us but rollover and get beat by the likes of Blyth Spartans or draw with the likes of fcum. If we want a run at this league given that Chorley already have 28 points we have to stop leaking goals and we are in desperate need of a striker, we also need to tighten up at the back its so scrappy at times, anyway onwards and upwards We've already stopped leaking goals - two clean sheets in a row. Also, as others have pointed out, our expectations should be realistic and we shouldn't be comparing to Chorley for example. I'd be happy with an outside shot of the play-offs and still having them to play for come March.
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 16, 2018 13:57:37 GMT
Some highlights from the game
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 16, 2018 13:58:58 GMT
One thing that is good to see is that were winning headers especially at the back, any time a ball was sent into the box by Boston one of our lads had it
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Post by Lobster on Sept 16, 2018 14:12:16 GMT
On the subject of Chorley, does anyone know why they’re doing so well? I know they have decent support and have been up there for a few seasons, but didn’t expect them to start as well as they have. Do they have a rich backer? If not I think you have to say fair play to them.
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Post by thetheremin on Sept 16, 2018 15:45:36 GMT
On the subject of Chorley, does anyone know why they’re doing so well? I know they have decent support and have been up there for a few seasons, but didn’t expect them to start as well as they have. Do they have a rich backer? If not I think you have to say fair play to them. Um bongo. By the gallon.
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Post by btb on Sept 16, 2018 16:26:48 GMT
That was a good result for us today and I am more than happy with it, my main concern is we go out and beat teams higher than us but rollover and get beat by the likes of Blyth Spartans or draw with the likes of fcum. If we want a run at this league given that Chorley already have 28 points we have to stop leaking goals and we are in desperate need of a striker, we also need to tighten up at the back its so scrappy at times, anyway onwards and upwards Forget Chorley, there’s no way our target was to be champions. 99.9% of us would be thrilled by the playoffs this year! Agreed. I'd take a comfortable top ten finish. Winning a cup game for the first time in forever would be a success too. Would like to see us Blood some of the youngsters if it's possible.
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Post by MPW on Sept 16, 2018 17:29:30 GMT
Some highlights from the game You can see where Smalley falls awkwardly on his shoulder at 4:08 on this video. Later, their player clearly blocks the ball with his upper arm in the penalty area right in front of the ref later too!
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