Day out in Chester Part I

A beautiful January day, perfect hockey weather some might say. The Bees were at the pitch and started with a well organised warm up routine, something that should be continued at every game some commented afterwards.

The Bees came out of the traps with intentions and it didn't take long before Stephenson, prolonging his goal scoring glut from the previous week, put the away team ahead. The first half, except for a few short corners which were comfortably dealt with by Colasurdo and the corner defending team of Leonard, Stewart, Bottomley, Souter and Ainsley, was Bees dominated. Greenhough got on the scoresheet, ending his mini drought, and captain Hampton put the Bees 3-0 up with a penalty stroke after a foot on the line. It got worse for Chester as a Smith run led to an open goal chance, easily swept home. And when Stephenson made it 5-0 from a short corner, it looked like the Bees were heading for 3 points early on.

However, Chester did not make it easy for the visitors and came out in the 2nd half with a much more attacking mentality and the extra attacker made life difficult for the defence. Chester finally converted a short corner when a shot squirmed under Souter, one he will feel he should have done better with. The Bees composed themselves with Reid, Rigby and Blackwood running their hearts out in midfield and on the wing. Chester pulled another back to make it 5-2 when a well placed shot from the top of the D found its way in. Greenhough restored the advantage to make it 6-2 and that's the way it stayed as the defence dug in deep and Colasurdo made one or two saves.

Some were disappointed at the second half but a much improved performance after going ahead, especially compared to the previous weeks collapse against Didsbury. A solid 6-2 win as the Bees go into possibly the most important game of their 2 year history as they face Sale at home which will effectively decide if they are still in the title race.