Match Report: U14 Chester v Warrington 6/3/17
The first away game of the season for the U14 team was an away fixture at the City Baths Chester. We had eight players travelling: Emily Atkinson, El Brear, Louis Stowell, Annie Sholl, Sam Derbyshire, James Boyle, Leo Kilpatrick and Evie Sandell.
Q1. The first quarter opened to a packed pavilion in the Atlantic Pool Arena. Annie won the swim off and Warrington were first to attack, but to no avail. Several battling exchanges took place before another promising attack from Warrington fizzled out. The first score came when Emily in goal was jostled by the Chester attackerand the ball ended up in the net. This was followed by a second goal from a close range shot that left Emily with no chance of a save. Then came some good defending from Louis to win a foul. The ball was put up to Annie, back to Leo, who unleashed a long range shot to put Warrington on the scoreboard. The rest of the quarter saw Sam battling down the right-hand side, Evie battling down the left-hand side and some good defending from James. A clever backhand shot and a rebound from a good save from Emily that was scraped in left the score at 4-1 to Chester at the end of the quarter.
Q2. A swap came with Leo going in goal for this quarter. Warrington started well with Annie throwing the ball into the pit for El to fight off the defender and score. Emily performed a fancy move in her own half baffling the Chester player. She swam up the pool and got the ball into Louis in the pit who saw his shot met with a good save; unlucky. Another couple of goals went in for Chester when disaster struck for Warrington. Louis was wrapped up and Chester was awarded a penalty. Some justice was served when Leo saved the penalty but the true brutality of the decision left Warrington a man down for 4 minutes; at times it seemedlike Chester had all thirteen of their players in the water and the quarter ended 9-2 to Chester.
Q3. With Warrington reorganised and back up to seven a harsh ball under decision against Leo in goal gave Chester a penalty; Leo did just enough to tip the shot on to the bar. With some good defending from Evie Warrington won a foul. El put the ball up to Emily who fired a long range shot in to score. Annie won the ball in her own half raced up the pool like a torpedo and got the shot in only to see it saved. Warrington then won a penalty that El put away with nonchalant ease. Chester broke free but James did just enough tracking back to put the shooter off. Sam put in some good spoiling work. The score for the quarter was 2-2 leaving the overall score 11-2 to Chester.
Q4. Emily went back in goal for the final quarter and put in a couple of good saves early on. James did some good marking at the back to ensure a Chester shot was weak. Evie and Sam continued to battle. El put a long pass in to Leo who won a penalty. His shot hit the bar but he reacted quickly to put the rebound in the net. Inevitably Warrington tired in the last quarter with only seven players to Chester’s thirteen but it was a brilliant effort. In the end Warrington lost 15-5 but it was no disgrace.