by Phil Cummings
North East Regional Womens Football League Northern Division
Sunday 15th September 2024
Chester-le-Street United Women 2 v 2 Hartlepool United Women
Back at Riverside for the 2nd game in a row Craig Bewick’s young side faced Hartlepool United who had recently been relegated to the NERFWL Northern division.
Hartlepool came into the game having played out a 4 – 4 draw in their opener while Chester went into the game buoyed by their late comeback win just 7 days ago.
Mascots for the day was Chester United’s U7 and U8 girls who had treated the crowed to some fantastic football before the game – but now it was time to see if their older role models could do the same.
The game started with Chester on the offensive Megan Graham with a glorious chance as she cut in from the left but her shot was too straight and was held by the Hartlepool keeper.
A few half chances for either side then followed but it was clear Hartlepool were growing into the game and so it proved when they opened the scoring. A ball played in behind and well finished by the Hartlepool striker.
Chester quickly drew level and it was last weeks hattrick hero who game up with the goods. Lucy Bowman cutting in on her right foot with a great strike into the bottom corner. 1 – 1 and everyone was hoping Chester would build on that moment of quality.
Unfortunately, they didn’t, and it was Hartlepool who dominated the rest the half spurning a number of good chances. The half time whistle was a welcome one and they went in all square at 1 – 1 .
A formation shift for Chester saw a back 4 emerge in the second half and it helped resolve some of the issues Chester faced in the first half.
Despite this Hartlepool grabbed a second early in the second half a great strike from the edge of the area but made easier with no pressure on the ball..
The introduction of Gemma Batey brought some extra bite in the midfielder but in truth it was Chester’s inability to be composed and keep possession that was the big difference between this and last week’s performance, that and their tendency to over hit their final pass!
But despite that they did draw level – on 67 minutes a long ball was chased down by Bowman, she was got into a struggle with centre half and amidst that commotion the Hartlepool keeper appeared to miss the ball allowing Shakila Khalaghe to pass it into an empty net.
But that wasn’t the end of the controversy for the Hartlepool keeper who very clearly kicked Megan Graham off the ball – an incident witnessed by the entire crowd but not by the referee – the man paid to see such things. She was very lucky as it was a straight red all day.
That brought a bit of fire the rest of the game but neither team could capitalise, Lucy Bowman having the best chance as she rounded the keeper but the ball just ran out of play.
On reflection a draw was probably a fair result – but Chester will probably be disappointed their in-possession play was not as good as last week.
With a few additions in key areas this team would and should be challenging for the league title this season, with a FA Cup tie against Consett around the corner serving as a barometer for where they might finish this season.
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