Martin Fitzsimons: We looked dangerous with everything we were doing

Fitzsimons watches on as Rachel Lever plays a pass. Image via Alison Greenwood.

Chester FC Women progressed to the next round of the FA Cheshire Cup with a convincing 5-0 victory against Ashville FC Ladies. Manager Martin Fitzsimons acknowledged his side weren’t quite up to scratch in the first half but was full of praise with his team’s second half performance.

“In the last couple of games, we have struggled to score goals” said Fitzsimons. “We weren’t moving it quick enough. We didn’t create as much as we would have liked, and we didn’t create enough opportunities. Especially clear-cut opportunities that really, we should be taking, but we were pleased to put that right in the second half.

“We did well particularly in the second half. First half we had a lot of the ball, but we didn’t play the tempo we wanted to. Second half we put that right and played with more tempo and got in behind. We looked dangerous with everything we were doing, and we controlled the game.”

With Chester playing a side two leagues below the Seals, it gave the manager a chance to rotate his team for the game at the Deva stadium.

“We looked to give opportunity to those players who have shown commitment and not got the game time they feel they deserve. We said to the players before the game that this competition was a chance to get out there and prove yourself. I feel they did that to be fair, every player that came in played really well and did what they needed to and stake their claim for a regular place in the team.”

Chester celebrate one of five goals that came in the second half. Image via Alison Greenwood.

Fitzsimons now has a selection dilemma on his hands after numerous good performances from his rotated team, but the manager welcomes it and says it is a ‘good headache to have’.

“There were two girls who didn’t get on today and quite rightly they are disappointed and I’m in no doubt I’ll have to apologise to them. But it’s a good headache to have, but a headache we have to tread carefully with and make sure we do things right and as professionally as we can really.”

It was a successful women’s football weekend for Fitzsimons’ side as they will hope to take this momentum into the next game.

Check out the full interview below.