Chester FC Women close out the year with a 4-1 defeat at Park Hall. The New Saints didn’t give Chester a chance in the first 45 minutes before the Seals turned it on in the second half.
However, the damage was done early on as TNS opened the scoring in the eighth minute, courtesy of Laura Pennington’s calm finish.
The Saints continued to dominate the half before Kim Bebbington doubled the hosts lead. The Green's made it three on the stroke of half time, as Laura Morris piled on the misery for Martin Fitzsimons’ side.
The Blue’s pulled one back in the 53rd minute through Abi France, but any chance of a comeback was soon dashed five minutes later as TNS made it 4-1.
That’s now back to back defeats after last weekend’s 2-0 loss at home to Altrincham. The ladies now have a winter break to recuperate before tough cup games in January.
This friendly match replaced Chester’s original league fixture against Burscough Ladies, due to Burscough dropping out of the league.
The Saints started strong and came close in the fifth minute before opening the scoring mere minutes later. Pennington picked up the ball in the centre of the box and dispatched her shot into the bottom right corner.
The effort left the returning goalkeeper, Liv Cooke, with no chance. Cooke has been absent since the Salford City Lionesses game after injuring her knee in a collision with a Salford attacker.
TNS came close to extending their lead as several chances went narrowly wide. The closest effort coming directly from a corner in the 21st minute as the ball flew over everyone and crashed off the post.
The side in green and white then made it 2-0, through the inform Bebbington, who has notched eight goals in the league this season. Cooke made a great save before Bebbington latched onto the rebound and navigated the ball into the bottom right corner.
TNS topped off an impressive first half with another goal. Morris capitalised on Chester’s poor attempt to play out from the back as the Saints goal scorer managed to lob the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
The move summed up the Seals first half as they really struggled to get up the pitch and found themselves constantly soaking up the home sides pressure. Hannah Snape provided a spark for the visitors and drove forward with the ball whenever she could.
Snape made her first start for Chester, but her and her teammates had no answer for TNS’ brilliance.
However, the second half was a completely different story as the game became much more open. Chester managed to play higher up the pitch and bring their wingers into the game, which proved fruitful for the Blue's in the 53rd minute.
Rachel Kelly burst down the left wing and found an inch perfect ball to the back post where France was waiting to pounce. Kelly’s impressive cross made it an easy finish for France, who put in a fine performance again, after her impressive display at Wythenshawe in her last game.
TNS swiftly responded and made it four. Chester gave away an unnecessary free kick which pinged around the box before the Saints attacker struck the ball on the turn and finished past Cooke.
The game lost its spark for the remainder of the match, as a plethora of substitutions were made by both sides. It was a much improved second half for the visitors, as Chester matched everything the Saints threw their way.
The Seals need to take that second half performance into next year, when they return to action and face a tricky game against Manchester Stingers in the Argyle Cup.
In the meantime the ladies get a well deserved Christmas and New Year break, before resuming what’s been an indifferent season so far for the Blues.
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