Chester FC Women were left heartbroken after being held to a 3-3 draw in the last minute of their clash with Warrington Wolverines at the Tetley Walker Recreation ground. Back-to-back goals from Amy Broomhead and Anna Jones, plus a thumping header from midfielder Sarah Redman were not enough to send the Blues home with all three points. However, the result still leaves the Seals two points ahead of Warrington in the North West Regional Division One South, with the sides sharing the points on both occasions this season.
It was the Blues who had the better of the early exchanges, Broomhead with the first real chance but fluffed her lines in front of goal after a superb through ball from Katie Priest. Despite this, It would be the Wolverines who took the lead on the half-hour mark. A left-footed cross from just inside the Chester area somehow finding it's way all the way in, looping over the head of Emily Walker in goal. Walker was then called into action on two further occasions in the first half and was equal to both, keeping the Seals in the game just before half time. That's when new signing Anna Jones made it three in three games. Levelling the game with an excellent first touch to send her in after a Rachel Lever through ball, and rounding the keeper to leave herself the simplest of finishes.
It would be Jones again with a huge chance after half time, Lever again with the delivery but her diving header would somehow be turned on to the bar by the Warrington keeper. The hosts took the lead once again, beating the offside trap and rounding Walker to score. But five minutes later Broomhead bagged a goal with a thunderous finish after the Wolverines failed to clear their lines. Two set-pieces would then decide the rest of the game. Chester substitute Rachel Kelly providing a delivery met by a bullet header from Redman off the post and in to the net. Amazingly, Warrington would have the last laugh after the goal of the game. A smashing 30-yard free-kick which sailed over Walker and ended the game with both sides sharing the spoils.
Check out the match recap below:
Goals, goals, goals!
10 goals in two meetings between the two sides, and 9 goals Chester goals in their last two games. The Blues manager Martin Fitzsimons will definitely be pleased with this improvement after the Seals went on a run of just three goals in their previous three league games. His side has been helped by the recent good form of Broomhead, who has scored 2 in 2 games following a goal drought, and of course the impact of winger Anna Jones. Player of the Match - Katie Priest
Despite the flurry of goals in the game, there's no doubt Priest was one of the standout performers for the Blues on the day. After a recent spell out of the side, Priest's return has been very much welcomed in the last few games, returning to her partnership with fellow centre half Lucy Adderley. Her performance on Sunday was impressive, crunching tackles and interceptions as well as starting attacks from the team, an all-round deserved winner of the player of the match award.
Will Chester rue dropped points to Warrington? For the second time in both outings against the Wolverines, Chester has led late on only to have the three points taken away in the late stages of the game. As the table stands, the Blues have a slender two-point lead ahead of Warrington with only four games to play, whilst their rivals have six league games to go. If Chester had secured the victory on both occasions, third place would be in their hands. However, as it stands the players will have to hope Warrington drop points in the remaining games left this season.
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