With only four games of the league season, remaining Chester FC Women are currently on course to finish in 3rd place in the table, a place they have occupied for large amounts of the season.
The Seals have turned a corner of late, picking up four points from their last two games with a convincing 6-2 win over Didsbury Ladies and a 3-3 draw last time out against Warrington Wolverines.
But one big final push is needed from Martin Fitzsimons's side to finish third with Warrington just a place and two points behind Chester with a couple of games in hand.
Progression:
The Seals finished 6th in the North West Women's Divison One South last year, finishing third this time round would show a gradual progression from last season under the new leadership of manager Martin Fitzsimons. Fitzsimons was appointed the new Chester manager in the summer in the hope of helping to move the club forward and helping to create a five-year plan to get Chester to the National League.
This season Fitzsimons's side have picked up five wins from their fourteen league games this season, with the end of the season fast approaching Fitzsimons's believes to secure 3rd spot his side must finish the season unbeaten. "I think we need to go unbeaten till the end of the season to give ourselves a chance of getting that 3rd spot that we want and think that's probably going to have to be the case we have to go out for wins.
League run-in:
The Blues have just four games left this season to keep tight hold of third place with Warrington breathing down their necks, in their final four games, the Blues face a doubleheader against Northwich Vixens a team they are yet to play this season. The vixens sit five points behind Chester having played five games less.
Chester will then host 2nd placed Curzon Ashton, a side that has won eight of their nine games this season their only defeat coming against league leaders Salford City Lionesses. It will be a tough ask for the Blues to beat Curzon, but having beaten Salford City at home this season 3-1 they will feel they can beat anybody on their day. The Seals end the season with an away trip to Didsbury Ladies - a side who they thrashed 6-2 just three weeks ago.
Inconsistent:
Chester must make sure in their remaining games that inconsistencies don't creep in at any stage, it's been their running theme of the season according to manager Martin Fitzsimons. In far too many games this season he has seen his team dominate possession and create clear cut chances. But ultimately fall behind and have an uphill battle to rescue something from the game.
A key game in which this theme occurred was the reverse fixture against Warrington Wolverines, after a strong start to the game Chester were rewarded following Amy Smith's goal of the season contender and a tap in from Sarah Gill to lead 2-0 at the break. But in the second half, the Blues were unable to put the game to bed and were made to pay conceding two goals in seven second-half minutes to draw the game 2-2
Talented Squad:
The Blues pose a very talented squad that should be capable of dealing with the pressure of going for third place, with the summer signings of Ashleigh Bullock, Kim Sands and more recently Anna Jones the squad have adapted well to new manager Martin Fitzsimon's style of play. New signing Anna Jones has been a stroke of genius from the gaffer, the Welsh winger has scored three times in three games for the Seals. A Very impressive start to Chester life.
Striker Rachel Lever has been a revelation this season, the Seals top goalscorer has bagged herself 11 goals this season in all competitions. On her day the forward his unplayable as we have seen many times this season her goals can often be the difference between a win and dropped points. It's vitally important she's focussed in the remaining games.
Future Aspirations:
Finishing 3rd this season would signal as an amazing achievement according to Fitzsimons and put Chester in a good place in the long run. "Long term place is we want to be in the National League competing, that's where we feel the club belongs. We're currently in the process of developing a five-year plan that aims us to get there and consolidate".
The ball is now in Chester's court as they try to end the season it the strongest possible way with four winnable games on the way, the pressure is now on for Chester to finish 3rd and cap a brilliant season.
Comments