Bouncing Back!
By John Newsome December 21 2003
Chester look to hit back straight away following their first home defeat in the league against Stevenage as they tackle Midlands outfit Tamworth.
By John Newsome December 21 2003
Chester look to hit back straight away following their first home defeat in the league against Stevenage as they tackle Midlands outfit Tamworth.
City entertain Tamworth tomorrow as they look to get back on track following a first defeat in 19 games against Stevenage Borough last week. The defeat did not directly affect Chester’s position in the table, with nearest team Hereford also suffering defeat on home turf.
With their four point advantage maintained, the Blues are now guaranteed to spend Christmas at the top of the tree, so to speak. But that knowledge in unlikely to lead to them resting on their laurels in the Midlands.
The management and playing staff aware of the fact that the festive period effectively put paid to their hopes of automatic promotion last time around. At the corresponding weekend in 2002, they were defeated 1-0 at home to Hereford. This was followed by a draw and another painful defeat against Northwich Victoria, allowing Yeovil Town to pull decisively clear at the top. They will doubtless be determined not to let the same happen again, and with successive games against teams in the lower half of the table, will be anxious to cement their advantage at the top.
Despite Tamworth’s lowly position, reflecting a difficulty to adjust to Conference football having been promotion from the Dr..Martens’s League last season, they have shown themselves capable of taking points off the promotion challengers. They claimed draws against both Shrewsbury Town and Aldershot Town, and last weekend secured their best result of the season, inflicting that defeat on Hereford United by securing a 1-0 scoreline. They still seem to lack consistency however – the week before that great win at Edgar Street, they turned in a week display at Morecambe, effectively escaping with a 4-0 defeat as their defence was routinely bypassed by a mid-table side.
They have recently added some familiar names to their squad as they aim to pull away from the relegation pack. The Blues defence will face a familiar foe in the form of ex Doncaster Rovers forward, Paul Barnes. Barnes has won few friends amongst Conference fans with his physical style of play and general bad attitude on the field of play. Nonetheless, his overweight appearance can be deceptive, and regardless of people’s misgivings, the fact that he won the Conference Golden Boot last season demonstrates his capability of finding the back of the net. Jim Rodwell is also an experienced campaigner, having turned out for the likes of Farnborough Town and Aldershot Town and having won promotion twice with Rushden and Diamonds and Boston United. He is a solid defensive player who always proves himself to be a tough obstacle in the centre of the field. Also in the Tamworth squad are Richard Dryden, the ex Southampton Premiership defender who has also played for Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle and Birmingham City amongst others, and Mark Cooper, a veteran who has shown good goalscoring ability from midfield so far.
For City, Wayne Brown is set to miss the nest 4-6 weeks through an injury picked up on the training ground, so Ian McCaldon begins his second extended run in the team this season.
Mark Wright will feel fully vindicated in his decision to bring in a second goalkeeper following a series of niggling injuries to both stoppers. Elsewhere, Carl Regan is set to make his debut in the right wing-back role after signing on loan this week from Hull City, replacing the recently departed Jon Brady, who has surprising turned out for Stevenage Borough in midweek.
With their four point advantage maintained, the Blues are now guaranteed to spend Christmas at the top of the tree, so to speak. But that knowledge in unlikely to lead to them resting on their laurels in the Midlands.
The management and playing staff aware of the fact that the festive period effectively put paid to their hopes of automatic promotion last time around. At the corresponding weekend in 2002, they were defeated 1-0 at home to Hereford. This was followed by a draw and another painful defeat against Northwich Victoria, allowing Yeovil Town to pull decisively clear at the top. They will doubtless be determined not to let the same happen again, and with successive games against teams in the lower half of the table, will be anxious to cement their advantage at the top.
Despite Tamworth’s lowly position, reflecting a difficulty to adjust to Conference football having been promotion from the Dr..Martens’s League last season, they have shown themselves capable of taking points off the promotion challengers. They claimed draws against both Shrewsbury Town and Aldershot Town, and last weekend secured their best result of the season, inflicting that defeat on Hereford United by securing a 1-0 scoreline. They still seem to lack consistency however – the week before that great win at Edgar Street, they turned in a week display at Morecambe, effectively escaping with a 4-0 defeat as their defence was routinely bypassed by a mid-table side.
They have recently added some familiar names to their squad as they aim to pull away from the relegation pack. The Blues defence will face a familiar foe in the form of ex Doncaster Rovers forward, Paul Barnes. Barnes has won few friends amongst Conference fans with his physical style of play and general bad attitude on the field of play. Nonetheless, his overweight appearance can be deceptive, and regardless of people’s misgivings, the fact that he won the Conference Golden Boot last season demonstrates his capability of finding the back of the net. Jim Rodwell is also an experienced campaigner, having turned out for the likes of Farnborough Town and Aldershot Town and having won promotion twice with Rushden and Diamonds and Boston United. He is a solid defensive player who always proves himself to be a tough obstacle in the centre of the field. Also in the Tamworth squad are Richard Dryden, the ex Southampton Premiership defender who has also played for Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle and Birmingham City amongst others, and Mark Cooper, a veteran who has shown good goalscoring ability from midfield so far.
For City, Wayne Brown is set to miss the nest 4-6 weeks through an injury picked up on the training ground, so Ian McCaldon begins his second extended run in the team this season.
Mark Wright will feel fully vindicated in his decision to bring in a second goalkeeper following a series of niggling injuries to both stoppers. Elsewhere, Carl Regan is set to make his debut in the right wing-back role after signing on loan this week from Hull City, replacing the recently departed Jon Brady, who has surprising turned out for Stevenage Borough in midweek.
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