Super-subs help secure UOL Men’s 1st team a win in their first league game.

 

Super-subs help secure UOL Men’s 1^st team a win in their first league game.

 

13/10/2021, University of Chester Creative Campus:

UOL Men’s 1^st won 4-2 in their first league game of the season. The chemistry and the fact that the UOL players have been training and playing together for the past 3 months clearly showed today. In contrast, the Chester team seemed disorganised and were lacking in the link-up play department compared to UOL.

 

1^st Half:

UoL had to adapt their approach to goal kicks and had to go for a long ball rather than playing the ball short from goal kicks due to the pitch being unusually narrow.

Dan Heald put in the first important challenge of the game to block a dangerous shot from Chester in the first minute of the game.

UoL got on to an early lead when in the 4^th minute, Toby Cogswell picked a good pass for Tom Edwards out wide who took a shot from outside the box on his preferred left foot. The Chester keeper got a touch on the ball, but he couldn’t stop the ball from going in.

1-0 to UoL!

Tom Edwards scored another goal 3 minutes later after a powerful shot from Dan Lewis which the keeper could only parry. The ball landed to Tom’s feet who taped the ball in from close range.

2-0 to Uol!

It wasn’t all good news for Uol though, as Luke Jones had to come off with a muscular issue. Alex Blair came on to replace him at center back.

In the first half, Chester didn’t have much possession and mostly went for long direct balls to attack.

Joe Ctori, who was today’s man of the matched pinged a beautiful ball to the right side of the pitch which led to a thunderous shot from Frankie that went just inches over the bar. Very close!

Minutes later, Joe Ctori put in a dangerous cross in for Dan Lewis who hit it the ball on target, but the Chester keeper was able to parry it for a corner.

Just as UoL were increasing the pressure, Chester got two big chances on goal but fortunately, Jack Edwards rescued his team with two amazing saves.

Chester started pushing more towards the end of the first half but overall, UoL were sharper and more dangerous with the ball than Chester.

Joe Ctori and Matt Molyneux were linking up on the left throughout the whole half which caused Chester a lot of problems.

 

2^nd Half:

Chester started the second half strong with a good run by their striker in the 3^rd minute who found himself one on one with Jack Edwards (gk) for a few seconds before a great tackle from Alex Blair to recover the ball.

Chester’s attacking efforts paid off moments later during a moment of confusion from the UoL defence which led to UoL conceding an own goal.

2-1 to UoL, Chester back in the game!

In the 54^th minute of the second half, Joe Ctori made another brilliant run down the left side to make a great cross for Tom Edwards who couldn’t finish on this occasion.

Jack Edwards made another amazing save in the 60^th minute to keep his team in the lead.

In the 61^st minute Danny White and Louis Jarvis came on for Matt Molyneux and Toby Cogswell.

3 minutes later, Louis Jarvis chipped the keeper to score following a good through ball from Dan Lewis.

3-1 to UoL.

In the 72^nd minute, Theo Hayford came on in midfield for Frankie Pashias.

Minutes later, during a counterattack, Theo Hayford made an excellently weighted pass for Dan Lewis who found himself through on goal and scored.

4-1 to UoL!

The substitutes who came on for UoL were just too much to handle for Chester. Gaps in the Chester midfield started to appear.

Chester managed to score from a set piece in the 83^rd minute, reducing the mark to 4-2.

Following their goal, Chester increased the pressure and committed more men forward. Theo Hayford was able to win a free kick and gave his team a chance to catch a breather and reset. Dan Heald took the free kick and shot the ball just inches over from the bar. Close one!

The ref blew the full-time whistle minutes later.

Final score 4-2 to University of Liverpool Men’s 1^st.

 

Overall, it was a dominant performance from UOL who deserved the win. UoL were more comfortable on the ball, used their full backs and winger to linkup and create chances. UoL had better chemistry, understanding and intentions with the ball when compared to Chester, who in contrast were disorganized and privileged long balls.

 

Post Match Interview with Joe Ctori (MOTM) and Tom Edwards (RW):

 

UOL Men’s 1^st play their next game at home on Wednesday 20^th of October against Lancaster University.

 

 

Finn McGinley