Alderley Edge men's 1st team continued their build up to the new season and on Saturday played a Cheshire Cup tie versus Chester. Having narrowly beaten Chester 4-3 in the league last year a competitive game was expected.
Alderley controlled the early possession keeping control around the back without creating too much further forward. Chester showed they were no push-over attacking at pace and committing men forward.
Alderley then upped the tempo and opened the scoring when they won their first penalty corner, the initial shot was saved but Adam Wildig reacted first to finish tidily. It was soon two nil as from the very next set-piece the Chester 'keeper deflected the initial effort on to the post and James Warburton was on hand to finish.
Chester then had several penalty corners and chances of their own but James Riley and the corner defence were up to the challenge.
Alderley stretched the lead when Wildig robbed the Chester defender and drove forward before giving Warburton a straight forward finish. Alderley were now in a purple patch and Wildig made it 4-0 with a close range finish following good work from Drummond.
The second half was a similar tale with Chester still committed to the attack, but they found Andrew Jackson in fine form in the centre of defence and Badger and Scarsbrook ably supporting.
The goals continued to flow as Warburton completed his hat-trick in bizarre circumstances as he won a tackle and the ball ricocheted towards goal and he and Coxon and the Chester 'keeper converged on the ball but no one seemed to make any meaningful contact as the ball ended in the back of the net.
The telling difference between the teams was the clinical approach in the final third, Chester were unable to make the most of their opportunities where Alderley produced some magnificent finishes, first Wildig completed his hat-trick when he collected the ball on the top of the 'D' before firing into the bottom corner with a reverse stick strike. This was matched by Warburton as he grabbed his fourth and Alderley's seventh with another reverse stick finish this time into the side netting from a narrow angle.
Then the difference in the penalty corner routines was highlighted as Tim Pont grabbed two goals in quick succession with impressive finishes.
Still chances were created at either end and Chester scored with five minutes to go with a tidy flicked finish by the unmarked striker, making the score 9-1 and complete the scoring for the day.
A very pleasing result for Alderley who still have player to add to the squad before the league programme begins in a couple of weeks.
Alderley Edge now travels to Deeside for the next round of the cup on Saturday, 22nd September.
This is a member post by James Riley.
