Pools Youth Team were held to a 2-2 draw by Chester in an
entertaining NLFA encounter at Welfare Park in Blackhall on Wednesday
It was a game which could have gone either way, with bothsides creating plenty of scoring opportunities over the ninety minutes.
Pools had a big let-off in the early stages when they failed
to fully clear a Chester corner but the visitors couldn't find a way past
keeper Brad Young.Ian McGuckin's youngsters then got themselves in front on
nine minutes when they counter-attacked quickly down the left and Luke Chapman
ran clear before producing a brilliant lobbed finish over the keeper for 1-0.The game then swung end to end as both teams enjoyed period
of pressure but Chester forced an equaliser on 35 minutes when Pools failed to
deal with a long throw in to the penalty area.The visitors then snatched the lead five minutes in to the
second half when another long throw set the Chester wide player away and his
low cross in to the area was converted from six yards to make it 2-1.However, the scores were levelled just after the hour when
Joe Grey broke clear of the Chester defence and stormed down the right flank
before finishing low past the keeper.Both sides had chances to win it after that – Coleby Shepherd
cut inside dangerously but saw his show saved, while Young had to make an
excellent save to his top-right corner to keeper Chester out.Grey came agonisingly close to winning it ten minutes from
time when he acrobatically hooked an effort on goal only to see it come back
out off the underside of the cross bar.“It was probably a fair result overall,” admitted McGuckinafterwards.
“The game could have gone either way really because there
were chances at both ends but Chester have got the better of us in the cups a
couple of times so we're pleased to take a point in the end.“The lads are tired today because they have had to work hardfor that point but that's what you have to do if you want to get results.
“We're been in more or less all the time over Christmas
training but it's not the same as playing games so we're looking forward to a
run of Wednesday fixtures now and hopefully today's result gives us a platform
to build upon.”Full Time: Pools 2 Chester 2
Pools: Young, Miller, Thompson, Pilling, Shepherd, Campbell, Gibson (Sturdy 70), Leonard, Webster, Grey, Chapman.
Subs not used: Lowerson, Wilson, James, Naisbett.