GIRLS FOOTBALL- 11TH OCTOBER (Gameweek 1)

Premier League Champions play like the Champions they are

Over recent months women’s football has received a lot of negative press mainly due to England’s poor performance at the European Championships in July and there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel due to a decline in girls wanting to play football.

However it seems that the remarkable achievement of the under-14’s becoming Premier League Champions last May has inspired many girls to don their football boots.

The under-15 side started their season on Friday, which included several of the Premier League winning side who have stepped up to the next age group. The entire team played like Premier League champions with their heads held high, they put in a great performance and could have easily scored eight. Instead they settled for two which saw them start their season brightly with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Hollie Massey and Zoe Tweats.

Keep up the good work girls!

Staying with women’s football, I was very pleased to hear that Manchester United midfielder Hollie Massey has yet again been selected in a select squad of 24 for the national side, after impressing for the Reds. She will attend a 2 week training camp at St. George’s Park before taking on Wales. St George’s Park is fast becoming her second home! As a reward for the call-up she got to meet Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic where she received tips about playing football at the highest level, something that Massey is very capable of achieving. Hollie admitted she felt inspired to emulate the Old Trafford hero. “It was great meeting Vidic. He made us realise how important it is to make the most out of this opportunity and to put everything into it.” She is also very excited about pulling on the famous Three Lions shirt. We wish her all the best!

Written by Adam Bailey (Interview courtesy of Manchester United Foundation)

FOOTBALL- 10TH OCTOBER

Year 7 Continue to Impress

Tonight (Thursday 10^th October) year 7 continued their great start to the season with another solid performance in a 3-1 win against Sir Thomas Boughey. This sees them through to the next round of the cup. Will Mr Hermitt have to buy a bigger trophy cabinet?

*Other match results to follow*

Written by Adam Bailey

HOCKEY- 10TH OCTOBER (Gameweek 2)

Holmes Chapel get the better of CHS

Tonight (Thursday 10^th October) saw CHS’ hockey teams battle it out with Holmes Chapel at CHS. The fixture against Holmes Chapel is one that the player’s most look forward to due to the close encounters, the return of former players and the rivalry (if there is any!).

Year 11 were hoping to set the record straight having lost to Holmes Chapel 3-1 last year but they were without two of their key players Louise Forster and Hannah Tatton who perhaps would have given CHS more of an attacking threat. Instead CHS were forced to call up year 10 Mia Hopkins and year 9 Rebecca Barlow. CHS could have done with Forster and Tatton in the opening 5 minutes as it was that time that CHS took to venture into Holmes Chapel’s half. There were no real chances for either side in the 1^st half. Robyn Houston had the first shot of the game and one of the few shots that CHS managed in the course of the match when her on-target shot was deflected behind and nothing came of the long corner that followed. Holmes Chapel’s best chance saw CHS’ goalkeeper, Emily Hockenhull’s foot come to the rescue in a scramble by the near post. At half-time, the CHS coach told the team to exploit the space on the wings more as CHS became squashed in the middle of the pitch and were not able to trouble Holmes Chapel’s defence. The game finished 0-0. CHS did improve in the second half and showed determination especially captain Emily Hammand who led from the front and despite being only in year 9 Rebecca Barlow put in a great performance and as a result was awarded player of the match, the same award she won last time she played for the year 11 side.

Barlow then joined her usual teammates in the year 9 side but saw her team concede a goal in the opening minute of each half. After only a few touches of the ball CHS found themselves behind following the normally reliable Hollie Massey losing the ball inside CHS’ half and Charlotte, the CHS sweeper, couldn’t stop the ball from rolling beyond the line. 1-0 Holmes Chapel. Their second goal came seconds after the restart after un-organised defending by CHS, Holmes Chapel found a breakthrough in the defence their attacker’s shot was on-target and the only thing that could have stopped it was CHS’ sweeper but she jumped over the ball before turning around to see CHS two behind. 2-0 Holmes Chapel. CHS had the chance to pull a goal back in the second half when Massey surged down the left wing before cutting in on the end line, the referee, may I add from Holmes Chapel, said that ball had crossed the line but from my position (similar to the referee) it appeared the wrong decision. There were no appeals/complainants from CHS perhaps because they are good sports. CHS dominated for the majority of the match with Holmes Chapel only entering CHS’ arc on a few occasions. Barlow and Massey had several chances on target but the difference being that Holmes Chapel had a fixed goalkeeper with pads compared to CHS’ rush goalkeeper which meant that the goalkeeper always stood in their way and it may have given CHS some confidence in defence if they had a fixed goalkeeper behind them.

The year 7 and 8 team were also in action but it was Holmes Chapel who came out on top in a 5-3 thriller with CHS’ goals coming from Lydia Bennett, Charlotte and Megan as well as a stand out performance from player of the match, Paige Tingle.

Written by Adam Bailey

FOOTBALL- 8TH OCTOBER

Start to a tough week for CHS

Tonight (Tuesday 8^th October) saw the start of a tough week for CHS’ footballers with both league and cup matches being played over the next 3 days.

Despite dominating the game in terms of passing, creating opportunities and possession year 11 lost 3-1 away to Poynton with George Hooper adding to his goal from the opening match of their season by scoring CHS’ only goal. CHS could not compete with Poynton’s physicality losing the physical battles that led to Poynton’s goals.  Following the game manager Mr Cross said “We will reform, discuss what we did well to form a better plan for the next game.  One thing we do have is a talented group of players, so with some more direction and a clear desire to contest with the opposition fully, our results will improve.” Too add to the loss Vice Captain Sam Spooner was forced off with a broken collarbone. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he gets well soon.

Mr Cross added his thoughts on the team and his vision for the side, “the first thing is we have a fantastic, skilful, fit side.  All the way through the squad we have quality.  Changing the way the boys play and understand football is my main goal, which is very hard as their obviously products of a typical footballing generation simple in a 4-4-2, boring and without significant size and strength we will be left wanting.  You can see these things on a Sunday, right through to our national side... But football has changed... We are in the process of improving this, but for year 11, that's a tough, ask. They seem up for it, but with 3 games played, the results haven't yet come up for us. After Sam’s injury most things are put into perspective regarding the result today.” Year 11 face a massive game next Tuesday at St Monica's we wish the boys luck and all the best.

In another tough game, year 8 had to fight hard to come out on top in a 1-0 win thanks to a well taken goal by Logan Clowes. The victory sees them through to the 3rd round of the English Schools Cup.

Written by Adam Bailey and Mr Cross

HOCKEY- 3RD OCTOBER (Gameweek 1)

Hockey Season Begins

This week saw a positive start to the hockey season when CHS’ teams travelled to Sandbach where they returned with two wins and a draw. All the teams are hoping for more wins and if they continue to perform like they did this week then there will be more success in hockey than last season.  

There will be regular match reports from all of CHS’ home games posted on here. So look out for them!

Written by Adam Bailey

FOOTBALL- 1ST OCTOBER

An Inspired Comeback and an Amazing Masterclass

Today (Tuesday 1^st October) saw year 10 take on Shavington. Having drawn their opening match at Alsager CHS were looking to take all three points in this match. The first few minutes were encouraging for CHS with them launching several attacks but they couldn’t capitalise on any. Instead CHS found themselves behind after a shot from close range was not dealt with by Morgan Buckley, in the CHS net. 1-0 Shavington. CHS then created several chances including a Reece Carbutt header which didn’t require anything other than a routine save for the Shavington goalkeeper then Morgan Bratt put his half-volley just over when he got underneath the airborne ball. However, the equaliser was well worth the wait as Connor Docherty scored a beauty from 35 yards out. On the half-volley, Docherty twisted and struck it beautifully it soared through the air before dipping under the cross-bar and the back pedalling goalkeeper had no chance. 1-1. CHS weren’t level for long after another lack of concentration and communication from the CHS defence led to Shavington scoring again.

CHS’ defence was exposed throughout the first half and they were out played by Shavington so Mr Donnelly, CHS manager, had a right to be frustrated with the side so much so he gave the team a softer version of the famous ‘hair dryer treatment’ and made tactical changes. These worked superbly as 5 minutes into the second half CHS were back level when Jack O’Gara scored a screamer which nearly ripped the net. Two brilliant goals from CHS. 2-2. CHS then had the opportunity to take the lead for the first time when a through ball from midfield split the defence and Connor Docherty was one on one with the keeper but went for the cool, relaxed finish instead of the more clinical approach as a result the keeper kept it out with his stretched leg. It was soon 3-2 when Connor Dougherty squared the ball and Marcus and a Shavington defender both got a touch on the ball which will bring some debate about whose goal it was. CHS then doubled their lead when Morgan Bratt scored directly from his free-kick despite the acute angle. The ball finished in the far corner after his low free kick skimmed past the huddle of legs with only one needed to deflect it off-target. 4-2. CHS could have had seven and so could Connor Dougherty. The first of Dougherty’s chances came when he burst into the box but the Shavington’s goalkeeper’s legs at the near post prevented CHS extending their lead further. Then Dougherty put his shot straight into the keeper’s stomach before pulling another shot straight across the front of the goal. It just looked like it wasn’t his day but then something clicked when he clinically put his half volley past the keeper into the far bottom corner.  5-2 CHS. Marcus then made it 6-2 from close range from Reece Carbutt’s squared ball. The game finished 6-2 much to the delight of year 10 head of year, number one fan and team cheerleader, Miss Heys who was watching from the sidelines. CHS looked much improved following Mr Donnelly’s ‘hair dryer treatment’ and inspired tactical changes. What have CHS and Mr Donnelly got in store for us next time?

On the other side of the field, year 8 didn’t do it the hard way unlike year 10 when they showed Shavington a footballing masterclass during their 7-0 thrashing. Captain Matt Needham led from the front with 4 goals, which earned him the well deserved man of the match award. George Johnson scored a brace and Finlay Jackson used his height advantage to add a headed goal.

Written by Adam Bailey

FOOTBALL- GAMEWEEK 1

Mixed start for CHS including emphatic victory for Year 9

This week saw the opening week of the football season for most CHS teams with Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 starting their season and year 11 playing their first league game following last week’s cup victory.

Having beaten Alsager 5-1 at home last season CHS’ year 8 were hoping for a similar scoreline from their opening match of the season. Year 8 had a very successful season last year which saw them win their league.  Within 5 minutes it looked like it could be another successful season when Finley Jackson’s superb half volley, from outside of the area, went over the keeper's head into the top corner. 1-0 CHS. CHS looked a real threat every time they attacked. Finley Noakes’ shot from the edge of the area needed a good save from Alsager’s full stretched keeper to deny CHS extending their lead. Then it was the post who denied CHS after Logan Clowes rounded the keeper. Those chances would have put clean air between the two teams and CHS could have done with it as a perfect through ball split the defence and Josh Riley’s strong hand could not stop the ball from dipping underneath the crossbar to level the score at half-time. 1-1. Whatever Mr de Souza said at half-time seemed to do the trick as CHS looked much improved in the second half and were lucky not to have taken the lead again when Finley Jackson saw his shot drift just over from just outside the 6 yard box . CHS were then awarded a free-kick 30 yards out. Mr de Souza made the call that Jackson would take the free-kick. It proved the right choice as Jackson saw his  goal bound free-kick deflected off a head into the back of the net. 2-0 CHS. I am sure Jackson will claim it as his. Two brilliant goals from Jackson looked like they would be the difference and see CHS take all 3 points but the post had other ideas as a shot from the outside the area struck the foot of the post which diverted the ball across the goal face before crossing the line and finishing in the opposite bottom corner. This bit of luck meant that CHS had to share the points with Alsager after it finished 2-2.

The new year 7’s triumphed in their first match at high school when they impressively beat Tytherington 4-1 yesterday. But, they found out tonight that it isn’t always that easy when they lost 5-2 to Alsager. It looked like CHS were going to carry on their winning ways when Josh Clowes put CHS in front in the opening minutes. CHS' lead was doubled before half-time but CHS might have seen themselves as a little fortunate to lead by two at the interval. Perhaps playing two games in two days was a little too much for the new boys as they conceded 5 goals in the second half to experience their first defeat as a team. However, I am sure there will be many more victories to come for them.

Meanwhile, year 9 or the “Year 9 Dream Team” as manager Mr French called them after the game, were emphatic victors in an 8-2 win over Alsager. Evan Corless obviously was wearing his goal scoring boots as he scored 4 and Bradley Oliver and James Reid scored a brace each. From CHS’ performance this scoreline could become a normality!

Year 11 were back in action yesterday following their 3-1 victory in the cup last week. But after leading 1-0 at the break thanks to Max Berkeley CHS couldn’t see out the match and saw Alsager score two before the final-whistle.

Written by Adam Bailey