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

FOOTBALL- 18th SEPTEMBER

Year 11 Through in First Game of Season

Tonight (Wednesday 18^th September) saw CHS’ year 11 take on Manchester’s Wellacre in the English Schools’ League. CHS, wearing the Stockport County kit, had a lot to think about going into the match as they are now in what some people call a ‘transition period’ as the former manager has left and Mr Cross has taken over the responsibility at the helm.  Mr Cross has a new vision for the side with CHS lining up in a 3-1-3-3 formation with Captain Lewis Dunn having the versatile role in the hole. With this being the first game of the season it took a while for the rustiness to where off but after a worrying moment in the first minute, where CHS could have easily found themselves behind if it wasn’t for the quick reactions from the defence in clearing a dangerous loose ball. CHS soon played the promising football which they often demonstrated last year and this led to a well worked chance for Barton who saw his shot cross the face of the goal.

Wellacre had a chance to break the deadlock on 15 minutes when their forward out-muscled Sam Spooner just outside the area before he had a shot that I am sure Carslake, in goal, would have been pleased to see go past his far post. Instead it was CHS who took the lead a couple of minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Barton’s strength and hard work outside the area paid off when he played a through ball towards the running Max Berekley who just as he was about to pull the trigger was brought down inside the area. A Clear Penalty. Barton, who played Berekley in, coolly slotted the ball in the right hand bottom corner and sent the keeper the wrong way. 1-0 CHS.

Having taken the lead CHS played well and with confidence and it wasn’t long until they doubled their tally. CHS’ second goal came about after an inspired substitution from new manager Mr Cross bringing on George Hooper who seconds after coming on scored an absolute screamer from 30 yards out. His shot was like a bullet through the air and slowly dipped over the keeper, who was forced to back pedal, and just under the crossbar. The keeper had no chance. 2-0 CHS. It may be the first game of the season but this is a real contender for goal of season and it will take something extremely special to beat it!

After the second goal Wellacre were looking for everything from the referee but he was having none of it. The day could have got even worse for Wellacre as Adam McHale had an excellent chance to make it 3-0 just before half-time when he rounded the keeper and all he had to do was knock it with his left foot but instead he allowed Wellacre’s defenders to re-organise after he switched  to his favoured right-foot. As a result his shot was put behind for a corner. 

Halftime- 2-0 CHS

Wellacre pulled one back after half-time after what should have been a routine save for Carslake turned into a Robert Green/Scott Carson moment with the ball going straight through his hands.  After a few edgy minutes and moments for CHS they restored their two goal advantage after McHale’s good work on the left saw him pass the ball to Barton whose initial shot was parried by the keeper but he followed up and put the rebound into the net. The final score was 3-1 to CHS which means they progress into the next round.

Written by Adam Bailey