Chester 3-0 Walsall | Report | Player Reviews |
By 4two
July 17 2004
We bring you the match report from our clash with Chester at the Deva Stadium. We also have reviews and ratings for all 22 players used.
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| SADDLERS LEARN THE HARD WAY AT DEVA | |||||||||
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 Brown (MacKenzie), Vaugan (Edmonson), McIntryre, Bolland (Handyside), Collins (Belle), Drummond (Roberts), Ellison (Davies), Harris, Stamp (Sheron). | |||||||||
 Paston (McKinney), Bazeley (Willetts), Aranalde (Dann), Emblen (Bennett), Roper (Dakinah), Osborn (Jameson), Wrack (Atieno), Standing (Corica), Leitao (Fryatt), Merson (Kris Taylor), Birch (Daryl Taylor) | |||||||||
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| This result is sure to stir debate amongst the fans. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't pleasant and it certainly wasn't pleasing.
We went behind early on after some slack marking in the box allowed Ellison the space to head home past Paston who stood no chance. We passed the ball around well, but struggled to make any kind of impact in the final third.
It could have been four when Paston fumbled the ball across the front of the area - but we managed to clear the danger. City had a couple of close offside calls go against them as they dominated the game and tormented the Walsall back line. The Saddlers were dealt a blow when Simon Osborn picked up a knock midway through the half. He was replaced by Nathan Jamerson who didn't disappoint with a good showing. We did manage an effort on the Chester goal as Darren Bazeley curled in a shot from the edge of the area. Darren Wrack then went on to have a half chance, but Chester weren't worried. Our best player of the half was probably Paul Merson. Merse tried to be positive and used the ball well. Darren Wrack also looked good.
We played better in the Second Half, mainly because Chester had lost what momentum they had built up. The player of the Second Half was undoubtedly Steve Corica. He may have his doubters, but he hardly put a foot wrong and looked a cut above the rest of his team mates.
The introduction of Fryatt gave us a bit more movement up front, and despite looking a bit lightweight he still forced the keeper in to making two good saves - and came out of the match looking like our best offensive option. Full Time - Chester 3-0 Walsall | |||||||||
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 PASTON, Mark - Didn't look that comfortable at times. Made one or two handling errors. Made one good first half save. Obviously to early to make a judgment, but it wasn't the best of first impressions for the Kiwi Stopper. 5/10 | |||||||||
 BAZELEY, Darren - One of our better players. Looks fit and sharp. Managed to get forward throughout the game. Did very well considering he didn't have any protection in front of him. 7/10 | |||||||||
 ARANALDE, Zigor - Zigor didn't look his normal self. Maybe lacking the fitness to gallop up and down the left flank. Could have dealt with the cross for the first goal. 4/10 | |||||||||
 EMBLEN, Neil - He didn't really stand out. Dealt with Ellison well in the first half. Captained the side and did a lot of organizing. The only real talker in the back four. 5/10 | |||||||||
 ROPER, Ian - Looks a bit heavier than he did last season (disagree if you want). Wasn't to comfortable with the movement of Branch. Will obviously look sharper the more games he plays. 5/10 | |||||||||
 OSBORN, Simon - We didn't see much of him because he went off injured. Used the ball well while he was on the field. Will hope he won't be out long, as one week off could set him back a few weeks fitness wise. 6/10 | |||||||||
 WRACK, Darren - A man of the match contender. Looked to be on top form. Gave the Chester defenders plenty to think about. Played longer than anyone else one else on the Walsall team. 8/10 | |||||||||
 STANDING, Michael - A busy performance from the new man. He chases down lost causes and will stick his foot in. A good first impression. 7/10 | |||||||||
 LEITAO, Jorge - Jorge lacked a yard of pace. He never really got going or caused City any problems. He didn't link up well with Birch - will they ever forge a partnership? 4/10 | |||||||||
 BIRCH, Gary - A typical Gary Birch performance. He didn't look interested. Didn't move much and failed to show why so many Walsall managers have decided to keep him at the Club. Still early days for him. Maybe he will get better. 4/10 | |||||||||
 MERSON, Paul - It was great to see him getting on the ball and looking to create. Played centrally in the first half, drifted wide the second. 8/10 | |||||||||
 MCKINNEY, Richard - Chester failed to really test our other new keeper. When he was called in to action he did ok. His kicking looked better than Mark Paston's. 6/10 | |||||||||
| WILLETTS, Ryan - Slotted in at full back. The lack of Chester pressure rendered him redundant. He did manage to get forward a bit. Could he hack League Football? Again, it's to early to tell 6/10 | |||||||||
 DANN, Scott - The youth teamer did well. Looked solid and dependable when called upon. We could well be seeing more of him during the season. 5/10 | |||||||||
| BENNETT, JULIAN - Looked comfortable at the back. We didn't get to see that much of him and still don't know if he is an able deputy to Ropes and Emblen should we need to use a 3rd Central Defender. 5/10 | |||||||||
 DAKINAH, Kofi - It's fair to feel sorry for Kofi. It wasn't the best of games in which to introduce a defender. He came on and played as a right sided Central Defender. 5/10 | |||||||||
| JAMERSON, Nathan - One of the games better Subs. Put in a very assured midfield performance and looked like a seasoned pro. 7/10 | |||||||||
 ATIENO, Tai - Won more headers than the other 3 did all game. He came on and made a nuisance of himself. A striker in the Andy Rammell or Don Goodman mould. 6/10 | |||||||||
 CORICA, Steve - Another man of the match contender. Stevie had a great second half and used the ball well. He played as a normal central midfielder. 8/10 | |||||||||
 FRYATT, Matty - Great movement, looked sharp, but also looked lightweight at times. Had a couple of good chances - but failed to score. Best of our strikers on the day. 7/10 | |||||||||
 TAYLOR, Kris - He will be pleased with his contribution. Looks to be improving all the while. Played in central midfield. 7/10 | |||||||||
 TAYLOR, Daryl - Played as a Striker until Atieno came on. Then moved on to the wing. Got the fans excited with a couple of good runs. 7/10 | |||||||||
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| FANS VIEW - Add your views about the match by filling in the form below. |
City went on to get another two goals before half time, both of which could have been prevented. One saw Branch clip the ball around Paston as Paston came out of the box to clear the ball on the volley. The other saw Branch flick the ball in to the net with a deft header in a crowded penalty area. 
Half Time brought plenty of changes. Chester made the most, practically fielding a brand new starting XI. The one noticeable change for Walsall was McKinney coming on for Paston in goal. 
Corica's 25 yard free-kick was the closest we went to scoring, even though we had a lot of possession and put Chester under a lot of pressure.