Nigel Preece reports from Edgar Street.
Another Tuesday night football match at Edgar Street, preceded by another walk up a hill somewhere and a visit to a decent pub or two.
This time the well worn paths around the Sugar Loaf. Train to Abergavenny, bus to Crickhowell, 10 mile walk back to Aber via the lanes, avoiding soggy fields, and the slightly less trodden route to the summit. And it didn't rain though it was blowing a bit at the top, made Rushall feel like a sunny island breeze.
On to the second “half” of my day. Two pints of Rhymney Gold in the Grofield in Abergavenny, train to Hereford, more beer (and complimentary cheese and biscuits) in the Orange Tree before the main event of the day.
I was expecting a different challenge to Saturday's offering from Tamworth and hoped, therefore, we might revert to two centre halves, but we stayed the same formation, still no wingers available worryingly. The only change, as predicted in the pub, was Lydon on the bench, Mendes starting in his last game for several weeks.
And the third “half” ….. The visitors, attacking the Meadow End, started brightly, certainly was a different challenge to Saturday as they passed the ball neatly and looked to exploit the space behind our wing backs. From one such move the ball was drilled across our six yard box, two Chester forwards just failing to get the touch.
We couldn't hold out for long, though the goal was a mistake rather than good football. A corner from the right went deep, was headed rather tamely towards goal, a regulation grab for any keeper; a Chester forward made life as difficult as possible for Pond and the ball ended up in the net. “Foul ref” I shouted, along with many others, but I don't think it was, nor did the person whose decision mattered, and the goal stood.
The setback didn't get us going, fortunately the visitors created little too despite continuing to dominate, especially in midfield. We were limited to the odd surge by Skinner down the right and a surfeit of hopeful or desperate channel punts that got us nowhere. Our strikers were struggling with the poor service, once again I couldn't fault the attitude of Jason Cowley, he really is a pest for any defender to face, but the outcome of regular free kicks given away got him a finger wag and warning from the ref, before the inevitable card when it looked like he was late and high on Murray.
The only real chance of the half fell to Willo, played in by Tex’s incisive pass, but his shot from 15 yards was straight at the keeper.
We did get the ball in the net just before the break, Babos' free kick was volleyed home by Cowley but the offside flag was raised.
An insipid 45 minutes from the Bulls, I assume tea cups were thrown (we must be under budget on smashed tea cups this season despite the plethora of home games, I'm sure Stig can confirm?) before we came out early for the second half. I did wonder if alterations would be made, revert to 4 at the back, play Mendes wide, replace Willo who was struggling? But no personnel changes forthcoming, Caddis sending the same 11 out to right the first half wrongs.
The half time tea (cups?) certainly had an impact as we started far more aggressively and played with the tempo and drive we've become accustomed to this season. A quick move led to a cross from the right, Willo’s header at the back post was saved by a flying leap by Chester's impressive keeper, Stanway.
He made a similar sharp save from a Howkins header a bit later on, by then the cracks were showing in the visitors discipline, as well as their defence, with over half their team carded by the end of the game.
Tex, booked and missing the next two games after accruing 10 cards (assume this was his 11th?), was replaced by Lydon and soon after we got our, by then, deserved equaliser. The ref had already warned Chester's defenders for repeated holding in their area and, as another corner was half cleared, the whistle went for a pen. I have to admit to not seeing anything that obvious, I await the highlights with interest, but don't look a gift horse etc. After a significant delay as two more visitors were cautioned, Willo took the pen, it wasn't a great one but someone got through the keeper and trickled in.
With 20 minutes left the game was there for the taking, by then we were winning the majority of midfield battles, Mendes in particular had a terrific second 45 and would have been my MotM, but our attacks were frenetic rather than flowing or controlled. Cameron ended up as a battering ram up top, he had the best chance to win the game with a header he couldn't keep down from yet another dangerous free kick, but I felt a change up front and or the addition of a little more creativity from Kouhyar might have opened the door. Chester did have one or two situations on the break they failed to capitalise on but would have been the happier with a point at the whistle. It certainly was a game of two halves.
I'm assuming the post match drama was far removed from Saturday's chaos even though experienced midfielder Weeks received a second yellow for his protests? By then I was legging it back to the station. A 2154 train doesn't leave you time to hang around these days with the length of time a football match takes. Again, while it wasn't on Saturday's scale, Chester did waste a bit of time (their keeper was booked after 3 warnings) but they were no worse than we'd be in similar circumstances. After a first 45 of decent football and good organisation, I'd be more critical of their second half passivity that allowed us to take the initiative if I were a Chester fan. From our point of view, another game where we played well in patches, it must be impossible to keep up the tempo we display when we're going well for a whole game. Another reason why judicious use of substitutions may have helped perhaps?
I'm off to Southport on Saturday, there'll be far less walking involved, I won't even try and see the sea (if you've been there, you'll get it). Hopefully, despite what will have to be a pretty patched up side we can get three points to keep ourselves close to the play off hunt. COYB.