MATCH PREVIEW: CHESTER FC WOMEN v ELLESMERE PORT TOWN LADIES

Chester FC Women play their first home game of the season on Wednesday night, as they welcome local rivals Ellesmere Port Town Ladies to the Leap76 Stadium.

The Blues will be hoping to bounce back with a win following an opening day 2-0 loss at Poulton Vics. A closely thought encounter between the two sides was won with two second half goals, with Chester manager Martin Fitzsimons admitting his sides general play ‘wasn’t good enough on the day’.

The Seals look set to be backed by a bumper crowd on Wednesday night, following the announcement that the Leap76 Stadium would become Chester’s permanent home for the 2023/24 season and beyond.

With well over a hundred season tickets sold to date, the Blues will be hoping to count on home advantage this campaign and make the Leap76 a fortress.

Wednesday night’s opponents Ellesmere Port Town Ladies will be looking to pick up their first points of the season when the two sides meet. The Cheshire outfit had the opening weekend off following the postponement of their game against Wythenshawe Women.

Port Ladies were promoted to the NWWRFL Division One South in the summer after winning the Cheshire Women’s and Youth Premier Division, a season that saw them go unbeaten in the league.

MATCH DETAILS

Kick off is 7pm on Wednesday evening at the Leap76 Stadium, CH1 4LT.

Entry to the game is either via your CFCW Season Ticket which can be scanned, or payment via contactless at the gate.

Fans who have already purchased Season Tickets for collection can pick them up from the Ticket Office prior to kick off.

The Cestrian Bar will be open from 5pm until kick off – and one kiosk in the Main Stand will be open for food and drink throughout the evening.

STAT ATTACK

• Chester’s last competitive game at the Leap76 Stadium finished with a 4-1 win against Northwich Vixens last season.
• The Blues won six out of their ten games at home in the league last campaign.

MANAGER'S THOUGHTS

“On Sunday, the game was very even, the game wasn’t great but going in at half time 0-0 we felt confident that we have more gears to reach, but we never got there.

“At 0-0 we had a chance which we should have don’t better with, and a chance at 1-0 to get ourselves level, but as the saying goes, goals change games and although general play wasn’t good enough but our standards, it was an even game with neither side blowing the other away.

“We have a chance to put that right and kick start our season on Wednesday night at the Leap76 Stadium.

“Hopefully we get a big crowd for a local derby and they can get us our first three points of the season!”

Preview by Jordan McNicholas.

Photo courtesy of Luke Reynolds Photography.