Author: danielnoble2000

Linfield FC midfielder Jordan Stewart believes football should take a back seat during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Irish Premiership has been placed on hold since Friday 13 March, with the last league match being played on 7 March and over a month later, it is still unclear when we will see a return to action.

Amidst this aura of uncertainty, we could see the league action suspended for the first time since 1940 when the season came to a halt due to a different kind of action, the Second World War, and this could be a real possibility according to Stewart.

“If there is no resolution in the next few weeks it would become increasingly difficult to see how the league could continue” he said. “It’s a horrible situation for the organisers of the league to be in.”

“The longer this is prolonged, the more difficult it will be to resume the current season” Stewart added.

“I’m not sure when the league will return or if the current season will even finish. So, it will be interesting to see how things will be adjusted if or when the season returns.”

Nowadays football is more than a game, football is a business and as with any business during these times of uncertainty, the Irish League will be hit financially.

“I can imagine it is extremely difficult and challenging for most clubs, especially clubs further down the league, to cope with finances now without the gate money coming in each week” said Stewart.

“I would imagine some of the clubs in the league could massively struggle without some sort of financial help from the league or some sort of funding and that could affect the league as a whole.”

As players are pawns in the game of chess that is football business, they too will face financial struggles and will be left wondering what their next move will be.

“It also leaves players in the same position financially, as they are unsure of their future or how long a club can continue paying their wages for” Stewart said. 

“You always have that thought in the back of your mind that if this continues to go on for a long period of time, everyone’s future may become uncertain, especially players who are now coming out of contract in the next month or two.”

An un-named Linfield player was diagnosed with Covid-19 in the early stages of the crisis in Northern Ireland, meaning players at the club were informed on the status of their jobs for some time before matches were officially postponed.

“I can only really comment on matters at Linfield, but the club have been reassuring us that in the short-term we will be fine” said Stewart. 

“There is still that air of uncertainty as to what will happen in the long-term because as I already mentioned, it is unclear how clubs will be able to cope with the financial issues that come with a lack of football and the revenue that comes with it” he added.

However, with the devastation the Covid-19 crisis is having throughout the world on a human level, perhaps football should be the last thing on people’s minds and despite being directly affected by the issues facing football, Stewart believes football should be put to the side until we weather the coronavirus storm.

“Football is a very short career and to be missing any amount of football is not ideal, but it is not the main priority” he said. 

“Times like these make you realise that football is only a small part of life and the health of everyone and their families is what is most important.”

Former Northern Ireland Under-21 International Stewart has struggled for game time this season and despite the harm a lack of football may have on his career, it is just a dip in the road and football cannot drive us towards a solution in these times.

“On a personal note, I have struggled this season and last season sue to injuries and football has been postponed just as I have got back in the team. So, it is not ideal, but the health and safety of each individual is far more important than a game of football” he added.

“Obviously for my career it’s not ideal with us being in lockdown, but people’s lives have to come first.”

Photo credit: Lana Connoly

Chester FC joint manager Anthony Johnson believes his side have put themselves in a great position in their promotion challenge.

The Seals came from a goal behind to beat AFC Telford 2-1 as they moved up to third place.

Goals from Akwasi Asante and Anthony Dudley either side of half time grabbed the three points for Chester as their promotion rivals failed to hit back.

Three points was mission accomplished for Johnson in what he described as a six-point match: “I think when you play a side who if they’d have beaten us, they’d have gone level with us, it was a six pointer” he said. “It’s put a nice little gap between us and Telford now.”

With results going their way elsewhere, Chester were able to take advantage of their rivals’ slip-ups, which eased the pressure for Johnson and his team.

“We’re all going to drop points between now and the end of the season but when you win and everyone else drops points it always makes it that bit of a sigh of relief” he said.

The Blues boss will not be taking anything for granted though: “We’ll have more blips, we’ll have defeats, we’ll have draws, they’ll win and that’s the way it is, it’s the nature of the beast.”

Despite a great victory over their league rivals, there is still work to do for Chester if they are to achieve their goals at the end of the season.

“They scored against the run of the play, fuming about the goal being a set piece because we knew what a danger they’d be” Johnson added.

“So, obviously that upset us a bit and obviously the last 10 minutes of the game where they’ve got 10 against 11 and they’ve had a few corners from very sloppy play from ourselves.”

But those issues could not overshadow the result and what it means for Johnson’s side moving forward: “Disappointed with that but fantastic performance, great result and gives us that bit of momentum.”

Photo credit: CFCTV

Chester FC have beaten AFC Telford 2-1 courtesy of goals from Akwasi Asante and Anthony Dudley to move up to third in the table.

The Blues went a goal behind in the first half but quickly rallied round to pick up a vital three points in their promotion chase.

Read our match text commentary from the National League North fixture here: https://live.24liveblog.com/live/UoSUO

Chester FC came from a goal behind to beat AFC Telford 2-1 as they moved up to third place.

The visitors went in front through Amari Morgan-Smith before goals from Akwasi Asante and Anthony Dudley grabbed the three points.

It was Chester who started the game on top and thought they had gone in front after 10 minutes when Asante headed home, but the flag was up.

The hosts continued to push for an opener as the ball fell to Asante, but his back-post effort was well saved by Andrew Wycherley.

Chester were left to regret their wasted chances as Telford opened the scoring against the run of play when Stephan Morley’s free kick was well met by Morgan-Smith.

It was not long before Chester bounced back though, Matthew Thomson’s clearance was headed on by Dudley and fell nicely to Asante who kept a cool head to slot home the equaliser.

The Blues began to assert their dominance and almost went in front just before half-time as Henry Cowans gifted the ball to Craig Mahon, but he was unable to capitalise.

Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley’s men began to pick up where they had left off in the first period and soon went ahead as Dudley fired into the bottom corner.

Telford thought they had equalised just 10 minutes later, but the referee ruled Grant Shenton had been fouled in the build-up.

The away side’s efforts were not helped when Shane Sutton was sent off in the 70^th minute. 

However, the Bucks thought they had grabbed a last gasp equaliser, but their effort was cleared off the line brilliantly by Thomson as Chester held on.

Goal machine Asante

Akwasi Asante was on the scoresheet again to help deliver the three points for Chester FC.

The striker grabbed his fifth goal in three games for the Blues, but with him going off injured in the 57^th minute, Chester fans will be hoping it was just a precaution.

Dudley’s drought over

Anthony Dudley’s 51^st minute winner was not only significant in securing the win for his side but it also put an end to his goal drought.

Dudley scored his first goal in six games for the Blues as his last goal came in their 3-2 win over Nuneaton.

Moving up the table

The three points in this game are significant in what was a massive win for Chester.

With AFC Telford lurking just outside the playoff places, a win was vital for the Seals in consolidating their top seven position and with results going their way elsewhere, they now see themselves in third place.