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30
April 2023
PERFECT SEND OFF FOR BLUES
A comprehensive victory
over play-off chasing Buxton on Deva Stadium on
Saturday gave the Blues the perfect preparation
to next weekend’s play-off semi-final. First
half goals from Anthony Dudley and Elliott Whitehouse
set Chester on their way and the 4-0 rout of the
Bucks was completed in the second half with further
goals from Charlie Caton and a first goal for Kelly
Nmai. The crowd for the game of 3,528 (411 Buxton)
was the highest of the season.
Defeat for Buxton saw them drop out of the play-off
places on a day which saw many twists and turns
before the eventual final places were decided.
The title was won by AFC Fylde with the end of season
play-off’s taking place in the coming week;
Tuesday: Alfreton Town v Kidderminster Harriers
(winner away at second placed King’s Lynn
Town)
Wednesday: Brackley Town v Gloucester City (winner
away at third placed Chester).
Relegated from the National League North were: AFC
Telford United, Bradford (Park Avenue), Leamington
and Kettering Town.
Picture
© Rick Matthews
Final
League Table |
Match
photographs | Match
highlights [YouTube]
25 April 2023
WE’RE IN IT TOGETHER
Chester completed
their away league campaign with yet another win
as a goal from substitute Darren Stephenson brought
three points from relegation threatened Kettering
Town.
Once again manager Calum McIntyre rested several
first team regulars with an eye towards the end
of season play-off semi-final. Kurt Willoughby Declan
Weeks, Harrison Burke and sidelined skipper George
Glendon, along with others took their place among
the Chester supporters in the seats and on the terrace
at Latimer Park as Chester continued their fine
away form.
The only goal of the game came in the 74th minute
as Alex Brown’s through ball found Joe Lynch
on the left, he cut inside and crossed to Stephenson
who controlled the ball, turned and shot across
Owen Mason in the Poppies goal.
Chester’s away league record this season reads:
Played 23, Won 13, Drawn 9, Lost 1, For 38, Against
20, Points 48.
A bumper crowd is expected to see the Blues entertain
play-off chasing Buxton in the final home league
game of the season on Saturday, kick-ff 15.00hrs.
The Bucks currently lie in the final play-off place,
seventh, with a host of teams below them all with
the capability of catching them as the season comes
to an exciting climax.
Picture
© Rick Matthews
League
Table after victory at Kettering | Match
photographs
PLAY-OFF TICKET ARRANGEMENTS
Chester have now confirmed
ticketing arrangements for the play-off semi-final
on Sunday 7 May, kick-off 15.30hrs.
Season Ticket holder sales
Start 10.00hrs on Wednesday 26th April and end 20.00hrs
on Sunday 30th April.
CFU Members (including Junior Blues) sales
Start 10.00hrs on Monday 1st May and end 20.00hrs
Tuesday 2nd May.
General sales
Start online 10.00hrs on Wednesday 3rd May.
The Deva Stadium Ticket Office will be open for
sales during normal opening hours, which are 10.00hrs
to 16.00hrs from Monday to Friday.
Full
details here
19 April 2023
FRIENDLY WIN FOR BLUES
Chester beat an Everton
X1, containing several first team regulars, in a
behind-closed-doors practice game at Everton’s
Finch Farm training ground facility yesterday. The
score was 1-0 with Reece Daly finding the net.
PLAY-OFF TICKETS
With
a home semi-final match in the end of season play-off’s
now guaranteed, Chester have announced ticketing
sale plans for the game that will take place at
Deva Stadium on Sunday 7 May, kick-off 15.30hrs.
Standard league ticket prices will apply. The first
sales will go the season ticket holders (one ticket
per season ticket). Following this, the second round
of sales will to to City Fans United members (including
Junior Blues) with members able to purchase one
ticket each. Note that all CFU members must be fully
paid up members by 12.00hrs on Saturday 22 April
to qualify.
The final sales window will see any remaining tickets
go on general sale with two tickets allowed per
person. All tickets will be sold on a first come
first served basis. The date for sales will be announced
soon.
16 April 2023
BLUES GUARANTEE THIRD PLACE
Saturday’s home
2-2 draw brought the point Chester needed to guarantee
a third place finish to the league season, a tremendous
achievement for Calum McIntyre and his team.
The Blues made six changes to the side that won
at Southport, and handed a debut to on-loan striker
Kelly Nmai.
It was certainly a game not lacking in incident
as the Blues found themselves two down early on
as Adam Clayton took full advantage of a couple
of corners to head Farsley in front in the fourth
minute and then double that lead in the 22nd.
Things got worse for Chester as Kevin Roberts was
given a straight red card following a late challenge
on former Blue Lewis Turner. But Chester started
to battle back before the break and with five minutes
of the first half left Adam Thomas was sent through
on goal by Anthony Dudley to slot the ball past
Max Dearnley in the Celtic goal.
Chester brought on Charlie Caton at the break and
were soon pressing for an equaliser. Debutant Nmai,
who was later named player-of-the-match, set up
Elliott Whitehouse but his effort was saved by Dearnley.
Five minutes into the second period though Chester
drew level through Declan Weeks.
The Blues almost snatched all three points in the
final minute as Caton was sent through on goal one-on-one
but the on-loan striker sent his shot wide.
Chester played in their away shirts as Farsley had
turned up in a light blue second strip, and with
the light/dark blue colour clash affecting one of
the players who suffers from colour blindness, the
change was agreed between the teams and the referee
Richard Aspinal.
Picture
© Rick Matthews
League
Table after Farsley draw |
KIT CHOICES REVEALED
The club have announced
the winning styles chosen by a CFU members vote
for next season’s home and away kits. They
will be produced by Hope + Glory who recently signed
a three year deal with the club.
Pictures
© chesterfc.com
10 April 2023
CHESTER WIN AT SOUTHPORT
Chester maintained
their superb away form with a battling 2-1 victory
at Haig Avenue on Easter Monday. Backed by an away
following of 1,336 (just over half of the crowd!)
the Blues took the lead with a goal three minutes
into the second half through a long-range effort
from on-loan Elliott Whitehouse.
The Sandgrounders, who had seen Jack Doyle sent-off
in the first half following a challenge on Kevin
Roberts, drew level with an equally spectacular
goal from substitute Niall Watson on 56 minutes.
Top striker Kurt Willoughby restored the lead seven
minutes later with a curling 25-yarder that crashed
home off the crossbar.
Willoughby injured himself scoring the goal and
hobbled straight off. Also leaving the pitch through
injury late on was defender Matty Williams who was
replaced by Joe Lynch seven minutes from time.
Picture
© Rick Matthews
League
Table after Southport victory
8 April 2023
CFU MEMBERS VOTE FOR NEW KITS
CFU members are currently
voting on their choice of home and away kits for
next season. Two options for each have been presented
to members, blue home and yellow away. The kit will
be produced by Hope + Glory who have signed an initial
three-year deal with the club. You can view the
options here.
STALEMATE AT THE DEVA
In a game of very
few half-chances Chester and Chorley drew 0-0 at
Deva Stadium on Good Friday. The highest home league
crowd of the season, 3,487, was out in force but
neither side were able to break the deadlock. The
only real effort of goal came from Chorley’s
Billy Whitehouse who was sent through one-on-one
with Harry Tyrer in the opening minutes but the
Blues ‘keeper saved. The point guarantees
Chester a place in the play-off’s. The next
aim will be to secure a top three spot.
Picture
© Rick Matthews
5 April 2023
JOHN SAINTY 1946-2023
|
John Sainty,
who has sadly passed away at the age of 77,
served Chester as manager for 12 months between
November 1982 and November 1983. When John
was appointed he was faced with the unenviable
task of managing a club at one of its lowest
ebbs as severe financial constraints affected
many decisions.
In many weeks he had to rely heavily on non-contract
players in order to field a team but he did
mastermind two notable victories. In the Milk
Cup, in 1983/84, the Seals overcame a 3-0
first round first leg deficit against Bolton
Wanderers with an impressive 3-0 triumph at
Sealand Road to go through on penalties and
this was followed, in the second round, by
a first leg 1-0 win over second tier Leeds
United at Elland Road with a goal from Andy
Elliott.
Obituary
|
PLAY-OFF DATES CONFIRMED
The dates for the
National League North play-off’s have been
confirmed and are as follows:
Eliminator A (5th v 6th) Tuesday 2 May, Kick-off
19.45hrs
Eliminator B (4th v 7th) Wednesday 3 May, Kick-off
19.45hrs
Semi-Final (2nd v Eliminator A Winner) Sunday 7
May, Kick-off 12.30hrs
Semi-Final (3rd v Eliminator B Winner) Sunday 7
May, Kick-off 15.30hrs
Promotion Final Sunday 14 May, Kick-off 15.30hrs
The Promotion Final will be screened live on BT
Sports. The other play-off matches will be available
to view on National League TV.
3 April 2023
BLUES MARCH ON
Chester moved a step
closer to cementing a place in the play-off's with
another fine away performance this time winning
2-1 at play-off rivals Darlington, their second
win in the north east in a week. Like last week
at Blyth Spartans, Declan Weeks gave the Blues the
lead just before half-time. New signing Elliott
Whitehouse doubled the lead on 64 minutes with his
first goal for the club after signing on loan from
Scunthorpe United last week. The Quakers pulled
a goal back in the final minute but Chester held
firm to remain in third place in the league.
On Friday they are at home to Chorley who themselves
lie just outside of the play-off places. The sides
last met in September with The Magpies scoring an
equaliser in the last minute of the 2-2 draw. The
match has been chosen as one of the National League
North’s live streaming matches, supporters
who can't get to Deva Stadium can view the game
online for £9.50.
Details of how you can obtain a viewing pass can
be found here.
Picture
© Rick Matthews
League
Table | Match
photographs |
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