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Hereford
(A) | Darlington
(H) | Southport
(A) | Marine
(H) | King’s
Lynn Town (A) | Buxton
(POE H)
Wednesday
30 April Chester
2 Buxton 1 (after
extra time)
National League North Play-Off
Eliminator
Attendance: Half Time: 1-1 Full Time: 1-1
Booked: Woods, Woodthorpe, Murray.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Peers
(Mottley-Henry 62), Willoughby (O’Kane 57), Woodthorpe,
Leak, Woods (Mooney 76), Bainbridge, Murray (Rawlinson
116), Roberts. Subs not used: Brown, Lambert, Burgess.
Buxton: Grant, Lusala (Trueman 70 (Viggars
111)), Mann, Faulkner, Kirby (De Girolamo 111), Elliott
(Martin 106), Brennan, Coleman (Sault 86), Johnston (Popoola
81), Burton, Ewing. Sub not used: Cooper.
Referee: Kavan Hurn.
It
was a late finish on the last day of April – after
half past ten when the final whistle blew. Prior to that
Chester and Buxton played out an intense couple of hours
plus stoppage time. As the prospect of a penalty shoot-out
hove in to view, Harrison Burke lashed in Bainbridge’s
lay-off to send the Deva into wild delight. Celebrations
were exuberant borne of sheer relief and contributed to
the four added minutes which extended this match deep
into the night.
As extra time arrived Chester looked to be out on their
feet after fighting to hold their ground against a Buxton
side looking to control possession and launch quick-fire
raids down either flank. But when the first additional
half began City pressed with a new found energy. Three
of the substitutes on the night contributed fresher legs
– Mooney and Mottley-Henry down either flank and
Taelor O’Kane in midfield. Twice Mottley-Henry tested
the keeper as he fired shots goalwards. Burke rose magnificently
to meet Weeks’ cross but headed over and O’Kane’s
shot was easily held by True Grant in the Bucks goal.
By now the Blues were attacking the South Stand under
the lights. Two hours earlier in bright sunshine they
got this eliminator tie off to a flying start as Murray
hit a first-time shot from the edge of the area which
eluded Grant and found the goal’s corner. It was
an ecstatic start after two minutes but – with eighty-eight
still remaining there was time for the stunned visitors
to recover. As they settled into a rhythm they began to
send searching balls down the wings and threatened through
the skill of Brennan and the energy of Johnston. Brennan
fired a free kick over the bar after Woodthorpe had brought
Johnston down.
When Brennan went down the left wing minutes later he
tormented both Roberts and Woods as they tried to block
him and chipped a clever cross to the far post. Johnston
was able to tap it back across the six yard line for Elliott
to control and finish for an equaliser.
It was the Blues turn to be rocked back but they dug in
to maintain parity. Buxton had the lion’s share
of possession but created nothing meaningful until just
before half time when Johnston found space to attack once
more down the right. His cross shot was touched at full
stretch by Storer on to the post and the Chester keeper
gathered the rebound gratefully.
Willoughby was starved of opportunity – though he
created a promising sight of goal for Peers in the first
half. Under pressure from a defender as the second half
began he lofted a snatched chance over the bar. O’Kane
replaced him as City tried to establish more control on
the ball but then Peers went down with injury a few minutes
later and had to be substituted by Mottley-Henry. Connor
Woods finished a fleet-footed move which a shot on target
before Mooney came on to take his place for the last fifteen
minutes of the ninety.
Both sets of supporters maintained their raucous encouragement
as the final whistle approached – though as frustration
increased, the noise became tinged with anxiety. Somehow
City found the inspiration to increase the intensity of
their play – inspired by Murray’s perpetual
motion to drive them forward. First Bainbridge and then
Burke gestured the crowd to get behind them following
sterling bits of play from both. It culminated with the
decisive moment of the match when – on his one hundred
and fifty first appearance for his hometown side - Burke
hammered the ball into the net at the Harry Mac’
End.
City endured the remaining tension-saturated minutes.
Connell Rawlinson came on to shore up the defence for
Buxton’s last onslaught which concluded when substitute
De Girolamo launched their one clear opportunity high
over the bar into the night sky.
The Blues reaped the reward of victory which their depth
of resolve and character had enabled. Soon they must prepare
for a tough encounter at Aggborough but tonight’s
performance will only strengthen their belief.
Colin Mansley


Pictures
© Rick Matthews
Saturday
26 April King’s
Lynn Town 0 Chester 3
National League North
Attendance: 1,645 Half Time: 0-3
Booked: Mooney.
King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Ronan
(Barnes 67), McFadden, Coulson (Warburton 33), Wilson,
Crowe, Taylor (Marsden 74), Johnson, Hmami, Margetts (Sass
81), Crane. Sub not used: Boyes.
Chester: Brown, Hunter, Briscoe, Rawlinson
(Leak 89), Willoughby (Turner 65), Lambert, Mottley-Henry,
Bainbridge (O’Kane 46), Heywood, Burgess, Mooney
(Rosenblatt 70). Sub not used: Storer.
Referee: TBA.
Despite making wholesale changes to the line-up Chester
end their league campaign with victory at King’s
Lynn.
Final
league table |
Monday
21 April Chester
2 Marine 1 National
League North
Attendance: 3,173 Half Time: 1-0
Booked: Woodthorpe.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Peers
(Mottley-Henry 63), Willoughby (Rosenblatt 90+1), Woodthorpe
(Mooney 79), Leak, O’Kane, Woods, Murray, K.Roberts.
Subs not used: Lambert, Burgess.
Marine: Metcalfe, Brown, Butler, Shaw
(Thomas 46), Wardle, Whelan (Fielding 76), Sinclair-Smith,
Scarisbrick (Doyle 83), Gregson, Murphy, Grant (Robinson
73). Sub not used: Sloane.
Referee: Calum Morris.
Having
booked a spot in the playoffs on Friday, Chester were
posed the question whether they could ensure it would
be a home tie. A win would guarantee City finishing no
lower than fourth. Marine arrived, though, in fine form
having secured their safety under the guidance of Chester
legend Neil Young.
The Blues were turned around for the first half and faced
the Harry Mac. They came forward in waves as they sought
an early lead. Murray got free on the overlap and fired
in a cross; Willoughby had a shot on target from a pre-rehearsed
corner routine. Then on ten minutes Burke got free of
his marker at another corner to head precisely in off
the post for a glorious opening goal.
The Mariners’ team were tall in stature and physically
imposing and strove to respond. Scarisbrick glanced a
corner on to the bar and Leak made a vital goal-saving
tackle as Murphy bore down on the rebound. Peers worked
hard to protect the ball as Chester lofted it forward
and had to put up with what looked like excessive manhandling
and shirt pulling from the opposition but his appeals
to the match officials were in vain. Left back Shaw was
eventually shown a yellow card for an undisputed foul
and was withdrawn at half time. His replacement was former
Blue, Adam Thomas.
With the visitors looking to threaten from set pieces
it looked like City would need another goal to feel comfortable.
Ironically it arrived from a Mariners free kick which
was hoisted clear by Weeks into the opposition’s
half. Brown struggled to control the bouncing ball as
it came down, Murray nipped in and lofted it over the
advancing keeper and into the net for Chester’s
second.
Murray’s effort proved decisive as Sinclair-Smith
pulled one back for the visitors, hooking in from a crowded
penalty area following another set piece launched into
the box. Makeshift substitute Chris Doyle nearly shinned
in an unlikely equaliser in the closing minutes but the
Blues held out for the win.
The result and those elsewhere means that they are likely
to be at home to whoever finishes in seventh spot after
Saturday’s final round of fixtures. There is an
outside chance that they could finish third but would
need a combined goal swing of twenty with Scunthorpe.
The players took up well deserved applause in their lap
of honour after the game and signed autographs in the
fan canopy afterwards. After the visit to Kings Lynn at
the weekend, a first eliminator beckons.
Colin Mansley

Picture
© Rick Matthews
Latest
table after Marine victory |
Friday
18 April Southport
0 Chester 1 National
League North
Attendance: 2,383 (1,081 Chester) Half Time: 0-0
Booked: -.
Southport: Renshaw, Doyle, Lloyd, Quansah,
Hilton (Thomson 76), Minihan, Stafford (Burgess 63), Russ
(Angus 63), Philliskirk, Curran-Nicholls (Heath 63), Pickles.
Sub not used: Hoey.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Willoughby
(Peers 69), Lambert (Mooney 54), Woodthorpe, Leak, O’Kane,
Woods, Murray, K.Roberts. Subs not used: Rawlinson, Mottley-Henry,
Burgess.
Referee: Oliver Noonan.
The
Blues travelled to Southport for a Merseyside derby knowing
that a win would secure a play-off place. Thanks to Connor
Woods’ third goal in as many matches they managed
to achieve this after a hard fought battle with the Sandgrounders.
City began attacking the Scarisbrick End and might have
taken an early lead when Weeks and Lambert forged an opening
for Willoughby. As the Chester number nine bore down on
goal he hit a fierce shot which grazed the bar as it flew
over. Calum McIntyre span around in disappointment. The
game became more attritional. Burke headed the ball forwards
an innumerable number of times. Southport tried to gain
ground along the touchline for Doyle to launch his long
throws into the box.
The evergreen Kevin Roberts was vigilant in defence and
then, as City came forward towards the end of the first
period he found space to put the ball across Southport’s
six yard box. Willoughby looked to finish but the ball
seemed to be taken off his toe as he was set to pounce
and the Sandgrounders’ goal remained intact.
Chester increased the pressure after the break and forced
a number of corners as they kicked towards their increasingly
soggy supporters on the Blowick End - but still the goal
would not come. Then the home side made a flurry of substitutes
and began to threaten at the other end. Angus, one of
the replacements, aimed a header on target but straight
at Storer.
Mooney replaced a tiring Lambert and Peers came on for
Willoughby. The two of them combined to set up the only
goal of the game. Weeks’ forward ball found Peers
who played a one-two with Mooney and he curved an inviting
cross into the box. As Southport defenders watched and
Peers made a distracting move, Woods stole in on the blind
side and launched himself horizontally to head the ball
back into the far corner. He followed this up with an
outrageous cartwheel and backflip as he celebrated the
breakthrough.
It was enough to ensure a narrow win and confirm a place
in the end of season play-offs for the Blues. Mission
accomplished with two League games to go. The knock out
matches will offer a difficult challenge but for now even
the increasing intensity of the rain could not douse the
Blues’ high spirits.
Colin Mansley

Picture
© Rick Matthews
Latest
table after Southport win |
Saturday
12 April
Chester 2 Darlington 1
National League North
Attendance: 2,412 Half Time: 0-1
Booked: Murray.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Peers,
Willoughby (Mottley-Henry 65), Woodthorpe, Leak, O’Kane,
Woods, Murray, K.Roberts. Subs not used: Lambert, Robenblatt,
Burgess, Mooney.
Darlington: Jameson, Hedley (Cornish
87), Barrow (Hetherington 75), Platt (Adams 75), Lees,
Hatfield, Maskell, Main, McGowan, Kelly (Salkeld 67),
Storey. Sub not used: Griffiths.
Referee: Ben Tomlinson.
Steve
Watson’s Darlington came to the Deva knowing that
only a win would give them a realistic chance of getting
in the play-offs.
They barely managed to cross the halfway line in the first
twenty minutes as City pushed them back on the defensive.
Woods came closest to scoring with a glancing header from
Weeks’ cross but Jameson pulled off a fine save.
When Darlington did counter they did so with devastating
effect. Cedric Main’s reverse pass set McGowan free
and as he cut into Chester’s box he had the composure
to beat the blocks of three defenders before steering
his shot into the far corner of the goal.
City responded but for all their pressure it was the visitors
who came closest to scoring next when a speculative ball
from Barrow into no-man’s land saw Main reach it
first and prod it fractionally wide of the post. A second
goal would have been difficult to recover from as well
as being against the run of play. A quick free kick led
to Willoughby just failing to connect with Peers’
driven cross and then Weeks saw a snap shot parried by
Jameson. City were unable to get on level terms by the
break but were encouraged that they were creating opportunities.
The Blues broke through shortly after the break courtesy
of a fortunate penalty. A clever flick from Woods found
Murray and his cross found a defender’s arm. The
referee pointed to the spot immediately and Peers sent
Jameson the wrong way with his penalty. Chester were now
in the ascendancy and took the lead when Leak knocked
Weeks’ corner goal-wards and Woods flicked it past
Jameson and a defender into the net. Woods’ enjoyed
the acclaim for his first goal at home in front of the
Harry Mac Stand.
Woods came close to adding to his tally with a header
that landed on the roof of the net and a low effort as
the game rolled in to stoppage time. Murray was awarded
Chester Man of the Match for his indefatigable running
and the Blues held Darlington at bay to claim a vital
three points.
Colin Mansley

Picture
© Rick Matthews
Latest
table after Darlington win |
Saturday
5 April
Hereford 2 Chester 2
National League North
Attendance: 4,017 (425 Chester) Half Time: 0-1
Booked: Woodthorpe.
Hereford: Richardson, Coates, Preston,
Hudson, Skinner, T.Campbell, D’Ath (Babos 33), White
(Cowley 84), Sterling-James, Ceesay (Williams 71), R.Campbell.
Subs not used: Derricott, Mitchell.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Peers,
Willoughby (Mooney 87), Woodthorpe, Leak, O’Kane,
Woods (Mottley-Henry 78), Murray, K.Roberts. Subs not
used: Lambert, Rosenblatt, Burgess.
Referee: Darius Bradley.
Victory slipped from City’s grasp as Hereford snatched
a stoppage time equaliser in the Spring sun at Edgar Street.
Chester seemed to have coped fairly comfortably with everything
that the Bulls had thrown at them since regaining the
lead. Jimmy Storer appeared to catch a left wing cross
in the third minute of added time but lost it in the dazzling
sun momentarily and Hereford sub Cowley stabbed in the
loose ball to deny the Blues a win that their performance
merited.
After a fiercely combative first period, City had taken
the lead as half time approached. Weeks knocked a free
kick wide to Woodthorpe and the left back’s cross
held in the breeze while Peers beat the offside trap and
headed past a hesitant Richardson in the Hereford goal.
Earlier Peers had seen an effort acrobatically cleared
off the line by Kieran Coates – newly on loan from
Boston with a number twenty-four taped to the back of
his shirt but no name. Richardson saved another goal-bound
Peers shot when he stuck out a leg to block.
Hereford had little by way of clear chances when they
came forward and were fortunate not to go down to ten
men when D’Ath caught Connor Woods as he was clearing
the ball forward. D’Ath, already on a yellow card
was substituted soon afterwards.
Soon after the break the home side were level when they
won a fortunate corner – the ball seemed to be kicked
out by one of their own players. The corner kick was deflected
into the path of White on the edge of the box and he was
able to fire it home.
Blues responded with intensity and were ahead again soon.
Murray’s superb pass found Weeks’ run to the
by-line. The City skipper’s cross reached Woods
at the far post and, though he stumbled he was able to
recover and score his first goal for the Blues.
Chester pressed forward for a third and clinching goal
– Peers rifled a shot narrowly over the bar; Matt
Preston almost diverted Woods’ free kick into his
own goal – but for a last ditch save by Richardson;
and as the game moved into the last ten minutes, Willoughby
latched on to a flick on by Peers to send a venomous half
volley fractionally over the bar.
City could not find that vital third goal and when Omari
Sterling-James hung up a cross more in hope than expectation
it led to the unfortunate conclusion as far as Chester
were concerned. As they emerged into the bright but blinding
sunlight, City fans and players could take heart from
a fine performance, full of character and attacking spirit
which deserved a better result. They remain in the play-off
places and with plenty to play for in the final four league
games of the season.
Colin Mansley

Picture
© Rick Matthews
Latest
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