30 August 2005
LAST-GASP CITY DO IT AGAIN
A goal in the third minute of added time by Ryan Lowe brought City three points from Plainmoor in a match they dominated for long periods. Manager Keith Curle made changes to the side that fought back so well against Darlington and surprisingly opted to leave Gregg Blundell and Ryan Lowe on the bench for the start.

Both were unleashed in the second period and created several openings, and, but for the heroics of Andy Marriott in the Gulls goal, who produced some stunning saves to keep City at bay, the scoreline could have been more emphatic. Lowe’s goal came after his close-range effort from Bundell’s cross came back off the crossbar, the ball rebounding in off the back of the diving Marriott with Lowe making sure the ball crossed the line.

Following the match Keith Curle said: “The football club is growing. People think that team spirit comes from socialising off the field, but it doesn’t, it comes from results like this on the field, not only individually but collectively. The players are grabbing every last bit of energy out of each other. That’s the pleasing thing.”

Curle continued: “I think probably a lot of people would have wondered about the team selection before yesterday’s game and sometimes it can backfire but it was important I knew we could put a team out that would create chances and contain Torquay.”

City staged a superb second half fight back to earn a point and share eight goals in a dramatic game with Darlington. There were home debuts for Gregg Blundell (left) and Leo Bertos as the Blues looked to bounce back following the midweek mauling at Wolves.

However City gifted a goal on four minutes when Phil Bolland was adjudged to have fouled Dickman in the area and the resulting spot-kick was converted. A second by Sodje goal on 34 minutes gave Darlo a two goal cushion at the break. Manager Keith Curle made three changes for the second period and within two minutes sub Marcus Richardson reduced the deficit only for Sodje to add a third for the visitors two minutes later.

Blundell made the scoreline 2-3 on 55 minutes and City pressed for an equaliser. Nine minutes from time though Sodje completed his hat-trick and looked to have booked all three points for the Quakers. However, City’s battling qualities, shown in the last home match against Lincoln were on show again and Blundell added his second on 89 minutes from close range before providing a perfect cross a minute later for Richardson to nod the equaliser.

This was the first home 4-4 scoreline since January 1995 when City drew with Rotherham United by a similar scoreline.

The point leaves Chester unbeaten so far in the league and in 11th position on six points (with a game in hand). On Monday City play at 23rd placed Torquay United who picked up their second point of the season today with a 0-0 draw at Peterborough.

Manager Keith Curle will be hoping for good news on the injury front as City embark on there Bank Holiday weekend games against Darlington and Torquay United tomorrow. Marcus Richardson, Dave Artell and Abdou El Kholti all missed Wednesday’s game at Wolves through injury as did Craig Dove who has been sidelined all season with a knee problem. Striker Gregg Blundell looks set to start against the Quakers after playing the second half at Molineux then following that up next day with 74 minutes for the reserves at Tranmere Rovers. However, Ryan Lowe will miss out as he serves the last game of a two match suspension following his dismissal at Nene Park. Darlington currently lie in seventh position with seven points from twelve. Their two away League games so fare have brought a draw at Rushden & Diamonds (1-1) and a single goal victory at Grimsby Town. In midweek they were beaten 3-1 at neighbours Hartlepool in the Carling Cup. Tomorrow’s game will be officiated by Gary Sutton from Lincolnshire.

There was to be no happy return to Molineux for former Wolves pair Keith Curle and Michael Branch as City crashed out of the Carling Cup to Wolves 5-1 last night.

The Blues fell behind to a sixth minute deflected goal but with injuries and suspensions forcing Curle to play Branch as a loan striker

As well as Blundell, City gave a debut to Leo Bertos who came on midway through the second period.

The Blues are in first round Carling Cup action tonight as they travel to Molineux to play Wolverhampton Wanderers. The championship side have been on a club record unbeaten run which came to an end on Saturday with their first defeat in 21 games at the hands of Leeds United.

Two people delighted when the draw was made were ex-players Keith Curle and Michael Branch. Curle made over 200 appearances for the Wolves whilst Branch appeared on nearly 70 occasions.

The two sides have met only three times in competition before. In February 1977 Chester lost 1-0 at Molineux in the fifth round of the FA Cup in front of a crowd of 37,803, including a large following from Chester, as a Kenny Hibbitt goal nine minutes from time was all that separated the sides after a gallant performance from the Blues.

Chester have signed former Rochdale midfielder Leo Bertos on a non-contract basis. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Bertos played for Wellington Olympic before moving to England in 2001 and signing for Barnsley where he made 4+9 appearances, scoring 1 goal in a two year spell for the Oakwell side.

He moved to Spotland in 2003 where he went on to make 79+10 appearances scoring 1 goal for the Lancashire club before being released at the end of last season.

Bertos also has 7 full New Zealand international caps and has also represented his country at U23, Youth and Schoolboy level.

Goalscorer Ryan Lowe turned hero to villain at Nene Park when he was sent off in the final minute after appearing to say something to an assistant referee after he’d been fouled. It looks like he’ll be suspended for the Carling Cup game at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday now and will also face a club fine.

Lowe had earlier opened the scoring for Chester as his close range effort after David Artell had knocked down a Ben Davies right wing corner. Diamonds equalised within five minutes as substitute Chris O’Grady’s cross shot beat Chris MacKenzie in the City goal.

Lowe had a chance to wrap up the three points in the dying minutes but saw a shot go agonisingly wide.

Striker Gregg Blundell is rated at 50/50 to make his League debut for Chester at Rushden & Diamonds tomorrow (kick-off 15:00hrs). Blundell has suffered no reaction in training to an ankle injury picked up before the start of the season.

One played definitely ruled out is ex-Diamonds player Craig Dove who has yet to pull on a City shirt since his move in the summer due to a knee injury. Like City, tomorrow’s opponents Rushden have taken four points from their opening two matches following an opening day 1-1 draw at Darlington that was followed with a 1-0 home win over Mansfield Town.

Saturday’s match against Grimsby Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch following a 13:30hrs pitch inspection by the match referee Mr Gurnan Singh. There were pools of water on the pitch and the away terracing was flooded. The track on three sides of the ground was also under water, only the north end of the ground remained dry. Has this happened in August before!? No new date has yet been arranged for the fixture.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday when they visit Rushden & Diamonds whose game today at Macclesfield Town also fell foul to the weather. City fans will be hoping that record signing Gregg Blundell will have recovered from injury to make his full Chester debut at Nene Park.

City entertain Grimsby Town at Deva Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 15:00) looking to build on the four points gained from the opening two fixtures this week. Gregg Blundell, who has missed both games with an ankle injury, will soon resume training and

Like City, The Marriners have started the season well with a 1-1 draw at home to Oxford United last Saturday followed by a 2-1 victory at Bristol Rovers in midweek.

Good luck to Richard Hope who, after spending two days training at Gay Meadow, has joined Shrewsbury Town on a two year contract. Hope made a total of 29+4 appearances for Chester last season, scoring one goal. Shrews manager Gary Peters told the Shrews official club website: “He’s 6'2" and is a rugged type of centre back, he looks like a man who won’t take any prisoners and he knows the game. I think he’s a really good addition to our squad at this time”.

City staged a dramatic second-half fightback to earn a 2-2 draw with Lincoln City in an entertaining League Two clash last night. It looked different at the break as goals from Nat Brown and Gary Birch had given the Imps a two goal advantage.

Ben Davies reduced the arrears five minutes into the second period and with the game running into added time Ryan Lowe was fouled in the box and Michael Branch stepped up to convert the resulting penalty to the delight of the home fans.

Chester got off to a great start to their League Two campaign with a 1-0 victory at Peterborough United on Saturday. Stewart Drummond scored the only goal of the game, in front of a vociferous away support, 20 minutes from time.

The Blues saw five players: Ben Davies, Luke Dimech, Tom Curtis, Phil Bolland and Ryan Lowe all booked in a fiery first-half but kept the home sides efforts down to a couple of free-kicks.

After the break Chris MacKenzie was called on to make a couple of good saves and, when he was beaten by a lob, defender Dimech was in hand to clear from near the line.

After seeing his side win their opening game manager Keith Curle said: “I thought we deserved the win. The lads were the better side in the second half and this gives us a platform to build on.”

Ex-manager Mark Wright didn’t take things too well though, he refused to shake hands with Curle after the game, telling The Times: “I didn’t shake hands with Keith Curle for the simple reason I don’t respect him, but I won’t go into it any further.” Curle added: “We shook hands before the game so I can only assume it was sour grapes. You get plenty of setbacks in life and you must take them on the chin.”

City have been rebuilding as well over the summer and it will be largely a new-look side that opens the season tomorrow. Manager Keith Curle is also relishing the start of the new campaign, he told the Chronicle “I can’t wait for the season to start, I’d have started two weeks into May if it was down to me. I think I’ve got a squad of players who are capable of finishing in the top 10. I’m here to work hard for the fans and serve up entertaining, winning, attractive football.”

The City side was assembled from a mix of first-team and reserve players, and there was a surprising choice on the bench of Richard Hope, who has been linked with a move to Shrewsbury Town.

Manager Keith Curle will use the match to once again take a look at the goalkeeping situation. With Chris MacKenzie seemingly penciled in for the number one spot, and Wayne Brown joining Hereford United on loan, the Blues have yet to settle on a second choice keeper. Phil Harrison and Chris Neal have both had trials between the sticks in recent weeks and on Saturday it was the turn of ex-Bradford City shot stopper Clint Davies to try and impress. Tonight both he, and Hull City shot-stopper Matty Duke are expected to feature.

Meanwhile the club have fined Abdou El Kholti (left) was dismissed for a professional foul at Blackpool on Saturday. The dismissal means that El Kholti will miss Saturday’s league opener against Peterborough United and the club are determined to clean up their act after last season’s poor disciplinary record that saw them hauled before the FA last week to explain.

Those fans thinking about taking their flags to Peterborough United on Saturday should note that unless they are flame-proofed they will not be allowed into London Road, the exception to the rule are small flags approximately 1 metre by 600mm (that rules out the Exiles banner then!). Flags larger that this need to be flame-proof treated and you will need to produce a certificate to authenticate this at the ground.