Chester completed their pre-season campain with a comprehensive 5-0 home win over a Nantwich Town side. Two goals fom Rob Hopley and others from Michael Wilde, Mark Peers and trialist Josh Macauley brought victory against a side that fielded only a handful of first team players. Manager Neil Young was disappointed at the quality of the opposition.

He told the Evening Leader: “It was a bit of a disappointment for me from a personal point of view because another team has come here from a higher division, they can say what they want to say, but that is not their first team. It was probably only two or three out of their first team, they may say they have got a squad but I don’t understand it.”

“If they are going to take the game then why because it doesn’t give us a test, it probably gives their younger players an opportunity to play at the Deva Stadium, but it is a bit disappointing because it doesn’t give us the test we require like Wednesday night.”

“What do their young lads get from being beaten 5-0? If wasn’t for their ’keeper it would have been nine or ten.”

“I have been honest in all my interviews since I have been here and I don’t understand why, that if they they are going to bring youngsters, they don’t let us know. It doesn’t really serve us a purpose a week before the season starts.”

Chester entertain Nantwich Town at Deva Stadium tomorrow, kick-off 15:00hrs, in their last scheduled pre-season friendly. manager Neil Young may once again give a game to trialist Josh Macauley. Macauley has been offered a deal which he is currently considering, he has played under Young before when he went on loan from Tranmere Rovers to Colwyn Bay last season.

With just Michael Wilde and Rob Hopley, the two main strikers at the club ,Young is also keeping a close eye on an as yet unnamed Conference striker to provide more competition for the striking places.

Chester fought back from 0-3 to force a draw against FC United of Manchester (FCUM) in midweek. There was a great atmosphere on the night generated by the 1,700+ crowd and Young is expecting another test for his squad tomorrow, from a side who, like FCUM play in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

Striker Wilde (pictured0 has now scored seven times pre-season and he told the Evening Leader that he’s been pleased with the all round contribution from the team. He said: “One of the most noticeable things about pre-season so far has been the number of players who have been playing a big part in producing goalscoring chances.”

“If Chester are going to get out of this division we have got to score plenty of goals as well as possess a solid defensive unit.”

“It goes without saying that we have to score goals to accumulate points and I feel we have already shown how well we are playing together and we are certainly starting to fire on all cylinders.”

Tickets for the match will go on sale to Season Ticket holders at the following times:

10:00-16:00hrs on Thursday 12th August
10:00-16:00hrs on Friday 13th August
09:30-12:00hrs on Saturday 14th August

Season Ticket holders will need to produce Voucher A from their book, and if collecting their season ticket at the same time, will need to bring the receipt received when the season ticket was purchased. Season ticket holders are able to purchase more than one ticket if they present the season ticket and Voucher A of friends or family.

Manager Neil Young saw his side suffer their first home defeat on Saturday as Chester were beaten 1-0 at home by Marine. Young played a different eleven in each half as he gave his squad a run-out in front of another promising crowd of over 1,200. Hundreds of supporters turned up early to witness the unique pre-match spectacle of the Red Arrows flypast over the stadium. Following the defeat manager Young told the fficial website:“We were the better side for most of the game, but without being disrespectful to the Marine lads because I thought they worked their socks off, that was predominately fringe or reserve team players from them and we got out worked by them.” Chester are next in action tonight when they travel to Wallasey to play West Cheshire League side Ashville. Unlike Saturday, due to a number of injuries, there will be less shuffling around with the team. • Pre-season matches Picture © Evening Leader

The latest City Fans United members meeting takes place tonight at 20:00hrs at the Blues Bar at Deva Stadium. It is hoped that Chester FC manager Neil Young, and players George Horan and Andy Burgess, will be along to answer questions and meet the fans.

There will of course be the regular updates from the City Fans United board, along with a Q&A session with the chief executive Steve Ashton, and of course the latest Seals Lottery winners will be revealed.

Fans have until Thursday 5th August to purchase a Season Ticket and qualify for an away ticket for the Warrington Town game. The ticket office remains open from 10.00-16.00 Monday to Friday for fans wishing to purchase season tickets (Please note payment methods are cash/cheque – cheques made payable to Chester FC).

Former Chester favourites Graham Barrow (left) and Roberto Martinez returned to Deva Stadium with a young Wigan Athletic X1 yesterday and will have been impressed by what they saw. Chester ran out 4-0 winners with a side that’s still only been together for several weeks under Neil Young as the pre-season enthusiasm and confidence continues around Deva Stadium.

Barrow told the Chester Chronicle: “I know some of the lads, like Carl Ruffer, and I would imagine they were well up for this game as it’s a Premier League club. They wanted to show what they can do.”

“That’s what they did and if the way they performed today gives them a bit of confidence, well that’s great. But if I’m putting my working head on I’d have to say it’s been a very big lesson for our young players.”

“The happiness that Wigan and Chester football clubs have given me over the years far outweighs any of the other clubs I’ve been at, so it was great to see the fans so happy again.”

Martinez, a crowd favourite during his time at the club, had only been back in the country a few hours following a pre-season tour, but showed his class by turning up at the match and adding his praise of the occasion.

The Latics boss said: “Today was all about Chester Football Club. What happened to the old club was heartbreaking and it was a real test for the city and lovers of this football club. So it’s great to come here and see the fans so happy and supporting their side, who look an impressive side both in terms of numbers and skill levels. Our youngsters were beaten by a better team today.”

The pre-season build-up continues on Saturday with the arrival of Evo-Stik Premier side Marine, kick-off 15:00hrs – with the Red Arrows flypast at 14.18hrs.