“Sutton have gone top tonight with that performance. We knew how strong they were, and we went 2-0 down to the team that was second in the league. They’re strong, they play very direct football, and we knew we had to play, we knew we had pass. The loss of the three strikers (White, Bell and Hannah) meant we had to pass and play some football.”

“We’ll look at the detail and why we conceded three goals, because that’s the real negative today, but the work rate, and the response, and the way people got behind the football club, I’m really grateful for that.”

OPENING POINT FOR BLUES
Chester’s season got underway on Tuesday night with a home 1-1 draft with newly promoted AFC Fylde in front of a crowd of 2,223. Both sides created chances in the opening period which was end-to-end but it was The Coasters who took the lead on the stroke of half time as summer signing from Lincoln City Jack Muldoon scoring past Conor Mitchell making his debut in goal.

The Blues hit back however and were level just a minute later. Kingsley James broke out of midfield before sending Lucas Dawson through to score a deserved equaliser from 18 yards. Harry White was inches away from giving Chester the lead in the opening minute of the second period but Flyde were also creating chances themselves and Mitchell pulled off a superb save late on to push a Sam Finley strike round the post.

Manager Jon McCarthy thought both sides deserved a point: “I think it was a fair result. We both had similar chances, it was really even, I thought this would be the hardest game we’d have all week. We’re a little bit behind because we’ve not got 90 minutes under our belt but I’m pleased to put a point on the board against a team who are being touted as being one of the favourites for he play-offs. Everybody will accept it was a pretty even game.”

• Latest table | More pictures

“The Solihull Safety Advisory Group, who oversee the licensing of the stadium, has clarified that spectators cannot be admitted to the ground until such time as required safety systems are in place.”

“Arrangements are in hand to urgently deal with this matter, but it is felt the only appropriate decision available to The National League is to postpone the fixture and rearrange it for later in the season.”

Solihull said that “they were only made aware of this issue by Solihull Council at 7.30pm on Thursday night.”

Chester’s Chief executive Mark Maguire said: “We are angry that our fans have been left so disappointed on the eve of a new season. Having spoken to fans over the summer I know how much this will hurt and, even though it is something that was out of our control, we can only apologise as a football club. It’s not a phone call that I envisaged taking this morning. If we had known sooner then we could have offered the use of our stadium but there simply wasn't enough time.”

Defender John McCombe has been named captain for the coming season. McCombe joined Chester pre-season from Macclesfield Town, having turned down a new deal with the Silkmen, and has plenty of experience having played previously for Port Vale, York City and Hereford United. Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)