Mike Sutton, a regular in the Chester team of the late 1960’s, has sadly passed away in Norwich at the age of 76 after a long struggle with dementia. His plight was well documented and his son, former Norwich and Celtic striker Chris, has been one of the people at the forefront of the campaign to raise awareness of the problems caused by the disease amongst former professional footballers. • Obituary

Chester were unable to build on their success of Boxing Day as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Chorley yesterday. Victory would have seen the Blues end the year in second place, instead they were beaten by an in-form Chorley side, unbeaten in nine matches, in a game played behind closed doors.

Following a long throw Ollie Shenton opened the scoring for the Magpies on 25 minutes. Chester were level though ten minutes later though as Anthony Dudley, making his 100th appearance for the club, scored his fourth goal in as many games after being put through by Danny Elliott. However with the game in first-half added time Chorley were awarded a penalty following a foul by Simon Grand, Connor Hall converting the spot kick to secure the three points for the visitors.

The Blues gave a debut to on-loan Stoke City defender Connor Taylor who came off the bench for the last six minutes.

Chester are back in action on Saturday when they have a home match against AFC Telford United, kick-off 15.00hrs.

Goals from George Glendon and Anthony Dudley gave Chester a 2-1 victory over AFC Telford United at the New Bucks Head on Boxing Day. The Blues started well but fell behind against the run of play as Aaron Williams opened the scoring with the home sides first effort on 18 minutes. A quick free-kick saw Glendon and Dudley combine on the edge of the box with the former steering the ball past former Blues ‘keeper Russ Griffiths to equalise eight minutes later.

Chester sealed the deserved victory on 67 minutes as John Johnston went on a mazy run into the box down the left before crossing to Dudley at the far post who coolly slotted home.

The three points lifts Chester into third place and they are back in action on Monday with a behind-closed-doors home match against Chorley, kick-off 15.00hrs.

Chester were knocked out of the FA Trophy 2-1 by Altrincham on Saturday. The Blues fell behind on the stroke of half time to a stunning Joel Senior goal from fully 25+ yards out. Five minutes into the second period Anthony Dudley restored parity shooting beyond Tony Thompson from the edge of the box. Altrincham restored their lead just five minutes later breaking away from a Chester corner as former Blue Tom Peers chipped the ball over the advancing Louis Gray for what proved to be the winning goal.

Chester set up a Third Round FA Trophy tie at Altrincham on Saturday, kick-off 15.00hrs, after last night’s 3-1 home victory over Bradford (Park Avenue) in the Second Round. George Waring opened tie scoring on 21 minutes and Anthony Dudley doubled the lead from the penalty spot on 58. Will Goodwin scored his first senior goal for the club in the dying minutes before Bradford pulled back a consolation effort in stoppage time.

Regarding the match itself, both goalkeepers, Ross Fitzsimons for the Pilgrims, and Louis Gray kept their respective sides in it with a series of fine saves. Chester had two great chances to nick all three points at the end as Simon Grand sent Danny Elliott away but the Blues striker pulled his shot wide of target. And with the game entering stoppage time, Elliott’s replacement George Waring header just wide from George Glendon’s cross.

Chester stay in fifth place as a result of the draw. Fans will once again be present on Tuesday night when the Blues entertain Bradford (Park Avenue) in the Second Round of the FA Trophy, kick-off 19.45hrs. If the tie is level after 90 minutes it will go straight to penalties.

A crowd of 403 returned to Deva Stadium for the first time since March last night and those fortunate to be there were rewarded with an extraordinary game that saw Chester come from behind to defeat Hereford 5-3 and move fifth.

Chester had found themselves 2-0 down in the opening half hour as a brace of goals from Tom Owen-Evans gave the Bulls a clear lead. With the game heading into the break Declan Weeks gave Chester a foothold and a glimmer of hope with a well taken goal in front of the Harry McNally Terrace.

There was a frantic start to the second period as Danny Elliott drew Chester level on 49 minutes, tapping home after Bulls ‘keeper White had spilled Will Godwin’s effort, and three minutes later White palmed the ball into his own net from a Weeks corner to hand Blues the lead.

Louis Gray made a crucial great save to deny substitute Chris Camwell before John Johnston scored the goal of the night, his first for the club, smashing the ball into the top corner from 20 yards to make it 4-2.

Hereford struck back as Kennedy Digie headed home from a corner on 73 minutes, but Chester made the points safe with a fifth goal five minutes from time as Danny Livesey was on hand to turn home George Glendon’s free-kick at the far post to end a remarkable game.

The win moves Chester to fifth in the league. On Saturday they travel to Boston United where they make their first visit to the Pilgrims’ new Jakemans Community Stadium. The game is being streamed live by Boston, details here.

Chester have accepted an undisclosed fee for defender Joel Taylor who is expected to leave the club tomorrow, though his destination has not yet been revealed. Taylor made 45+3 appearances for Chester having signed from Kidderminster Harriers in May 2019, and in May this year was voted CFU Player of the Season. He was also named in the National League North Team of the Season. Taylor was left out of the Blues side at Bootham Crescent on Saturday. Picture © Rick Matthews

The defeat saw York leapfrog Chester who dropped down to tenth place. They’re back in action on Tuesday night with a home game against Hereford, kick-off 19.45hrs. The Bulls have played just seven games so far this season and sit in 19th place with nine points.

There was great news ahead of the victory over Alfreton last night as the Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning committee gave an 11/0 unanimous vote to approve the application by the Chester FC Community Trust to develop a floodlit all-weather 3G sports pitch and sports pavilion, car park and ancillary works at the current sports ground in Blacon Avenue (behind the police station) as part of the community King George V Sports Hub project.

At the meeting it was reported that the club have raised over £1m in donations and grants towards the scheme with the council also contributing £365,000. This is a joint collaboration between the Community Trust and the Council. It is hoped that work can start on the project in the spring.

Community Trust chief executive Jim Green was obviously delighted with the news that all the hard work over the couple of years had paid off, he told the official club website: “We are delighted the project has secured planning consent and very grateful to the council’s planning committee and its officers for recognising the huge benefits the sports hub will have for the community.

“In what have been extremely challenging circumstances, it is testament to the partners involved that the scheme has continued to progress and we are a step closer to making this amazing facility a reality.