News from Deva Stadium February 2016

29 February 2016
DERBY DISAPPOINTMENT FOR BLUES
Tranmere Rovers completed the double over Chester with a deserved 1-0 victory yesterday. The only goal of the game came from a James Norwood penalty 21 minutes from time after Johnny Hunt had brought down Adam Mekki. The Blues failed to really test Rovers ‘keeper Scott Davies who only had three efforts all game to save.

This was the first visit of Tranmere for a league game in 25 years and they started much the better team with Norwood forcing a save from Tony Thomson and John Rooney clearing off the line in the opening three minutes! Manager Steve Burr was forced into an early change with Ian Sharps forced off through injury after just ten minutes.

Rooney forced a save from Davies but the best chances of the half fell to the visitors with Norwood blasting over from ten yards from the clearest opportunity ten minutes before the break.

Davies pushed a James Alibi header wide before the penalty gave Tranmere the advantage. Thomson saved well from Jake Kirby as Tranmere looked to seal the points and had loud appeals for another penalty waved away following a possible handball by Ben Heneghan.

• League Table after Tranmere match

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

25 February 2016
MBNA EXTEND SPONSORSHIP DEAL
The football club’s main sponsors MBNA have extended their link with Chester for another three years. MBNA have supporters the club with sponsorship since the rebirth and will be investing into the community work and development of women’s football at the club.

Ian O’Doherty, chief executive of MBNA, told the Chester Chronicle: “We are incredibly proud to support Chester FC as it continues to build on its recent successes. The club is the beating heart of the community and we want to continue our sponsorship and increase our support by investing in the development of the women’s team.”

“MBNA is a major employer in Chester and many of our staff are regulars at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium. It gives us all a sense of pride when we see the work the club does in schools and with members of the community – young and old – to provide coaching and community activities. To know that we have helped make that possible is really special.”

24 February 2016
CHESHIRE CUP SUCCESS
Chester are through to the semi-final’s of the Cheshire Senior Cup following their 4-0 victory over Warrington Town in the second round last night. Two goals, one either side of the break, from on-loan Rochdale forward Nyal Bell set Chester on their way. Further strikes in the second period from youth team player Matty Waters and Jordan Chapell set up an away semi-final clash against Tranmere Rovers who beat Cammell Laird 1907 last night as well.

21 February 2016
BLUES FIGHTBACK TO EARN POINT

For the second season running Chester came back from a two goal deficit to earn a point at Kidderminster Harriers. Arthur Gnahoua gave the home side the lead on 22 minutes and Harry White added a second from the penalty spot after Ryan Lloyd was penalised for handling a right wing cross four minutes later.

Manager Steve Burr made a couple of changes at the break bringing on James Alabi and Ryan Higgins. The physical presence of Alibi up front caused problems for the home defence. Chester were handed a lifeline 65 minutes as Ross Hannah was fouled in the box for the forward converting the penalty low to ‘keeper Snedker’s right.

Chester pushed for an equaliser and Ryan Astles headed just wide of the far post following a pinpoint Higgins cross into the box. The Blues drew level 15 minutes from time as Alabi held off two defenders on the edge of he box before turning and shooting into the top far corner for a great goal. Both sides had chances to win the game in the closing stages, Ross Hannah pulled a shot wide and Thompson pulled off a fine save to deny Omari Patrick in the final minutes.

The point lifts Chester up to 15th in the table. They are next in action on Tuesday night in the Cheshire Senior Cup with a home tie against Warrington Town (19.45hrs), followed by a home all-ticket match against fourth placed Tranmere Rovers on Sunday, kick-off 12.00hrs.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

• League Table

17 February 2016
THREE MUCH NEEDED POINTS

Manager Steve Burr made five changes to his Blues side that ran out 3-0 winners at Altrincham last night. Those changed included full debut’s in goal for Tony Thompson, Sam Hughes in midfield and for Danny O’Brien up front. It was O’Brien who opened the scoring on 26 minutes and Ryan Astles doubled the lead in first half stoppage time to give the Blues a 2-0 lead at the break.

A minute after the restart Chester were awarded a penalty after Jordan Chapel was adjudged to have been brought down after rounding ‘keeper Tim Deasy by Marcus Holness. Up stepped Ross Hannah to blaze the spot-kick over the bar! Hannah made amends in the 76th minute scoring to wrap up three welcome points.

Manager Steve Burr said: “It’s what we needed. It’s give the lads a big boost and it was a good team performance, a hardworking performance but with some good football as well.”

“The people I’m most pleased for tonight are the supporters because again they’ve come in good numbers on a miserable night and we’ve not give them much to shout about over the last few weeks and months but we’re trying to get ourselves back on track and I’m pleased for them.”

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

13 February 2016
REARRANGED FIXTURES
The home Cheshire Senior Cup second round match against Warrington Town will now take place on Tuesday 23 February, while the home league match against Aldershot Town will now take place on Tuesday 8 March. Both games kick-off at 19.45hrs.

TRANMERE TICKETS
Ticket details for the home match against Tranmere Rovers on Sunday 28 February have been released.

Season ticket holders will not need a separate ticket but will use the match ticket from their season ticket books.

Ticket sales to CFU members only (one per person) will commence on Monday 15 February from the Ticket Office at 11.00 to 16.00hrs, and then from 10.00 to 16.00hrs on Tuesday 16 February and Wednesday 17 February.

The tickets will then will go on general sale (two per person) to home supporters on Thursday 18 February from the Ticket Office from 10.00 to 16.00hrs and daily Monday to Friday. The Ticket Office will also be open on Sunday 21 February from 10.00 to 16.00hrs.

Tickets are priced at:

Seating (East Stand)
Adults £18.00
Concession £12.00 (Senior Citizens / Students with NUS Card / Unemployed with proof of Unemployment /Armed Forces)
18-20 Years old £10.00
16-17 Years old £5.00
5-15 Years old £3.00
Under 5s/Carer Free

Standing (Harry McNally Terrace)
Adults £15.00
Concession £10.00 (Senior Citizens / Students with NUS Card / Unemployed with proof of Unemployment /Armed Forces)
18-20 Years old £10.00
16-17 Years old £5.00
5-15 Years old £3.00
Under 5s/Carer Free

To assist exiled supporters, the club will accept telephone orders for tickets to be collected on the day of the match from the Ticket Office. Phone sales will commence Monday 15 February for CFU members and Thursday 18 February for general sales.

There will be no ticket sales on the day of the match. Tranmere Rovers have been allocated 1,100 tickets for th egame.

12 February 2016
MATCH OFF
Tomorrow’s league match at Torquay United has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

WINGER SIGNS ON LOAN
Chester have signed 19-year-old Wigan Athletic winger Danny O’Brien on a one month loan. The 19-year-old has previously spent a short time on loan this season at Wrexham and is expected to join the Blues squad for the trip to Torquay United this weekend.

10 February 2016
BLUES SUFFER TROPHY KNOCKOUT
Chester were knocked out of the FA Trophy in the third round at FC Halifax last night. The only goal of the game came in first half stoppage time through Jordan Burrow. The Blues enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the game but were unable to find the net for the third match running. Two players picked up injuries with Luke George hobbling off early on with a pulled hamstring while Ben Heneghan was also forced off with an ankle injury following a heavy tackle from ex-Blue Kingsley James.

Assistant Jon McCarthy said after the defeat: “We put a lot of crosses into the box but they didn’t have the quality to get us a goal. I think we were a constant threat and you could tell that from the way their bench was and their players but it hasn’t got us the result and the run of form is disappointing.”

“We’re incredibly frustrated in there and the manager clearly is. It’s difficult because it’s not a tired performance, it’s not a performance without effort and there was some quality and I think people who watched the game would accept that but it hasn’t got us anything and that's tough for us at the moment.”

Chester now have three massive away league games coming up against sides struggling around them in the league Torquay United, Altrincham and Kidderminster Harriers.

8 February 2016
HALIFAX MATCH
The rearranged FA Trophy match at The Shay will now take place on Wednesday 10 February. The game was originally scheduled for tomorrow night but more rain is expected so the decision as been made to put it back a further 24hours.

HOME DRAW AWAITS
The winners of the FC Halifax v Chester FA Trophy match have been handed a home quarter final tie against Gateshead on Saturday 27 February. The draw made today in full is:

Nantwich Town or Stourbridge v Dover Athletic or Guiseley
FC Halifax Town or Chester FC v Gateshead
Grimsby Town v Woking
Sutton United or Bognor Regis Town v Torquay United or Macclesfield Town

6 February 2016
MATCH OFF
Today’s FA Trophy match at FC Halifax Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The two sides will try again at The Shay on Tuesday night, kick-off 19.45hrs.

Webmaster |

Back | Top