News from Deva Stadium February 2020

29 February 2020
MATCH OFF
Today’s home game against Gateshead has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The Blues are next in action on Tuesday night with a home Cheshire Senior Cup match against Tranmere Rovers, kick-off 19.45hrs.

28 February 2020
LOAN KEEPER SIGNS
Chester have signed 24-year-old goalkeeper Louis Gray on a one month loan deal from Carlisle United, with a possibility to extend the deal should they wish to. Carlisle have a standard 24-hour recall on the player. Gray began his career at Wrexham before joining Everton on a short-term deal in September 2015. He left Everton for Carlisle in June 2018.

26 February 2020
CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP
The Blues will be at home to Tranmere Rovers in the quarter final of the Cheshire Senior Cup. The match will take place on Tuesday 3 March, kick-off 19.45hrs.

ALFRETON DATE
The rearranged away match at Alfreton Town will now take place on Tuesday 24 March, kick-off 19.45hrs.

FANS MAKE THEIR CHOICE
Chester will revert back to a more traditional blue and white stripes next season after the results of the CFU kit vote were announced at the weekend. The winning design ‘A’ will be worn with black shorts and blue socks. Supporters were asked to pick their top three choices of those designs on offer. The chosen shirt received 37% of first choice votes, and 85% of appearances in the top three votes.

Image © Chester FC

24 February 2020
LATE MISTAKE PROVES COSTLY
There was another dramatic late goal on Saturday but unfortunately for the Blues it was visitors Brackley who scored it to take all three points.

As on Tuesday, Chester twice came from behind but this time were unable to grab a late winner. Lee Ndlovu gave the visitors the lead on 34 minutes with defender James Jones drawing the Blues level on the hour mark. ten minutes later Thierry Audel headed Brackley in front from a corner only for substitute Danny Livesey to equalise with a looping header six minutes from time. AS the game looked to be heading for a draw a moment of hesitation in the Blues defence saw Matty Waters and goalkeeper Russell Griffiths fail to clear the ball allowing Matt Lowe to nip in and score from an acute angle.

Joint manager Anthony Johnson said: “It was a mirror image of what happened on Tuesday night only the other way in terms of conceding last minute in a 3-2 game.”

“In terms of the performance it wasn’t great but we talked about it after the Blyth game that it wasn’t about performances it was about finding a way to win games.”

“We got ourselves back in the game twice after that turgid first half, two goals, and I thought there was only one team going to win it. But the mistakes from the goals are unacceptable.”

Picture © Rick Matthews

21 February 2020
NEW DEAL FOR TAYLOR

Joel Taylor has signed a new 18-month contract at Chester. The 23-year-old defender, who joined from Kidderminster Harriers in the summer of 2019, has been in great form this season where he has currently made 33+3 appearances.

Picture © Rick Matthews

20 February 2020
DRAMATIC WINNER FOR BLUES
Simon Grand’s 93rd minute winning goal capped of a great comeback on Tuesday night as Chester beat league leaders King’s Lynn Town 3-2. The Blues had twice been behind to the Linnets who opened the scoring against the run of play through Ross Barrows on 25 minutes only for Rory McCauley to put through his own net for the Blues’ equaliser.

The visitors restored the lead on 61 minutes through Chris Henderson scoring past Russell Griffiths from 20 yards. Defender James Jones may have been fortunate to receive a yellow and not a red card for fouling Adam Marriott just outside the box when the Linnets striker was through on goal.

Fourteen minutes from time Chester were level as Akwasi Asante flicked on a Griffiths clearance for substitute Anthony Dudley who cleverly lobbed the ball over the onrushing Alex Street into the net.

Blues joint manager Anthony Johnson was sent to the stands by referee Aaron Bannister after the City boss had complained once too often with the fourth official.

As the game entered stoppage time Chester pressed for a final chance and it came as Street could only parry a John Johnson effort and Grand was well placed to hammer the ball home to send the home crowd wild.

Joint manager Bernard Morley sad: “We’ve been here 18 months and we have been waiting for that, me and Jonno. This side is a good side. We’ve let ourselves down and we know that and people say we use excuses which we don’t, we sometimes don’t get the rub of the green but I feel like tonight the ref didn’t give us much, he couldn’t wait to send Jonno off for something that he said.”

“In fairness another referee on another day might have sent James Jones off for the push in the back on Adam Marriott. Simon Grand was round the back but on another day. But on the night we’re just delighted.”

“Fair play to the lads and I told them in there. With the effort that they have put into training in the last four sessions there was no way we weren’t going to win that game.”

“Their application was unbelievable from the start and they worked for each other. I thought we were brave in our formation to go 4-4-2 against top of the league and at times you are going to get exposed in the middle of the park but George Glendon and Scott Burton were unbelievable at times.”

“To beat King’s Lynn and come from behind twice you have to be at your best. I don’t think anyone can deny we were the better side but the better side doesn’t always win the game. Talking is cheap for us and actions speak louder and the lads have got to back that up now.”

The victory lifted Chester into third place. They are in home action again on Saturday when they welcome sixth placed Brackley Town, kick-off 15.00hrs.

• Latest table

15 February 2020
MATCH POSTPONED
Today’s away game at Alfreton Town has been postponed in light of this afternoon’s weather forecast and also health and safety concerns. A new date will be arranged in due course.

13 February 2020
YOUTH TEAM WIN
Goals from Will Goodwin, Stuart Crilley and Harrison Burke gave the youth team a 3-0 home win against Rugby Town in the quarter final of the National League Alliance League Cup.

11 February 2020
NEW KIT DEAL ANNOUNCED
The football club have signed a new three year kit deal with Italian manufacturers Kappa. The deal begins in June and will run until the summer of 2023. The team will have a new home kit next season, the design of which will be chosen by CFU members from a pre-selected short list of six designs shown below, while a new away kit will be designed by the Junior Blues. The current deal with Puma, which has run for eight years, will finish at the end of the season.

Chester FC Director, Kieron Shiel said: “We believe this is the right deal for the club. Kappa were clear leaders in the selection criteria on cost, quality, brand and manufacturing ethics.”

“In addition, it was very clear that Kappa were as interested in Chester FC as we were of them. This is a partnership which is right for all parties and I’m delighted to welcome Kappa into the Chester FC family.”

10 February 2020
MAIN STAND RENAMED
The club have renamed the main stand ‘The Gary Talbot Stand’ in honour of the former player who died before Christmas. The new signage was unveiled on Saturday at half-time in the home match against Blyth Spartans.

The club issued a statement on the occasion: “We would like to praise outgoing Main Stand sponsor Swansway for their kind offer to relinquish their naming rights to support and recognise one of the Blues’ most prolific goal scorers and a truly incredible ambassador. The club would also like to thank Stuart Murphy who has helped to secure this opportunity as he continues to support Chester Football Club financially in areas that are not covered by his original donation agreement.”

HOME WIN FOR BLUES
Chester remain in fourth place after beating Blyth Spartans 2-1 at home on Saturday. Akwasi Asante gave the Blues a twelfth minute lead which was doubled on 70 minutes by James Jones. Blyth, who were reduced to ten men following a red card for Shane Blaney five minutes into the second half, pulled a goal back through Olly Scott with nine minutes remaining to set-up a nervy finish.

Joint manager Anthony Johnson said: “I thought we were terrible if I’m honest with you. I thought the game was awful to watch and the conditions were poor and it was awful but it was all about the three points so I don’t care. I’m sick of saying this season how well we’ve played when we’ve won 3-0 or 4-0 and the opposite of that being really poor and losing. Well today we were poor and won so we’ll take that all day long.”

• League table after Blyth victory

3 February 2020
DEFEAT AT YORK
Chester were beaten 4-2 by promotion rivals York City at Bootham Crescent on Saturday. Nearly 700 Blues supporters made the trip to the Yorkshire ground that is soon to be demolished as the Minstermen move to a new stadium shortly. Poor defending saw the Blues trail 3-1 at half-time, Jamie Morgan netted for Chester to briefly bring the sides level after former player Sean Newton had headed York into an early lead. Goals from Kieran Green and Kurt Willoughby gave Chester a mountain to climb.

George Glendon gave the traveling faithful hope when he pulled a goal back on 54 minutes but Willoughby responded with his second of the game six minutes later to restore the home sides two goal advantage. With 20 minutes remaining Morgan was shown a second yellow card and sent-off as the home side saw the game out without any further trouble.

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