The sad news was announced last night of the death of Richard Wightman, a popular board member at the football club. Richard passed away at the age of 33 following a serious illness. Richard, who supported the Blues all his life, was the Membership Officer with City Fans United and like many others, voluntarily gave his time and dedication to the cause and was instrumental with the setting up of our new club. A minute’s applause for Rich will be held at tomorrow night’s match at Leigh Genesis and at the next home match on 12 February against Clitheroe.

Chester will attempt to chalk up their tenth successive away league victory when they travel to Yorkshire tomorrow to play Garforth Town. Since the opening draw at Warrington Town the Blues have had a perfect

Those supporters who are unable to get to Chester for home matches will be delighted to hear that all the remaining matches this season will be broadcast over the internet free of charge. In association with The Exiles, Blues Live commentary will be available for all

David Evans who is the Exiles Liaison & Communications Officer at the football club, said “There is no substitute for being at the match live, but this is the next best thing. It is great news for our hundreds of exiled Chester supporters all over the world that they can now listen in and feel part of the match day experience. It is another great example of the community ethos of the club as the service is provided by volunteers.”

For the second time this season Chester hit six goals without reply as Ossett Albion, like Trafford earlier in the season, were blown away by a rampant Blues attack. Michael Wilde led the way with his third hat-trick of the season, while Iain Howard weighed in with two further goals and the was a first goal from new striker Chris Simm (pictured) making his debut in the Chester line-up. It was an all-round impressive performance from Chester and a confidence booster after faltering slightly at home in recent performances. The match received the go-ahead after the pitch covers the club invested in prior to Christmas, did their job (as did the volunteers who put them down and removed them) to prevent a freeze that saw other matches in the division postponed. The win for Chester gives them an eight point lead at the top of the division over both Chorley who have three games in hand over the Blues, and AFC Fylde who have one game in hand. A delighted manager Neil Young said after the match: “It was a thoroughly professional performance and on another day we could have had two or three more. All we’ve got to do now is keep winning. If we win every game until the end of the season we’ll be champions and it’s as simple as that.” • League table | More pictures Picture © Evening Leader

Defender Stuart Graves (pictured) and forward Michael Clarke have both left the club. Graves who played 8+5 matches for Chester and scored the winning goal at Wakefield that secured the first league win for the club, has made the decision due to added work commitments. Clarke, who only joined the club recently and made just one first team appearance, is after regular first team football something that couldn’t be guaranteed at Chester. Both have moved on with the best wishes from the club and management. Picture © Evening Leader

The Blues recorded their first home January win for nine years as they ran out 3-1 winners over Wakefield on Saturday. The visitors were reduced to ten men early in the game after top scorer Tom Denton was shown a straight red card after an off-the-ball incident with George Horan. The Chester skipper saw yellow for his part in the goalmouth fracas. Manager Neil Young handed a full debut to midfielder Ashley Williams, and the Chester-born youngster turned in a man-of-the-match performance as headed goals from Bradley Barnes, Michael Wilde and Robbie Booth extended the lead at the top of the table to five points with closest rivals Chorley, who now have two games in hand, not playing. The visitors scored a consolation goal in the last minute. Manager Young said: “They’ll say the sending-off changed the game, but you can only beat what is in front of you and overall I thought we played quite well.” “It was difficult as once they had the man sent-off they shut up shop and tried to stop us from playing and scoring, which you can understand. But we coped with it well. So I’m glad to put an end to the January curse. More importantly it puts us five points clear, although there’s a long way to go yet.” • League table | More pictures Picture © Evening Leader

Chester had to settle for a share of the spoils following last night’s 2-2 home draw with AFC Fylde.

Chester entertain fifth placed AFC Fylde tonight looking to get their home form back on track after picking up just one of the last six points available. The Blues have had their lead at the top of the table cut to just one point following Chorley’s last minute win against Mossley last night. Fylde slipped from third to fifth following last night’s other results.

The visitors are managed by Kelham O’Hanlon who had a stint as coach at Chester under manager Mark Wright in what were rather difficult times. He was full of praise for the new set-up now at Chester and told the Evening Leader: “I found my time as coach at Chester as a bizarre experience. I was asked to come in and help, but I think an appropriate slant would be to say it was a strange and difficult time for the club.

“There was a lot of doom and gloom around the place at that time, but the story since then has been fantastic for everybody concerned at the club. I felt the feel-good factor when I watched Chester play Trafford this season and the differences between my time as coach and now were clear for all to see.”

“But he’s a Chester lad and he is keen to help his hometown club win promotion. We’re hoping he can bring a lot to our table and I’m hoping the FA can give us the thumbs up so that he can play some part in tonight’s match.”

The club have confirmed that defender Danny Meadowcroft has left by mutual consent. Meadowcroft was manager Neil Young’s first signing in the summer and he led the team out for their inaugural match at Colwyn Bay. Meadowcroft faileed to command a regular spot in the side and made a total of 4+0 appearances for the club. Picture © Evening Leader

Chester drew 2-2 with Warrington Town this afternoon after the visitors scored twice in the final 20 minutes to bag a deserved point, in fact they could have taken all three at the death had Chris Gahgan not missed from close range.

Manager Neil Young made no fewer than five changes from the side that ground out victory at Prescot on Saturday and had a dream start as Steven Beck opened the scoring from close range on five minutes after Kyle Wilson had seen a shot rebound off a post.

The Blues were unable to capitalise on their start and it was the visitors, enjoying a run of five straight victories, who were the better side for the remainder of the half with Chris Sanna saving well to deny Mike Duffy an equaliser.

Chester however doubled their advantage on 68 minutes with captain George Horan prodding home from close range following a flick-on from Michael Wilde.

The Wire soon reduced the arrears as the unfortunate Stuart Jones scored in his own net under a challenge with Gahgan. The Chester defence continued to defend deep and invite the visitors to attack and in the last minute the inevitable happened as Tom Hardwick side-footed home the equaliser.

Another large home crowd, 2,609, will have left disappointed but the Blues remain top of the league though their lead has been reduced to five points following Chorley’s 1-0 win over another of the promotion hopefulls Curzon Ashton.

A disappointed Young told the Evening Leader after the match: “I didn’t think we deserved to be 2-0 up and I thought Warrington were the better team.”

“But we’ll take the point because we’ve played games when we could have lost. From the first minute to the last I thought Warrington were the better team and they had more desire than us which is worrying.”

“I didn’t think we turned up and we were far from good enough. We seem to be continually undone by late goals. We can all look for excuses, but I am looking for answers.

A goal from Stuart Jones deep into stoppage time gave Chester a 1-0 win at Prescot Cables. It was a scrappy performance from the Blues on a difficult heavy pitch but the win maintained their six point lead at the top of the division. Jones, who had already seen one effort rattle the crossbar, popped up at the far post in the 94th minute to crash home a volley following a cross from Greg Stones to the delight of the large City following.

Chester are back in action on Monday when they entertain Warrington Town. Town were our first ever opponents of course at the start of the season as the two sides drew 1-1 at Cantilever Park in August. They enjoyed a 2-0 home in over Witton Albion yesterday that seees them now lie in eighth place.

Manager Neil Young told the Chester Chronicle: “It was a dramatic way to do it, but it was a really good win. Prescot were well up for the game. It was New Year’s Day, there was a big crowd and a pitch like a pudding. There was no quarter given, but we matched them for effort and matched them on the physical side, which we had to if we wanted to win.

“I said to the lads at half-time that these are the type of games that if you come away with a 1-0 win, they are the ones that when you look back at the end of April they are the ones that possibly win you the title.

“So although it was not a great spectacle – and you also have to remember that both sides had gone a long time without playing football – we stuck at it and because of that I always knew we would get an opportunity. I just didn’t think we’d have to wait that long!