National League North
Attendance: 2,149 (315 Chester) Half Time: 0-2
Booked: Burke, Wadsworth, Bainbridge.

Marine: Corran, Mattock (Waters 65), Wardle, Brown, Atcheson (Butler 77), Gregson, Sinclair-Smith (Thomas 81), Whelan, C.Doyle (Lusiama 65), Robinson (Agius 73), Murphy.
Chester: Harrison, Wadsworth (Roberts 78), Burke, Pollock, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Bainbridge, Murray (Glendon 87), Mottley-Henry (Hancox 73), Caton, Peers. Subs not used: Mason, Willoughby.
Referee: W.Ahmad.

Chester survive a late two goal scare to pick up three points at Marine.

The midwinter solstice saw City battle out a hard fought draw with in-form Kings Lynn. The visitors arrived following an impressive win at Brackley in midweek and without having conceded a goal for four matches.

It took Chester quarter of an hour to breach the Linnets’ defence and bring that particular run to an end. The key to unlock it was provided by Tom Peers who gave left back Freddie Sass a torrid time. Sass stuck like a limpet to Peers and at times appeared to manhandle him like a wrestler before the referee’s lenient eye. But Peers got the better of him, opening him up like a kipper and sweeping a dangerous cross into the box. In the panic that ensued, another defender missed his kick, allowing Caton to pounce and lash the loose ball into the net.

The goal settled Chester as both sides tended to cancel each other out in difficult conditions. Kings Lynn played with the boisterous wind behind them and struggled to find the correct range with their long raking passes to either wing. City rang the changes with both Roberts and Bainbridge playing in midfield. Both teams had little room for manoeuvre as they pressed each other for possession keenly.

From a right wing corner Caton went close as his flicked shot sailed narrowly over the corner of the goal. As play went up the other end Pollock was the first to be shown a yellow card for his first offence and the Linnets were awarded a free kick on the right. Instead of being launched into the box it went further right for Barnes to work it on to his left foot and chip a cross towards the far post. Margetts was not picked up by City’s defence and headed past Harrison for the equaliser. It felt a soft goal to concede after defending so resolutely beforehand.

It proved to be King’s Lynn’s final effort on target of the match. Their attacking ambitions were reigned in after the equaliser and it was left to Chester to try to break the visitors down once again. This they struggled to do. Caton went close when his deflected shot was just palmed away at the foot of the post by keeper Boyes. Peers also saw a shot narrowly wide. And in the closing minutes the two of them combined as Weeks crossed into the box but Caton just failed to get on the end of Peers’ knock down.

The visitors will have been happier with a point – although a win would have taken them to the top. City remain mid-table after the draw but are still well in contention.

There was disappointment for the Blues on a dismal day in Northamptonshire after Chester were defeated by ten-man Brackley Town.

In a game which hardly caught fire throughout the 90 minutes, neither side had any serious chances in the opening spell. Elyh Harrison made a save from lively Miracle Okafar and Burke Harrison saw a powerful header from a corner go wide.

It all changed on the 43rd minute when Kevin Roberts was adjudged to have pulled down Matt Lowe in the penalty area. Harrison was no match for Shane Byrne’s well-taken spot-kick and the hosts were ahead at the half-time break.

Chester started the second half in more determined fashion, with Declan Weeks, Charlie Caton and Iwan Murray all having opportunities to score. Caton’s header from a sublime Murray cross was probably the closest Chester came to an equaliser at that stage.

Murray continued to prove hard to handle, and when he was tripped in the box by Alfie Bates it was Chester’s turn for a penalty. Caton stepped up to take it and made no mistake to level up the scores on the 63rd minute.

But the 170 travelling supporters weren’t celebrating for long, as just 60 seconds later it was Brackley’s turn to cheer. Connor Hall collected a well-fed pass and hit the ball well, past Harrison, into the bottom corner.

Chester’s opportunities still weren’t over and hopes were raised when Brackley’s Bates was sent off for a second yellow card. Kurt Willoughby and Dylan Mottley-Henry had not long come on the pitch as substitutes for Roberts and Tom Peers.

The Blues pressed forward, with George Glendon replacing Murray on the 85th minute, but a Willoughby header was the closest they came to an away day equaliser before referee Kavan Hurn blew for full-time. The win for Brackley not only earned them the season double over Chester, but saw them swap league places with the Blues.

Sue Choularton

Picture © Rick Matthews