News from Deva Stadium March 2014

31 March 2014
WREXHAM TICKETS
The club have announced that tickets for the home game against Wrexham on Saturday 19 April (kick-off 12.00) will go on sale following the match against Hyde on Saturday.

Tickets are limited to two per person and a residency proof of ID must be shown at the time of purchase. Season Ticket holders do not need to purchase an extra ticket for the game but just present the relevant voucher from their season ticket book on the day of the match. After Saturday’s ticket sales, the club will be open for the purchase of tickets from 10.00 on Monday 7 April until 16.00hrs. Further opening dates will be announced after that when an idea or numbers of remaining tickets are known. No tickets will be sold after Thursday 17th April.

The club have put aside 50 tickets for the forthcoming Wrexham game for CFU Exiles members. If you are a CFU Exile (ie you are a member of CFU and live outside of a Chester or North Wales postcode area), then contact the club about making a postal application for a ticket.

They are allocating those Exiles tickets to members on a first-come-first-served basis. For more details ring the club on 01244 371376. You will need to get your application off ASAP.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Chester slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Welling United on Saturday to increase their relegation worries. The home side were reduced to ten men on the half hour but Chester were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority and rarely threatened the Wings’ goal all game. None of the three new signings featured though Luke Ashworth was named on the bench.

Vasilious Karagiannis opened the scoring on 58 minutes sending a 20-yarded past Aaron Chapman into the bottom corner following a long goal-kick and the game was wrapped up in the final minute with Ross Lafayette scoring, again from a loan clearance from the ‘keeper.

A disappointed Steve Burr told the Chester Leader: “It was a great opportunity for us especially after Welling had gone down to ten men, but we never took the opportunity of making the advantage count.”

“We seem to take a few steps forward and then big steps backwards and I was very disappointed with the way we performed. We are not in a good position at the minute. We didn’t take advantage of playing against 10 men and trying to win the game, or even managing to do enough to win the game.”

“I didn't name any of my three new signings in the starting line-up at Welling because I thought we did so well in Tuesday’s 2-0 home win against Tamworth. But our performance at Welling makes me think that maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”

• Table after Welling match

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

27 March 2014
TWO MORE NEW SIGNINGS
Following the emergency loan signing of James Caton the Blues have also taken on two more players. Former Newcastle United and Stoke City 35-year-old defender Andy Griffin has joined after leaving Doncaster Rovers as a free agent and the trio of signings on the day is completed with centre-back Luke Ashworth joining from Hyde.

WINGER SIGNS FROM BLACKPOOL
Chester have signed 20-year-old Blackpool winger James Caton on an emergency loan until the end of the season.

SENIOR BLUES MEETING
Former goalkeeper Brian Lloyd with be the sepcial guest at the next meeting of the Senior Blues on Friday 4 April in the Blues Bar.

26 March 2014
DEFENDER PRIORITY FOR THURSDAY
Chester will be hoping to bring in a defender before the loan transfer window closes on Thursday. With Ross Killock Matty Brown and George Horan out injured and Paul Linwood playing through the pain of a shin injury picked up last week all efforts will be made to strengthen the defence for the last six games of the season.

The Blues boosted their chances of survival with a 2-0 home win over fellow strugglers Tamworth last night. A Ben Richards-Everton own goal just after the hour mark set Chester on their way and the lead was doubled four minutes later with substitute Danny Carlton scoring his first goal for the club since joining last week.

With Aldershot Town losing at home to play-off chasing Gateshead, Chester’s victory moved them above Southport and Hereford United to 18th place although all the teams below Chester have at least one game in hand over the Blues.

Chester travel for their first ever visit to Welling United on Saturday, the Wings lost at home 2-0 to Braintree Town last night in front of a crowd of 403.

• Table after Tamworth match

24 March 2014
BLUES RESISTANCE IS BROKEN
Chester were beaten 3-0 at league leaders Luton Town on Saturday but the scoreline was a little harsh on Chester. Steve Burr’s side, much changed due to a mounting injury list, stoically held out for 70 minutes before Matt Robinson broke the deadlock with a left wing cross that looped over goalkeeper Aaron Chapman and into the far corner. Two further late goals from Andre Gray and Paul Benson completed the rather flattering scoreline for the Hatters who now sit 14 points clear at the top.

Chester were without Craig Mahon and Matty Brown through injury and were dealt another blow when striker Gareth Seddon was taken ill on the coach down and missed the game. Nathan Turner, Michael Kay, Joe Heath and Jamie Menagh all came into the side while two teenagers Tom Peers and Liam Blake started on the bench.

The Blues created chances of their own with both Nathan Turner and Andy Bond pulling shots wide in the opening period that also saw five Chester players booked by referee Rob Whitton.

Burr said following the defeat: “Luton’s first goal was a fluke which rocked us a little bit, and then the two goals we conceded after that were poor goals from our point of view.”

“We went to Luton with a game plan and it was working very well, but it was always going to be tough to get a result. The longer the game went on I thought we had a chance to get something from it because we were always creating chances and that was a good sign.”

“But their first goal just summed up what has been happening to us. Nobody could have believed there was such a difference in Chester and Luton’s league positions based on our first half performance.”

• Table after Luton match | Match pictures

19 March 2014
INJURIES TAKE THEIR TOLL ON BLUES

Chester let slip a two goal lead against their nearest relegation rivals Southport who equalised late in the 2-2 draw art the Deva on Tuesday night. Steve Burr was forced into two substitutions as both defenders Paul Linwood and Matty Brown limped off. With Ross Killock and George Horan both sidelined through injury the defence is looking decidedly threadbare. Also picking up an injury on Tuesday night was Craig Mahon, he suffered a suspected broken collar bone after being tripped and landing awkwardly on his shoulder, but x-rays later in the evening revealed thankfully there was no break or fracture. Ricky Bridge also ended the game suffering from cramp.

Chester had taken the lead in the 34th minute as new signing Craig Hobson scored from close range. The Blues doubled their lead four minutes after the break with a fantastic solo effort from Mahon. Southport pulled a goal back through Karl Ledsham nine minutes later and the same played missed a controversial penalty after Aaron Chapman was adjudged to have fouled Danny Hattersley right on the edge of the box. Chapman went on to make a string of fine saves to keep the Sandgrounders out but the equaliser finally came in the 89th minute with Ledsham scoring his second.

Manager Steve Burr said: “The injuries were absolutely crucial. We’ve lost two centre halves and I think full credit has to go to the lads for the effort they have put in. We had to reshape everything. Andy Bond and Jason Jarrett were controlling the middle of the park. I thought first half we were well in control but to lose Matty Brown like we did meant we had to rearrange things. We lost Ross Killock on Saturday and those are the sort of things you need to go for you. We were out on our feet in the last ten minutes without a shadow of a doubt.”

Chester’s walking wounded travel to runaway leaders Luton Town on Saturday, kick-off 15.00hrs.

• Table after Southport match | More pictures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

17 March 2014
BURR DISAPPOINTED BY DEFEAT
Manager Steve Burr was left disappointed following Chester’s 1-0 home defeat to play-off chasing Alfreton Town. The only goal of the game came from a controversial penalty in the second half but Burr believes his side didn't do enough to claim the three points.

Burr said: “We want to win all the games and I’m very disappointed we didn’t do enough to win this game. When you think they are third in the table they didn't offer too much, but they had a bit more strength and more nouse to grind the victory out. We had little spells but not enough in the 90 minutes to earn the right to win the game.”

“I felt we put a couple of good balls into the box and you’ve got to get on the end of them. All round I felt they seemed a bit stronger in the tackle and stronger when competing for balls. I hate to say it but I thought they outmuscled us a bit but that’s Alfreton.”

Defender Ross Killock was the latest Blues player to pick up an injury having to be replaced by Craig Hobson after tearing a hamstring on 20 minutes. The on-loan Leeds United defender is expected to be out for up to six weeks.

Chester are back in action on Tuesday night with a crucial home game against Southport. The Sandgrounders beat Macclesfield Town 4-1 on Saturday to move above Chester as the scrap to avoid the drop to the Conference North/South gets tighter with every match played.

• Table after Alfreton match

END OF SEASON AWARDS NIGHT
Tickets are now on sale of the end of season awards night on Saturday 3 May. The venue this year will be the Crowne Plaza in Chester and tickets are priced at £40.00. The evening will once again be hosted by Colin Murray who will present the Player of the Year, Players Player of the Year, Golden Boot and Clubman of the Year awards. There will also be a chance on the night to vote for the Goal of the season award. The night includes a three course meal, fundraising auction and raffle and DJ on the night.

14 March 2014
BLUES SIGN HOBSON
Chester have signed former Guiseley forward Graig Hobson. The 26-year-old player has previous experience at Lincoln City and Stockport County.

12 March 2014
POOR DISPLAY FROM BLUES

Chester were beaten 2-0 at fellow strugglers Aldershot Town last night. A goal in each half from Brett Williams did the damage as Chester failed to clear a corner for the first and were caught on the break for the second. The Blues offered nothing in a disjointed first half failing to really test Alan Martin in the Shots goal.

The opening goal came on 20 minutes as Adam Mekki swung over a left wing corner that the Chester defence failed to clear, the ball was knocked down to Williams who smashed it home. The Shots had several other chanced in double their lead but the Blues survived to the break. The introduction of Jamie Menagh and Brendon Daniels in the 59th minute did inject some pace into the Chester attack and the Blues enjoyed plenty of possession during that period. Menagh saw a shot tipped round the post and John Rooney also saw a long range effort deflected for a corner and another effort from distance fly just wide.

Seven minutes from time Aldershot doubled their advantage as Bradley Bubb’s right wing cross bounced through the Chester rearguard to Williams who converted from close range.

Steve Burr said following the defeat: “Maybe those two long trips took something out of us because I though we looked dead on our feet and it seemed like there was nothing left in the tank. We have got to refresh ourselves and rejuvenate ourselves now for the next game. The disappointing thing at Aldershot is that we made one change to the team (Craig Lindfield for Matty Taylor) and we didn’t perform so we’ll need to look at that.”

• Table after Aldershot match | More pictures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

11 March 2014
BLUES APPOINT ASSISTANT MANAGER
Chester have appointed Carl Macauley as assistant manager to Steve Burr. Macauley was the manager of Vauxhall Motors who announced last week that they would be stepping down from the Conference North to the West Cheshire League at the end of the season for financial reasons. Macauley had agreed to stay on unless another job offer came along.

10 March 2014
TAYLOR RECALLED
On-loan striker Matty Taylor has been recalled by parent club Forest Green Rovers. The forward had been an instant hit with Blues fans scoring six goals in seven appearances helping Chester to climb out of the relegation zone in the process.

9 March 2014
SEDDON STRIKE BRINGS VICTORY

A volley from Gareth Seddon six minutes after the break was enough to give Chester three points from the televised match against relegation rivals Dartford on Friday night. Neither side troubled the ‘keeper’s in an instantly forgettable opening 45 minutes.

Soon after the restart good work by Lewis Turner down the right created a guilt-edged chance for Seddon who headed over an open goal from four yards out. Moments later Seddon picked up Andy Bond’s through ball before turning and volleying home from the edge of the box to the delight of the 150 Chester fans behind the goal.

A great save from Aaron Chapman four minutes from time denied substitute Lee Noble an equaliser as his shot found its way through a mass of bodies and was heading for the bottom corner before Chapman turned it round the post.

The victory lofted Chester back above Southport into 19th place. The Blues are back in action on Tuesday night with a match at Aldershot Town. The Shots list 21st place, six points behind the Blues but with a game in hand.

• Table after Dartford match

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

3 March 2014
CFU MEETING
The next meeting of CFU members will take place this Thursday 6th March, in the Blues Bar, commencing at 19.30hrs. The main aim of the evening is the presentation of the update on the organisational structure, following the approval at November’s CFU AGM of the report and recommendations which were produced by the CFU Working Group and which proposed an Operational Board working alongside but reporting to the main CFU Board.

ENGLAND U19 V TURKEY U19
Chester host the England U19 match against Turkey on Wednesday night, kick-off 19.00hrs. The match is being played as part of the preparation for the Elite Round of the UEFA U19 European Championship qualifying section which England host in May. Admission for the game is £3.00 for adults and £1.00 for children and OAPs. The England squad named for the game is:

Goalkeepers: Mitchell Beeney (Chelsea), Christian Walton (Brighton & Hove Albion).

Defenders: Calum Chambers (Southampton), Shay Facey (Manchester City), Ola Aina (Chelsea), Matt Targett (Southampton), Isaac Hayden (Arsenal), Dominic Ball (Tottenham Hotspur), Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Alex Mowatt (Leeds United), John Swift (Chelsea), Lewis Baker (Chelsea), Jordon Ibe (Birmingham City, on loan from Liverpool), Harrison Reed (Southampton), Paul Digby (Barnsley).

Forwards: Josh Murphy (Norwich City), Sam Gallagher (Southampton), Callum Robinson (Aston Villa).

BURR PRAISES GRITTY BLUES

Manager Steve Burr praised his side after their 3-3 draw against play-off chasing Nuneaton Town. The Blues played for 82 minutes with ten men following the sending off of Jason Jarrett, and took the lead thee times against Boro only to see the visitors draw level with just four minutes remaining.

John Rooney, Matty Taylor and Ross Killock all scored for Chester only to see some poor defending concede an equaliser on each occasion. Burr told the Chester Leader: “To play with 10 men for 80 minutes just shows how well we have come on. I thought we dominated the game with 10 men. We conceded two bad goals in the first half and I felt we could have done better, but we will be working on that, but overall I was really pleased about the performance.

“I thought we played some wonderful stuff, even though we went down to 10 men. If you look at the pattern of games since I’ve been at Chester we seem to have that little bit of an under belly of bad times.”

“The sending off knocked us about because the game is not designed to play with 10 men, but I thought from the minute Jason was sent off we created a lot of chances. I felt for the lads because I thought they didn’t get what they deserved.”

Chester dropped to 20th place, Southport's home win over relegation rivals Dartford lifting them a point above the Blues. Chester are next in action on Friday night when they themselves will travel to play Dartford in a match screened live by BT Sports.

• Table after Nuneaton match

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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