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30
March 2017
BARREN HOME FOR CONTINUES
Chester were unable to build on Saturday’s
welcome win at Bromley when they were beaten by
Barrow 2-1 on Tuesday night. The Blues got off to
the worst possible start with Richie Bennett giving
the Bluebirds a second minute lead having been put
through one-on-one and shooting past Alex Lynch.
Both Kane Richards and Elliott Durrell saw fine
efforts go just wide as Chester had opportunities
to draw level. Chester were denied what looked like
a blatant penalty on 60 minutes as Richards was
pushed to the ground by Dan Rowe only for referee
Peter Wright to wave play-on. Barrow doubled their
lead 14 minutes from time as Jordan Williams saw
a shot slip under the dive of Lynch and roll over
the line. Tom Shaw pulled a goal back with two minutes
remaining as he controlled Durrell’s pass
to score from eight yards, but it was too little
too late for the Blues who slipped to their fifth
successive home defeat.
Manager Jon McCarthy was unimpressed with the tactics
used by Barrow throughout the 90 minutes. “We
knew what we would get from them, and I’m
not knocking it, it was very effective. There is
one team there that is trying to get the game flowing
and play football and there is one team who are
trying stop it. When we had a period of pressure
somebody stayed down in the box, we know how that
works. It was rubbish, I wouldn’t adopt that
with my teams.”
“I have streetwise players but you need officials
to be streetwise. I can end up having sour grapes
and they have done it all season and it has been
effective.”
Picture
© Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
27 March 2017
CHANGE OF FORTUNE
A goal two minutes from time by Elliott
Durrell gave Chester three important points at Bromley
as they all but secured their Conference National
status for another season. A blustery wind turned
Saturday’s match into a scrappy affair with
chances few and far between with goalkeeper Alex
Lynch making two smart saves late in the game before
Durrell’s strike sealed the points.
Lynch, whose day started at 05.15, told the Chester
Chronicle: “It was a big three points and
we needed that for each other. Obviously form hasn’t
been good lately and we could have come here and
made excuses and got rolled over again. It was an
early start and the conditions weren’t great
but the lads showed loads of character, heart and
desire to get the three points.”
“We just showed loads of heart and that was
a really good win. It was a weird one, it was windy,
the pitch was dry and the sun was in your eyes,
but you have to play in all conditions and just
get on with it and show what you are about.”
“It was a good feeling. I remember thinking
the other day that I missed that feeling of everyone
coming in and high-fiving each other and slapping
each other on the back. We haven’t picked
up too many points of late but we have stopped the
end of the bad run now and we are back on track
and hopefully we can kick on for the rest of the
season now.”
Picture
© Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
23 March 2017
MIDFIELDER SIGNS
Chester have signed 20-year-old midfielder
Liam Davies on a contract until the end of the season.
The former Tranmere Rovers player is the brother
of Everton midfielder Tom Davies and has been training
with Chester over recent weeks. Davies will be hoping
to impress for the rest of the season and earn a
deal for next year.
The midfielder told the Chester Chronicle: “I
think the management are looking to build for next
season. The lads have been brilliant this season
but the past few weeks they have been trying to
get back to the way they were playing. Next year
is going to be a target for me, hopefully I can
put a few good performances in and stay in the side
for next year. It’s been really good, the
first few weeks here and I’m just looking
forward to keeping going what I’ve been doing
in training. Hopefully I’ll be in the gaffer’s
thoughts for selection over the next couple of weeks.”
Chester are in action on Saturday when they travel
to Bromley, kick-off 15.00hrs.
22 March 2017
POOR RUN CONTINUES
Chester slipped to their seventh defeat
in eight games as Macclesfield Town struck a later
winner to snatch all three points on Tuesday night.
The Blues got off to a dream start with James Alabi
netting on five minutes but found themselves 2-1
down to their Cheshire rivals at the break. A Kane
Richards close range strike looked to have earned
a point for Chester late on before Ollie Norburn
scored the winner six minutes from time. The Blues
remain in 15th place in the table.
Before the game tributes were paid to supporter
Garry Allen who lost his life after becoming ill
at the recent Tranmere Rovers match. Floral tributes
were placed by captain Luke George and Garry’s
family in front of the Harry McNally terrace before
a minutes applause was held.
Picture
© Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
19 March 2017
BLUES FALL TO ANOTHER LATE DEFEAT
Chester’s poor form continued with
a 1-0 home defeat by Eastleigh on Saturday. With
just one win and a draw now in eight matches the
Blues have slipped from just outside the play-off
places to 15th, eight points above a relegation
spot. Saturday’s defeat, like the game before
with Tranmere, came through a last minute goal from
Scott Wilson following a corner.
Manager Jon McCarthy told the Chester Chronicle:
“Tactically it was a very evenly balanced
game, we didn’t concede hardly any chances
against them, so some of the organisation and some
of the stuff we set up to make it difficult for
them, we got very right. But the spark and those
moments from people wasn’t there and we didn’t
create enough chances.”
“So we got most of it right and we fall to
a sucker punch right at the end. I’m very
disappointed as it’s a game I didn’t
expect to lose. I thought we’d able to win
it and we had the platform to go and win it.”
Chester will be looking to give themselves some
breathing space from the bottom four when they host
Macclesfield Town on Tuesday, kick-off 19.45. The
Silkmen currently lie ninth and with three/four
games in hand on their nearest rivals above them
are chasing a play-off spot, they have also reached
the FA Trophy final following a win at Tranmere
Rovers on Saturday.
League
table following Eastleigh defeat
11 March 2017
DUO OUT FOR THE SEASON
Both James Akintunde and Craig Mahon looked
to have played their last games this season for
the Blues. Akintunde, who has scored three goals
in 4+9 appearances, hasn’t featured since
he picked up a knee ligament injury in training
back in October and has been receiving treatment
at the National Football Centre at St George’s
Park. Mahon came off the bench for the final ten
minutes in the recent 3-2 home defeat by Tranmere
Rovers but it appears that a hip injury will sideline
him until the summer. The midfielder, signed by
Chester in 2013, has scored once in 19+5 appearances
this season.
4 March 2017
SUPPORTER DIES AT MATCH
The football club have confirmed that sadly
a supporter died during the match on Friday night.
He was taken ill on the Harry McNally terrace prior
to the kick-off and despite valiant efforts to save
him by medical staff he was pronounced dead after
the game. The club have issued the following statement:
“It is with the deepest of regret that
Chester FC have to announce that a supporter taken
ill at the start of tonight’s fixture against
Tranmere has, despite the incredible efforts of
paramedics and medical staff, subsequently passed
away.” “The club took the advice
of the officials and emergency personnel in continuing
with the game whilst they did their very best
to help the gentleman concerned.”
“It goes without saying that all of our thoughts
are with the bereaved family and friends and that
this devastating loss is felt by us all, we will
seek to offer all the support we possibly can to
the family at this terrible time.”
The supporter has since been named as 56-year-old
Garry Allen.
LATE GOALS DENY BLUES
Two goals in the final ten minutes gave
Tranmere Rovers a 3-2 win at Chester on Friday night.
The Blues had taken a fifth minute lead from the
penalty spot through James Alibi following a foul
on Evan Horwood that appeared to have been made
outside the box. Chester, with defender Sam Hughes,
appearing as the clubs youngest ever captain, had
the better of the opening period of the game with
the visitors not testing Alex Lynch in the home
goal. Elliott Durrell almost added a second goal
on the stroke of half-time as his curling free-kick
struck the outside of the post.
Rovers responded after the break and drew level
ten minutes in with Jay Harris’ long range
effort beating Lynch low down in the bottom corner.
Chester fought back and regained the lead in the
68th minute as Ryan Astles met Ryan Lloyd’s
right side corner to glance a header past Davies
in the Rovers goal.
The visitors equalised for the second time nine
minutes from time, new signing Lucas Dawson lost
possession and Liam Ridehalgh crossed for substitute
James Norwoood to powerfully head past Lynch. Two
minutes from time Tranmere clinched the winner as
Davies was allowed upfield to punt a long ball forward
to Adam Mekki who passed to substitute Andy Cook
to smash the ball home from 18 yards out.
Despite seven minutes added time Chester couldn’t
respond again and slipped to their fifth defeat
in six games and remain 11th in the table.
Latest
league table
Picture
© Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
2 March 2017
MIDFIELDER SIGNS ON LOAN
Chester have signed Stoke City midfielder
Lucas Dawson on loan until the end of the season,
he should be available for selection for Friday’s
home game against Tranmere Rovers. The 23-year-old
has been on trial for the last few weeks and has
impressed in a series of behind closed doors friendly
games. He made 40 appearances for AFC Telford United
last season.
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