News from Deva Stadium March 2017

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.”

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.

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

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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