Match reports from April 2025

Saturday 12 April
Chester 2 Darlington 1
National League North
Attendance: 2,412 Half Time: 0-1
Booked: Murray.

Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Peers, Willoughby (Mottley-Henry 65), Woodthorpe, Leak, O’Kane, Woods, Murray, K.Roberts. Subs not used: Lambert, Robenblatt, Burgess, Mooney.
Darlington: Jameson, Hedley (Cornish 87), Barrow (Hetherington 75), Platt (Adams 75), Lees, Hatfield, Maskell, Main, McGowan, Kelly (Salkeld 67), Storey. Sub not used: Griffiths.
Referee: Ben Tomlinson.

Steve Watson’s Darlington came to the Deva knowing that only a win would give them a realistic chance of getting in the play-offs.

They barely managed to cross the halfway line in the first twenty minutes as City pushed them back on the defensive. Woods came closest to scoring with a glancing header from Weeks’ cross but Stephenson pulled off a fine save. When Darlington did counter they did so with devastating effect. Cedric Main’s reverse pass set McGowan free and as he cut into Chester’s box he had the composure to beat the blocks of three defenders before steering his shot into the far corner of the goal.

City responded but for all their pressure it was the visitors who came closest to scoring next when a speculative ball from Barrow into no-man’s land saw Main reach it first and prod it fractionally wide of the post. A second goal would have been difficult to recover from as well as being against the run of play. A quick free kick led to Willoughby just failing to connect with Peers’ driven cross and then Weeks saw a snap shot parried by Stephenson. City were unable to get on level terms by the break but were encouraged that they were creating opportunities.

The Blues broke through shortly after the break courtesy of a fortunate penalty. A clever flick from Woods found Murray and his cross found a defender’s arm. The referee pointed to the spot immediately and Peers sent Stephenson the wrong way with his penalty. Chester were now in the ascendancy and took the lead when Leak knocked Weeks’ corner goal-wards and Woods flicked it past Stephenson and a defender into the net. Woods’ enjoyed the acclaim for his first goal at home in front of the Harry Mac Stand.

Woods came close to adding to his tally with a header that landed on the roof of the net and a low effort as the game rolled in to stoppage time. Murray was awarded Chester Man of the Match for his indefatigable running and the Blues held Darlington at bay to claim a vital three points.

Colin Mansley

Saturday 5 April
Hereford 2 Chester 2
National League North
Attendance: 4,017 (425 Chester) Half Time: 0-1
Booked: Woodthorpe.

Hereford: Richardson, Coates, Preston, Hudson, Skinner, T.Campbell, D’Ath (Babos 33), White (Cowley 84), Sterling-James, Ceesay (Williams 71), R.Campbell. Subs not used: Derricott, Mitchell.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Peers, Willoughby (Mooney 87), Woodthorpe, Leak, O’Kane, Woods (Mottley-Henry 78), Murray, K.Roberts. Subs not used: Lambert, Rosenblatt, Burgess.
Referee: Darius Bradley.

Victory slipped from City’s grasp as Hereford snatched a stoppage time equaliser in the Spring sun at Edgar Street.

Chester seemed to have coped fairly comfortably with everything that the Bulls had thrown at them since regaining the lead. Jimmy Storer appeared to catch a left wing cross in the third minute of added time but lost it in the dazzling sun momentarily and Hereford sub Cowley stabbed in the loose ball to deny the Blues a win that their performance merited.

After a fiercely combative first period, City had taken the lead as half time approached. Weeks knocked a free kick wide to Woodthorpe and the left back’s cross held in the breeze while Peers beat the offside trap and headed past a hesitant Richardson in the Hereford goal. Earlier Peers had seen an effort acrobatically cleared off the line by Kieran Coates – newly on loan from Boston with a number twenty-four taped to the back of his shirt but no name. Richardson saved another goal-bound Peers shot when he stuck out a leg to block.

Hereford had little by way of clear chances when they came forward and were fortunate not to go down to ten men when D’Ath caught Connor Woods as he was clearing the ball forward. D’Ath, already on a yellow card was substituted soon afterwards.

Soon after the break the home side were level when they won a fortunate corner – the ball seemed to be kicked out by one of their own players. The corner kick was deflected into the path of White on the edge of the box and he was able to fire it home.

Blues responded with intensity and were ahead again soon. Murray’s superb pass found Weeks’ run to the by-line. The City skipper’s cross reached Woods at the far post and, though he stumbled he was able to recover and score his first goal for the Blues.

Chester pressed forward for a third and clinching goal – Peers rifled a shot narrowly over the bar; Matt Preston almost diverted Woods’ free kick into his own goal – but for a last ditch save by Richardson; and as the game moved into the last ten minutes, Willoughby latched on to a flick on by Peers to send a venomous half volley fractionally over the bar.

City could not find that vital third goal and when Omari Sterling-James hung up a cross more in hope than expectation it led to the unfortunate conclusion as far as Chester were concerned. As they emerged into the bright but blinding sunlight, City fans and players could take heart from a fine performance, full of character and attacking spirit which deserved a better result. They remain in the play-off places and with plenty to play for in the final four league games of the season.

Colin Mansley

Webmaster

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