Match reports from March 2025

Saturday 22 March
Scunthorpe United 3 Chester 1
National League North
Attendance: 8,274 (1,353 Chester) Half Time: 1-0
Booked: -.

Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Kelly, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Beestin (Fadera 77), Roberts, Rowley, Ubaezuonu (Beck 67), Scales, Denton. Subs not used: Boyce, Starbuck, Williams.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Rawlinson, Peers, Woodhtorpe, O’Kane (Mottley-Henry 54), Woods (Willoughby 80), Bainbridge, Murray (Mooney 68), Roberts. Subs not used: Lambert, Leak.
Referee: Declan Brown.

Chester drop to fourth after suffering defeat at leaders Scunthorpe United.

Picture © Rick Matthews

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Saturday 15 March
Chester 1 Leamington 0
National League North
Attendance: 2,251 Half Time: 1-0
Booked: Rawlinson.

Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Rawlinson, Peers, Lambert (Leak 63), Woodthorpe. O’Kane, Woods, K.Roberts, Mooney (Turner 74). Subs not used: Willoughby, Daly, Rosenblatt.
Leamington: Hawkins, Meredith, Quaynor, Evans, Landers, Walker (Lynn 79), Edwards (Richards 73), Berridge (Shorrock 67), Ward, Williams, Farmer (Clarke 79). Sub not used: Streete.
Referee: Neil Pratt.

A first League goal of the season from Connell Rawlinson was enough to edge out Leamington and earn Chester three more vital points in the quest for promotion. It had taken until deep into the second half to win a first corner on Tuesday night but this time, after only eight minutes, Chester’s skipper lost his marker and nodded home what proved to be the only goal of the contest.

City had started brightly with Lambert and Woods both going close but as the game developed the Brakes found a solid shape as they strove to stay in the game. Storer was rarely troubled in the Chester goal but the match became a hard watch as the midfield became congested and the ball was up in the air a lot.

Cal McIntyre praised his side’s character as they ground out a win against a team that had narrowly lost by a penalty goal to Scunthorpe and drawn with Kidderminster recently. The Brakes had more possession of the ball in the second half without fashioning a clear chance – so resilient was the City defence. As City showed signs of fatigue, Leak replaced Lambert and Kev Roberts moved into midfield. Turner replaced Mooney to provide an outlet and more cover on the left.

The substitutions helped boost the Blues’ energy and they were able to create further chances – Woods cross from the right nearly led to an own goal. Weeks had a shot over the bar. Rawlinson and his marker Jack Edwards were both booked for tussling in the box waiting for a corner. Edwards was keen not to let the Blues’ captain get away from him again. But the damage had already been done and the three points gained elevated City to second place just below next week’s opponents Scunthorpe.

Colin Mansley

Tuesday 11 March
Chester 3 Warrington Town 1
National League North
Attendance: 1,792 (154 Warrington) Half Time: 1-1
Booked: Woodthorpe, Peers.

Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Rawlinson, Peers (Rosenblatt 89), Lambert (Willoughby 70), Turner, Woodthorpe. O’Kane, K.Roberts, Mooney (Leak 87). Subs not used: Daly, Kennedy.
Warrington Town: Atherton, Douglas, Harris (Makinson 87), O’Neill (Amaral 70), Amis (McDonald 29), Rodwell-Grant, Ackroyd (Williams 67), James, Southern, Green (Doro 78), Clarke.
Referee: Jake Allsopp.

After losing some ground in the promotion race following defeat to Chorley, Chester bounced back to winning ways with a hard fought victory against Warrington Town.

City’s squad was again reduced to the bare bones through injuries and Connor Woods’ ineligibility to play against his former club. Youngster Dan Kennedy joined Rosenblatt and Daly on the bench. The Blues began strongly registering three attempts on goal in as many opening minutes – pick of the bunch being Weeks’ long range effort which whistled narrowly over the bar. City continued to press towards the Harry Mac but then a deft ball along the right by Rodwell-Grant sent Ackroyd haring through with Burke in pursuit. He managed to hold Ackroyd up but conceded a corner from Southern’s cross. O’Neill’s flag kick was met by Aaron James rising highest to nod the ball into the top corner for the opening goal.

With their tails up, Town played with growing confidence. Rodwell-Grant saw his shot from distance tipped over the bar by Storer. Then skipper Amis fired wide following a pass from Chester City veteran Jay Harris and, minutes later, narrowly failed to make contact with Rodwell-Grant’s cross.

City were stung into reply and O’Kane went down under pressure in the box but referee Allsopp waved away claims for a penalty. Minutes later though he did not hesitate to point to the spot as Mooney was felled by James after Lambert’s clever flick on. Peers lined up the kick and scored – despite Atherton getting a hand to it in the Warrington goal. Both the goal-scorers were playing against team of their place of birth.

Lambert fired a powerful effort on target to be denied by Atherton’s dive before Town were forced to make a substitution when Amis went down injured.

Chester dominated possession after the break without seriously threatening the Wire’s goal. Weeks had a pop shot – safely gathered by Atherton. Burke went on a foray into the area but Peers was thwarted from turning his cross in by a combination of defender and keeper. The “Yellows” (Playing in Claret and Sky Blue quarters), though kept a good shape and frustrated City whilst looking to hit back on the break themselves. On sixty –five minutes Rawlinson tried to play out from the back only to see his pass intercepted by Rodwell-Grant. The Town striker set up substitute Matty McDonald to tee up a shot in the penalty area. He picked a spot in the corner but Storer got down superbly to save.

Willoughby came on for Lambert and lined up a free kick on the right not far outside the penalty area. He curled it round the wall on target, Atherton pushed it away for first Turner and then O’Kane to see shots blocked. Chester’s first corner of the match resulted and it led to them taking the lead for the first time in this match. Weeks’ kick was headed out but nodded back into the box by Willoughby to O’Kane. The Fylde loanee had time to control the ball and fire it past Atherton into the net. It was a significant time to score and O’Kane was clearly delighted with his second goal in successive home games.

The Wire responded with urgency but could not fashion any clear cut chances and were undone by a moment of brilliance from Mooney. Atherton’s mis-hit clearance came to him forty yards out and Mooney stopped and then half-volleyed the ball instinctively towards the distant goal. His aim was unerring and beat Atherton’s despairing dive to retrieve his mistake. Weeks might have added a fourth goal in stoppage time following another defensive error but this time Atherton redeemed himself with a fine save.

Any further goals would have been harsh on Paul Carden’s charges as they had looked to relieve their precarious position in the bottom four. Their efforts were reflected in the applause they received from the visiting support at the end. City were rewarded for their patience and determination with this welcome win which keeps them in third place and firmly in the promotion mix.

Colin Mansley

Saturday 8 March
Chorley 3 Chester 2
National League North
Attendance: 2,804 (628 Chester) Half Time: 2-2
Booked: K.Roberts, Weeks.

Chorley: Urwin, Henley, Ellis, Smith, Blakeman, Montgomery, Calveley, Horbury, Clarke, Carr, Hall. Subs not used: Touray, Moore, Whitehouse, Eze, McGhee.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Rawlinson, Peers, Turner (Mooney 65), Woodthorpe, Leak, O’Kane, Woods (Willoughby 82), K.Roberts. Subs not used: Lambert, Daly, Rosenblatt.
Referee: Harry Jones.

Chester take an early two goal lead but leave Victory Park pointless.

Saturday 1 March
Chester 1 Needham Market 1
National League North
Attendance: 2,478 Half Time: 1-1
Booked: Rawlinson, Daly.

Chester: Storer, Hunter, Burke, Rawlinson, Woodthorpe, O’Kane, Weeks, Lambert (Daly 57), Woods, Mooney (Turner 57), Peers. Subs not used: Roberts, Leak, Willoughby.
Needham Market: Garnham, Smith, Hammond, Morphew (Tomlinson 61), Ingram (Lay 82), Allen (Chambers 70), McGrath, Hunter, Lambe, Collis (Watkiss 75), Allen. Sub not used: Blunkell.
Referee: Shaun Taylor.

City endured a frustrating afternoon as they were held to a 1-1 draw by strugglers Needham Market. It had all started so well with home debutant Taelor O’Kane marking his arrival with a goal after only three minutes. Lambert was felled on the corner of the penalty area. Weeks took the free kick and Rawlinson headed down for O’Kane to react smartly to knock it past Garnham in the Needham goal.

Minutes later Peers had a gilt-edged opportunity to double the lead when Woods’ pass found him free inside the penalty area with only Garnham to beat. His shot, however was inches the wrong side of the goal. Another sweeping move ended with Garnham saving Lambert’s snatched shot as the ball stuck under his feet.

Chester were all over Needham like a rash and the next chance fell to Weeks who was put through on his left foot by Lambert. Again the considerable frame of Garnham proved an impenetrable barrier.

Needham came forward though and left winger Iffy Allen was proving a tricky opponent. He won a corner on the left and an equaliser resulted for the Marketmen. Chester were slow to pick up the corner taker and when the ball was played back to him he crossed with ease for Collis to volley towards goal. Storer repelled his shot but Collis reacted first to the loose ball and side-footed home.

It was frustrating for City to be back to square one having been so dominant in the early stages. They tried to press forward but found themselves denied space by a well-drilled and resilient opposition. Woodthorpe had an effort blocked. Hunter though, cut in from the right and floated a superb shot to the far post. The ball crashed off the frame of the goal and ricocheted off Woods onto the bar and over. It was a desperately unlucky moment for the Blues.

After the break City could not recover their early momentum and struggled to carve out clear chances. Needham remained a threat on the counter. City’s best efforts both came from Woods – a shot narrowly across goal from the left and, just after he’d been named sponsors’ man of the match he curled a shot agonisingly wide of the top corner.

In between these attempts, Peers also went close as he spun and shot from Woodthorpe’s cross but again it was the wrong side of the post as far as Chester were concerned. Ultimately City’s profligacy in front of goal – especially in the opening twenty minutes came back to haunt them as they were held to a second draw in the week.

The result leaves Chester top but by the skin of their teeth and Calum McIntyre expressed his and everyone’s frustration after the match. He made the apt observation that forced changes to a settled line-up may have contributed to the lack of cohesion in City’s play. He refused to make excuses though and Chester’s players and supporters – whose anxiety was palpable as the game wore on – will need to recover composure for the difficult trip to Chorley next Saturday.

Colin Mansley

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