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Hereford
(A) | Darlington (H) | Southport
(A) | Marine (H) | King’s Lynn Town (A)
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

Picture
© Rick Matthews
Latest
table after Darlington win |
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

Picture
© Rick Matthews
Latest
table after Hereford draw |
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