Match reports from May 2025

Sunday 18 May
Scunthorpe United 2 Chester 1 (after extra time)
National League North Play-Off Final
Attendance: 9,086 (1,608 Chester) Half Time: 1-0, Full Time 1-1
Booked: Burke, K.Roberts, Peers, Willoughby, Mooney, Woodthorpe.

Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Kelly, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Beestin (Boyce 106), Whitehall (Fadera 96), Rowley (Brogan 111), Ubaezuonu (Fishburn 120+1), Starbuck, Denton (Scales 84). Subs not used: Campbell, Law.
Chester: Storer, K.Roberts (Willoughby 106), Burke, Leak, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Murray (O’Kane 87), Weeks, Woods, Peers, Mottley-Henry (Mooney 90+3) Subs not used: Brown, Hunter, Rawlinson, Burgess, Lambert.
Referee: Isaac Searle.

Chester came agonisingly close to upsetting the odds at the Attis Arena but ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat after extra-time.

City, playing in their all black third kit against the sky blue and claret of Scunthorpe, made a bright start. Woothorpe’s run ended with him firing narrowly wide of the upright. The Iron then responded as Denton shot wide of Storer’s goal. They forced Chester back on the defensive fighting hard to win possession in the middle and fire passes out to either wing – especially the right where Ubaezuonu posed a powerful threat.

At the other end, Bainbridge headed over the bar from Weeks’ right wing corner. Soon after, Chester went behind. A throw from the right was allowed to bounce across the edge of the penalty area, Clunan’s shot hit the post and rebounded across goal; City defenders were unable to respond before Whitehall struck in the rebound.

City held out to the break without further setback but will have felt bullied off the ball and unable to assert their passing skills as they reflected on the first half. The hosts came forward looking for a decisive second goal as the second period began but, after weathering an early flurry of attacks, Chester began to exert some control on play and pushed the Iron back. The Chester fans, vocal throughout, raised their encouragement another notch.

When, on the hour mark, Woodthorpes’s lofted ball into the box was handled by Evans, the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty. After a brief delay Connor Woods – coolness personified -sent Fitzimmons the wrong way to score the Chester’s equaliser. The visitors then proceeded to dominate and apply pressure on the Iron’s goal without creating a clear cut opportunity.

As the game neared full-time both sides looked to find a winner. Whitehall crashed a direct free kick against the post and Ubaezuonu struck the rebound over the bar. Peers robbed Kouogan down the left and fired narrowly over from an acute angle – when a pass to Weeks might have been the better option. The tireless Murray was caught late by Denton and while the referee might have pondered a second yellow card for the Iron man, he was deftly substituted.

Blues missed Murray’s creativity when he could not continue but Mooney made an immediate impact when he came on, overturning possession to mount a last attack – his cross, however, was wayward.

Both sides summoned further resolve for extra time. It was Scunthorpe who got their noses in front when a cross was flicked on to Ubaezuonu in space. His initial shot was superbly blocked by Roberts but the rebound fell kindly for him and he scored with his second attempt. This was on the stroke of half time in extra-time. The second half became something of a non-event punctuated by fouls, delays for injury and yellow cards as the referee struggled to exert his authority.

The play was further delayed as home fans lined the pitch threatening to invade. Eventually they were cajoled back over the fence but when the final whistle finally sounded they invaded anyway to indulge in the customary tribal rituals of goading the Chester fans as well as congratulate their own players. A hefty cordon of police and stewards successfully kept the peace and as order emerged from the chaos, City’s players and Cal McIntyre were able to approach and commiserate with the travelling fans. Though some of the players were clearly distraught – they were entitle to hold their heads high for their superb efforts. Despite this result the season should be celebrated as a successful and memorable campaign with the potential to be built on further next time.

Colin Mansley

Sunday 4 May
Kidderminster Harriers 1 Chester 2
National League North Play-Off Semi-Final
Attendance: 4,647 (1,300 Chester) Half Time: 1-1
Booked: K.Roberts, Storer.

Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, Richards, Devine (Davis 55), McNally, Worrall (Obadeyi 86), Morgan-Smith, Hemmings, Brown, Kouhyar (Reynolds 81), Morrison, Kandola (Beresford 90+4). Subs not used: Downing, Bishop, Hall.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Willoughby (Mooney 70), Mottley-Henry (O’Kane 86), Woodthorpe, Leak, Woods, Bainbridge, Murray, K.Roberts. Subs not used: Brown, Hunter, Rawlinson, Lambert, Burgess.
Referee: Jonathan Maskrey.

City extended their season until the Promotion Final with this magnificent victory at Aggborough.

Blues came in to the tie as underdogs but not lacking in confidence after the intense tussle with Buxton on Wednesday. Nor were they lacking in support as their fans travelled in droves to the venue – the complete allocation of 1300 tickets were sold online within half an hour. Included in the number were a fair few Exiles. Their usual pre-match gathering venue at the convivial King & Castle, SVR Station Buffet was restricted to home fans only for the day – but they gathered not too far away at an equally hospitable hostelry. Fuelled by sweet and straw-coloured Black Country ales, Scotch eggs and crusty cobs they joined the throng on the terraces and in the stands urging the teams on for this knock-out tie.

Harriers forced Chester back to defend their box, firing the ball to either wing where their lively and inventive forwards threatened to get behind. They won a couple of corners and, on twenty minutes, took the lead when Kyle Morrison broke from the pack to volley the ball in from short range at the far post.

City responded well to the setback and began to exert a bit more control in the middle of the park. Connor Woods played a one-two with Murray on the edge of the box and fired in a shot to the far post. Dibble parried at full stretch but Dylan Mottley-Henry was on hand to strike for the Blues’ equaliser.

As the half-time break drew near, Harriers fashioned a chance down the left – the ball was pulled back for Kouhyar, in space on the edge of the box. He seemed certain to score but fired narrowly wide. Willoughby retaliated with a run and shot which flew just wide of the post at the other end. After the interval it was Chester’s turn to come forward. Murray unleashed a screamer from distance which Dibble tipped over the bar. City began to dominate for a spell with Bainbridge, Weeks and Murray all exerting a vice-like grip on midfield. Murray was felled from behind in the penalty area by Kandola but Willoughby’s spot kick – hit firmly – was nevertheless saved by Dibble.

The reprieve gave Harriers a new lease of energy and buoyed by a relieved home crowd they took the game to Chester again. But the Blues gradually weathered this storm and came forward again. Connor Woods turned to gee up the Cestrian followers as City scented victory. Weeks nipped in on the edge of the box and fired a first time shot into the corner to send City into Blue Heaven.

The finishing line receded further when ten added minutes were announced – nerves of steel required. Yet, if anything, Chester came closest to scoring again. When the excellent Mooney was set clear by Woods, he saw his shot parried by Dibble but it proved to be the last action of the game and a place in the final was secured.

Blues fans – who had kept the noise up from start to finish – still found voice to sing the praises of their players and the manager Cal McIntyre. The bond between them – though frayed in November after a heavy defeat at Curzon Ashton – restored and strengthened. “Belief never dies” said McIntyre in his notes before Wednesday. Whatever happens in the final against Scunthorpe in a fortnight he has instilled fresh heart and pride in the club from top to bottom.

Colin Mansley

Webmaster

Back | Top