|
|
Stockton
Town (FAC3RQR H) | Farsley Celtic (H) | Scarborough
Athletic (FAC4RQ A) | Scunthorpe United (H) | Buxton (H)
| Curzon Ashton (A)
Tuesday
1 October
Chester 1 Stockton Town 0
FA Cup Third Round Qualifying
Replay
Attendance: 1,397 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Hancox, Bainbridge.
Sent-off: Rawlinson.
Chester: Harrison, Hunter, Rawlinson,
Burke, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Weeks, Glendon, Willoughby
(Hancox 85), Caton (Turner 67), Peers (Roberts 22). Subs
not used: Brown, Murray, Rosenblatt.
Stockton Town: Harker, King, Baggs, Painter,
Nicholson, Coulthard, Roberts (Beddow 72), Leech (Purewal
82), Fowler (Spears 88), Butterworth, Gallagher. Subs
not used: Johnson, Burtles.
Referee: Jonathan Chadwick.
Connell
Rawlinson, the last minute saviour for Chester whose equaliser
forced this replay, became the fall-guy after only two
minutes of the re-match. He under-hit a back pass and
then compounded the mistake by tugging the shirt of Mikey
Roberts as he sought to take advantage. The referee took
a dim view and – somewhat harshly – produced
a straight red card for the City centre back.
The Blues had to readjust quickly and Bainbridge moved
back to cover in defence. Stockton tried to press home
their advantage as they moved the ball crisply forward
and back and forth to either wing. A couple of drilled
crosses flashed across City’s box but they came
to nothing. Eventually Tom Peers was withdrawn to allow
Kevin Roberts to take over at centre back and release
Bainbridge back to his midfield role. This gave a more
solid shape to Chester as they continued to repel Stockton’s
forward momentum.
Chester did manage to get forward themselves in fits and
bursts. Caton cut in from the left and fired in a shot
just under the bar which Harker tipped over. Willoughby
hit a direct free kick towards the top corner which Harker
juggled to safety. Declan Weeks sent his half-volley narrowly
over the bar after being found by a pass from Glendon.
But Stockton also posed a threat and Mikey Roberts’
overhead kick was blocked – inadvertently - by a
defender in blue.
After the break the visitors came forward and Roberts
fired another cross into the box. Woodthorpe somehow scooped
it over the bar. As the crowd grew quiet, absorbed in
the contest, Calum McIntyre turned to the Harry Mac End
and called out “We need you!” The home fans
found their voice as the Blues attacked the South Stand
end. Willoughby had a golden chance when he whipped the
ball past a defender and bore down on goal but his finish
hit the base of the post and bounced clear to safety.
Not long later though, City were ahead when Weeks swung
over a corner from the left and Burke met it at the far
post. His header somehow squeezed in between Harker and
the post.
Having got their noses in front City held out for the
final twenty minutes and defended exceptionally well especially
from Stockton’s set pieces. Caton and then Willoughby
were replaced having run themselves into the ground but
the whole side worked so hard for this victory after the
early setback. The reward: – a tricky tie at Scarborough
to be played a week on Saturday. All involved will need
to put their feet up for a while after tonight before
Farsley Celtic visit the Deva on Saturday.
Colin Mansley
Picture
© Rick Matthews
|
|
| | | |
|
LATEST
NEWS |
AWAY TIE FOR REPLAY WINNERS Should Chester win their replay, they have been handed an away tie in the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup at Scarborough Athletic. |
more
» |
|
LAST
MATCH |
BLUES PROGRESS Harrison Burke finds the net as ten man Chester squeeze past Stockton Town to earn an away FA Cup tie at Scarborough Athletic. |
more
» |
|
|
CLUB
HISTORY |
Everything you need to know about the club’s history, honours, records and kits. Complete list of fixtures from 1885 and much more. |
more
» |
|
SUPPORTERS |
EXILES BLOG
The Exiles have set up a blog to provide away match information and articles for Blues fans living away from Chester. You can read it here |
Exiles
» | ISA
» |
|
|
|