Match reports from October 2024

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 Eventually Tom Peers was withdrawn to allow Kevin Roberts to take over at centre back and release Bainbridge back to his midfield role.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

Webmaster

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